The Golden Baobab Prizes for African Children’s literature, set up to celebrate and inspire the creation of enthralling African children’s stories, have announced the 2013 prize long list with seven Nigerians nominated in different categories.

More inspiring is the fact that the youngest person on this list is Nigeria’s born Fego Martins Ahia (Ogenefego Ahia) who is not only the youngest on the long list, but also the only Nigerian in his category (The Golden Baobab prize for rising writers)

Fego was born in1995, in Lagos. He comes from a humble background of disciplined parents whose encouragement has helped him develop a passion for excellence.

Fego is also a first year student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA. He grew up surrounded by his father’s small library which ignited his imagination. He attributed this to why he started writing at a very early age.

The Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers, which is for talented young writers below the age of 18, longlisted Fego for his story titled “The little secret,” which is a story about Kamila, a little girl from East Kenema who is curious about her father’s friend, Pa Camara, and goes to many lengths to figure out his little secret.

Reacting to his nomination, Fego exclaims excitedly, “I feel deeply honored and humbled to have made the longlist of this year’s Golden Baobab Prizes. This is indeed a big dream come true as it was such an illuminating experience writing a children’s story that spoke to my roots in gentle whispers. Thank God for Golden Baobab.”

Apart from his recent achievement of being longlisted for the Golden Baobab Prizes, this passion saw to it that Fego was shortlisted twice for the Litro/IGGY International Short Story Award, receiving a bronze essay award from the Royal Commonwealth Society as well as winning the inaugural Ugreen Foundation Short Story Prize.

Other Nigerians on the longlist are:

Ayibu Makolo (the author’s pseudonym) – Madam’s Maid and the Little Yellow Frog

Ayibu is a medical doctor who presently lives in Scotland with her family. She has been writing since she was a child but only began to make her work public this year. She enjoys reading classics and travelling around the world.

Philip Begho – The Princess with a Golden Voice and the Two-Headed Monster

Philip is an award-winning author who has published over a hundred books. He has worked as a journalist, a lawyer, a banker and a university lecturer, and has also engaged in film and theatrical productions. Philip now writes children’s stories fulltime.

Uchenna Edith -Susan – Christmas in Kemah’s Home Town

Uchenna is a freelance writer whose greatest passion is to inspire and empower the African mind through her writing. She is currently working on several chapters of books for children, as well as contributing articles to her favorite websites and blogs.

Nneoma Ike-Njoku – Elelenma

Nneoma’s decision to study Lieral Arts and Sciences at St John’s College in Santa Fe is the extension of a childhood desire to “know everything” that never disappeared.

Besides writing, Nneoma enjoys drawing, sculpting and attempting to cook. She loves food and travelling; she enjoys how a new place makes a person breathe somewhat differently.

‘Tunji Ajibade - In the End

‘Tunji is a Communications (Writing/Editing) Consultant, Literary Administrator and newspaper columnist. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria. ‘Tunji has published short stories, dramas and children stories – many of which have either won, or have been nominated for awards.

Olorunfunmi Temitope – Grandma’s Hens

Olorunfunmi is a graduate of Fine Arts from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is the Lagos Liaison Officer of Life in My City Arts Festival. He writes poetry, short-stories and is presently working on his debut novel.

The Golden Baobab Prizes for literature has since its establishment in July 2008 inspired the creation of riveting African children’s stories by gifted African writers. The Prizes invite entries of unpublished stories written by African citizens irrespective of age, race, or country of origin. The Prizes are organized by Golden Baobab, a Ghana-based pan African social enterprise dedicated to supporting African writers and illustrators to create winning African children’s books.

The organization’s Advisory Board includes renowned authors Ama Ata Aidoo, Patrice Nganang, Jay Heale and Maya Ajmera.

Golden Baobab is supported by Echoing Green, Reach for Change, the Global Fund for Children and The African Library Project.

visit my blog http://9jatalkshop..com/ for more stories and articles