{"id":26442,"date":"2026-08-13T17:50:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T16:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?page_id=26442"},"modified":"2026-08-13T17:56:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T16:56:52","slug":"2026-npl-longlist-of-11","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?page_id=26442","title":{"rendered":"2026 NPL Longlist of 11"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"cmsmasters_row_79wg81qvnc\" class=\"cmsmasters_row cmsmasters_color_scheme_default cmsmasters_row_top_default cmsmasters_row_bot_default cmsmasters_row_boxed\">\n<div class=\"cmsmasters_row_outer_parent\">\n<div class=\"cmsmasters_row_outer\">\n<div class=\"cmsmasters_row_inner\">\n<div class=\"cmsmasters_row_margin\">\n<div id=\"cmsmasters_column_8kvv4fb3ka\" class=\"cmsmasters_column one_first\">\n<div class=\"cmsmasters_column_inner\"><div class=\"custom_html\">\n<p><!-- LONGList PAGE START --><\/p>\n<style>\n   .longlist-page {\n    max-width: 1450px;\n    margin: 40px auto;\n    padding: 0 20px;\n    font-family: inherit;\n    color: inherit;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Thumbnail Grid *\/\n.longlist-grid {\n    display: grid;\n    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 439px);\n    gap: 35px 24px;\n    justify-content: center;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Individual item *\/\n.longlist-item {\n    width: 232px;\n    text-align: center;\n    font-family: inherit;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Thumbnail - EXACT 232 x 326*\/\n.longlist-thumbnail {\n    width: 232px !important;\n    height: 326px !important;\n    max-width: none !important;\n    aspect-ratio: auto !important;\n    object-fit: cover !important;\n    display: block;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Description *\/\n.thumbnail-description {\n    display: block;\n    margin-top: 12px;\n    font-family: inherit;\n    font-size: 12pt;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Tablet *\/\n@media (max-width: 1400px) {\n    .longlist-grid {\n        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 232px);\n    }\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Mobile *\/\n@media (max-width: 950px) {\n    .longlist-grid {\n        grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n    }<\/p>\n<p>    .longlist-item {\n        width: 100%;\n        max-width: 232px;\n        margin: 0 auto;\n    }<\/p>\n<p>    .longlist-thumbnail {\n        width: 100% !important;\n        height: auto !important;\n        aspect-ratio: 232 \/ 326 !important;\n    }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"longlist-page\">\n<h1 class=\"longlist-title\">\n        Longlist of 11...The Battle Continues<br \/>\n    <\/h1>\n<div class=\"longlist-intro\">\n        The 11 poetry collections on the 2026 longlist of The Nigeria Prize for Literature represent some of the finest contemporary poetic voices in Nigeria and beyond. Selected from 223 submissions, these works explore history, identity, resilience, culture, and the human condition with remarkable depth and originality. Together, they revisit the past, challenge dominant narratives, and reflect on the experiences of individuals and communities navigating social change, conflict, and transformation.<\/p>\n<p>Distinguished by lyrical intensity, rich imagery, symbolic depth, and innovative artistry, the collections draw inspiration from folklore, oral traditions, cultural memory, and contemporary realities. Through evocative language and powerful storytelling, they illuminate social realities, provoke reflection, and celebrate the enduring power of poetry to give voice to both personal and collective experiences.\n    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"longlist-grid\">\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 1 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26467\"\n                alt=\"1.\tAdult Love by Tanure Ojaide\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Adult Love <\/italics> by Tanure Ojaide<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 2 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26468\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Bakandimiya <\/italics> by Saddiq Dzukogi<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 3 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26465\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics>Black Passport <\/italics> by Paul Akpomuje<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 4 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26453\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics>2000 Blacks <\/italics> by Ajibola Tolase<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 5 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26466\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Ceremony of The Nameless  <\/italics> by Theresa Lola<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 6 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26464\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Corpus: Animistic Verses   <\/italics> by Ayo Oyeku<\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 7 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26463\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Floral\u2019s Love Colony  <\/italics> by Tares Oburumu <\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 8 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26462\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> The Origin of Wounds <\/italics> by Malik Gbolahan <\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 9 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26461\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> The Years of Blood  <\/italics> by Adedayo Agarau <\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 10 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/www.thenigeriaprizes.org\/?attachment_id=26460\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Unbind me Now  <\/italics>  by James Ugwu Eze <\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- ITEM 11 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"longlist-item\">\n            <img\n                class=\"longlist-thumbnail\"\n                src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Image-13-e1786635966151.jpg\"\n                alt=\"\"><br \/>\n            <span\n                class=\"thumbnail-description\"><br \/>\n               <strong> <italics> Why Does God need a Gun  <\/italics>  by Ogaga Ifowodo <\/strong><br \/>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- LONGList PAGE END --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ 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