By Folaranmi Ajayi
Nigerian author, Olubunmi Familoni has been awarded the prestigious NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2024 for his children’s fiction ‘The Road Does Not End.’
The award, which comes with a $100,000 cash prize, was announced in Lagos and celebrates Familoni’s work, a poignant story that explores the themes of loss, child labour, resilience, and survival.
The award winning ‘The Road Does Not End’, published in 2024, tells the emotional journey of a young boy navigating the challenges of abandonment and the search for belonging on the streets of Lagos. Familoni’s compelling narrative resonates deeply with readers, addressing the harsh realities of life while highlighting the strength and determination of children living in difficult circumstances.
The winning author has an impressive body of work that spans various genres, including plays, screenplays, short fiction, and essays. His debut play, Every Single Day, was selected by the British Council for the Lagos Theatre Festival, while his second play, Big Masquerades That Dance Naked, was published this year.
Familoni, a resident of Ibadan, is also the author of Smithereens of Death, a short story collection published in 2015 by WriteHouse Collective, and a children’s book, I’ll Call My Brother for You, which captures the voice of a sensitive 9-year-old child.
In recognition of his literary achievements, Familoni joins the ranks of distinguished writers whose works have significantly contributed to the development of Nigerian literature.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature award alternates among four literary genres: fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. This year, the focus was on children’s literature.
The prize recipient made the longlist in 2023 but struck luck in October 2024 when he emerged victorious.
The Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature gave reasons why his book made the final list.
The board noted among other things that, “The Road Does Not End addresses the critical issue of child labour in society. The book explores resilience and human connection themes, emphasising the importance of relationships and the need for continuous self-improvement.”
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