MON AMOUR (MY LOVE)

A poem for Airio Portia, dedicated to her husband.

Forever, I will hold you close to my arms 
So time never lapse between us 
Like an angel, you fell into my world from the sky 
Heaven knew I needed a miracle to fly 

You broke my heart the day you proposed to me 
How can an angel love me so blindly 
Accept my imperfection and brings out the best in me 
Came into my dream and rescued me 

It's like counting the stars 
My love for you is endless 
The feelings I have for you can't be drenched 
Nor quenched is the fire burning in my heart 

My love, you are my most priced possession
On the altar last night I made a confession 
To spend every breath with you 
You're the reason my world is beautiful 

I see the tenderness in your eyes 
That true love don't lie 
Every night I died in your arms 
And wake up the morning in Paradise 

All Right Reserved © Akan E. Udofia 2016

Etisalat Prize For Literature 2016 Announces Call For Entries.

Etisalat has announced its call for entries to the 2016 edition of the Pan-African Prize, Etisalat Prize for Literature. This is coming just a few months after the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila won the 2015 edition of the Prize with his first novel, Tram 83. 

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, who made this disclosure on Wednesday at a press briefing in Lagos, also announced the Judging Panel for the 2016 Etisalat Prize. The panel comprises Nigerian novelist and poet, Helon Habila, as the Chair of Judges, South African writer and activist Elinor Sisulu and Ivorian writer, Edwige Rene Dro as members. The Chair of judges was present at the briefing as well as two of the Prize Patrons: renowned literary icon, Prof. Kole Omotoso and awards-winning author, Dele Olojede. Mr. Willsher, while speaking about the uniqueness of the Etisalat Prize, said it is designed to serve as a leading platform for the discovery and encouraging of creative writing talents as well as the celebration of literary arts by African writers.

“We are delighted to champion the cause for celebrating the richness and strength of African literature. Etisalat Prize for Literature is about discovering and bringing to the world stage the many creative talent Africa boasts of. The Etisalat Prize is about creativity, excellence, empowerment and reward; it is about celebrating our African diversity in very innovative ways through various forms of art, literature being one of them”, he said. Willsher added that only books by debutant writers published not later than 24 months before submission, will qualify for entry. “They must also be by registered publishing houses not less than six years as incorporated publishers with registered ISBN Number or the equivalent, and who must have published a minimum of six authors. All entries should be accompanied by seven copies of the book entered along with an acceptance of our publicity terms. A publisher may submit a maximum of three books. The rules and guidelines for entry are available at prize.etisalat.com.ng, he said. 

About the Judging Panel

Nigerian-born Helon Habila is a writer, poet, author and an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University, USA. His novels include, Waiting for an Angel (2002), Measuring Time (2007), and Oil on Water (2010). He is the editor of the Granta Book of African Short Story (2011). Habila’s novels, poems, and short stories have won many honours and awards, including the Commonwealth Prize for Best First Novel (Africa Section), the Caine Prize, the Virginia Library Foundation Prize for fiction and most recently the Windham-Campbell Prize. Habila has been a contributing editor for the Virginia Quarterly Review since 2004, and he is a regular reviewer for the Guardian, UK.

Elinor Sisulu is a Zimbabwean-born South Africa writer and human rights activist Elinor Sisulu combines training in history, English literature, development studies and feminist theory from institutions in Zimbabwe, Senegal and the Netherlands. She is the author of the award-winning children's book The Day Gogo Went to Vote. Her biography on her parents-in-law, Walter and Albertina Sisulu: In Our Lifetime secured her the prestigious 2003 Noma Award for publishing in Africa. Elinor’s involvement in book promotion and literary development efforts for many years has culminated in her work with the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation. She has been a judge for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, the Sanlam Youth Literature Prize and the Penguin Africa Writer’s Competition. 

Edwige-Renée Dro is an Ivorian writer and a translator. She is one of the 39 most promising voices under 40 from Africa, south of the Sahara as decided by the Africa39 project. She was the 2015 PEN International New Voices award judge. Edwige-Renée currently works as the director of Danbé Collection, a new imprint of l'Harmattan Editions with a focus on the promotion of Ivorian literature in Abidjan. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and literary journals.

About the Etisalat Prize For Literature
The Etisalat Prize for Literature is a Pan African prize that celebrates debut African writers of published fiction. Previous winners include Zimbabwe’s NoViolet Bulawayo (2013), South Africa’s Songeziwe Mahlangu (2014) and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila (2015). The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, U.K. under the mentorship of Professor Giles Foden, the award-winning author of The Last King of England. The Etisalat Prize also incorporates an award for Flash Fiction; an online-based competition for non-published A

For Inquiries visit:

 http://prize.etisalat.com.ng/how-to-enter

 http://prize.etisalat.com.ng/entry.php

LAST NIGHT

Last night I turned my back on you
But never meant to hurt you
It was a soulless thought
I wouldn't have made it through the night

A pearl in my heart, you are
Without which my emotion would die
We've both made sacrifices
 For a relationship and love that's priceless

I would rather be exile
Than cause pain that will make you cry
I will never forgive myself
Loosing you is like attempting to jump off a cliff

My heart will not survive
The world will be empty and sad
Life will be miserable
For you are invaluable

All Rights Reserved (c) Akan E. Udofia 2016