Segun Atanda/
The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), in partnership with Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), will host the 16th edition of the CORA-NPL Book Party on Sunday, August 3, to celebrate the 11 writers longlisted for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL).
The event, scheduled for 1:00 pm at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, will feature live and virtual participation, offering literature enthusiasts a rare opportunity to engage directly with the authors whose works have made it to Africa’s most prestigious literary award platform.
Launched in 1996, the Book Party has evolved into a signature showcase of literary excellence, spotlighting authors whose books have been selected from a record 252 entries submitted for the 2025 edition. The NPL, founded by NLNG in 2004, remains the continent’s richest literary prize, designed to stimulate excellence and creativity in Nigerian writing.
CORA’s Programme Officer, Samuel Osaze, described this year’s longlist as “highly competitive, heavyweight entries,” highlighting the growing vibrancy of Nigeria’s literary landscape.
“The Book Party represents the first stage of public engagement with the longlisted writers,” Osaze said. “It continues to uphold its essence in bringing these works under critical public discourse. Truly, this is the year of the heavyweights.”
Since 2010, CORA has leveraged the Book Party as a platform for robust interactions between writers and audiences, transforming it into a nexus for celebrating literary accomplishments and nurturing Nigeria’s reading culture.
A shortlist of three finalists will be announced in the coming weeks, while the ultimate winner of the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature will be revealed in October.
This year’s longlist features celebrated names including Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Chigozie Obioma, Chika Unigwe, Yewande Omotoso, and Uwem Akpan, alongside emerging voices such as Ayo Oyeku, Linda N. Masi, Chioma Okereke, Oyin Olugbile, Michael Afenfia, and Nikki May.
The event promises a blend of literary readings, panel conversations, and audience interaction, cementing its reputation as a must-attend gathering for Nigeria’s book lovers and cultural enthusiasts.
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