Immaculata Abba has emerged overall winner of the 2023 Abebi Award in Afro-Nonfiction among 87 entries submitted across the country.
The top story writers, Immaculata Abba received a prize of ₦150,000, while first runner-up, Shalom Esene, got ₦100,000, Irumo Chukwemeka and Janobest Isaac got ₦50,000 respectively.
The Award, according to the founder, Mofiyinfoluwa Okupe, is to embrace women who are unshackled by cultures of silence and shame, belting the chorus of their voices for all to hear in form of story writing.
Targeted at women writing creative non-fiction stories, the award ceremony which was held in Ikeja, Lagos featured award of cash prizes to the five top story writers.
Okupe, in her remarks, said there are many opportunities for fiction and poetry writers, but it appears non-fiction as a genre does not enjoy that spotlight and development.
She emphasised that the award is set up to hear Nigeria women speak, telling their own story in their own ways and their own terms, letting the whole society to see what can be learned from that.
“Nigeria society is a place where women are silent, so this initiative set up this award for Nigeria women writing nonfiction stories.
So many essays that we received were based on childbirth, shame in society, culture upbringing, grief.
The Abebi award wants to create space where Nigeria women voices are heard literally and creating nonfiction for world to see that we are important and has impact to change our life and everybody that comes in contact with them.
We want to expand this initiative to the West African to be a place where Africa women are telling their story on a global and continental space.”
