The Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Cultural Initiative has announced the longlist for the 2025 edition of its prestigious Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Prize for Yorùbá Literature, as the prize celebrates five years of spotlighting unpublished literary works in the Yorùbá language.

The Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Prize was inaugurated in 2021 as part of the broader vision of the Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Cultural Initiative, which was founded in 2017 to revive reading, writing, and publishing in Yoruba language.

In just five editions, the prize has grown into a vital platform for discovering and promoting new voices in Yorùbá literature, across genres like poetry, prose, drama, and translation.

The year’s longlist features six selected manuscripts that showcase linguistic dexterity and a deep engagement with Yorùbá worldview and experiences. They are:

  • Adéọlá Sheriffdeen Ògúndípẹ̀Goríólá
  • Ramon MohammedÀkójọpọ̀ Ogójì Ewi Onítàn
  • Morẹ́nikẹ́jì AdéyẹmíÌgbèkùn Jádesọlá
  • Muritala AkinleyeGíwá Àlásẹ̀
  • Bùkólá HabeebullahOrílọníṣé
  • Mayokun FolorunshoBíbẹ̀nugàn Fún Ètò Ọbìnrin (Yorùbá translation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists)

These works were selected based on their literary quality, cultural depth, and creative originality in tandem with the prize’s standard of excellence in Yorùbá-language writing.

Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Prize 2025
Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Prize 2025 Longlist

The winning manuscript will receive a ₦1,000,000 cash prize, a publishing opportunity, and access to wider literary and cultural networks.

What Next?

The final winner of the 2025 Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Prize for Yorùbá Literature will be announced later this year. To learn more or get involved, visit the official website: www.atelewoprize.com.

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