The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has congratulated four Nigerian writers who have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
The writers—Hussani Abdulrahim, Oluwatoke Adejoye, Dawn Immanuel, and Ola W. Halim—were selected from a highly competitive pool of 7,806 entries from across the Commonwealth.
They are part of a 25-member shortlist drawn from 14 countries, making this year’s prize one of the most fiercely contested literary awards in the world.
A statement issued by ANA President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, and General Secretary, Dame Joan Oji PhD, expressed the association’s pride in the outstanding achievements of these writers.
They said: “This recognition highlights the impressive literary talent emerging from Nigeria and reinforces the country’s growing influence in the global literary community.”
They added: “Their inclusion in the shortlist reflects the strength of Nigerian literature and the increasing international recognition of its writers.
All four writers, in their early thirties, represent four of the seven African finalists, alongside other entries from Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya.
The Nigerian writers’ shortlisted works include Abdulrahim’s Arewa Girls, Adejoye’s New Things, Immanuel’s The God under the Bed, and Halim’s Shock Me I Shock You. Notably, Halim is a repeat contender, having also been shortlisted in 2021.
The 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize attracted 7,806 submissions from 54 Commonwealth countries. The final shortlist includes 11 men and 14 women, aged between 25 and 68.
This diversity further emphasises the global reach of the prize and the variety of voices it continues to celebrate.
Akanbi and Oji said: “ANA commends these Nigerian writers for their exceptional work and encourages continued support from the literary community as they advance in the competition.
“The association stands with them as they move forward, eagerly anticipating their continued success in the final stages.
“This achievement further highlights the growing prominence of Nigerian literature, and ANA remains committed to supporting the country’s writers as they make their mark on the global literary stage.”
