The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has named six writers it selected for its inaugural edition of the ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa International Writers’ Residency.
They are Osedebamen David Oamen, Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema, Aliyu Muhammad, Maymunah Kadiri, Bizuum Yadok, and Joel Oyeleke.
The Residency Manager, Husayn Zaguru, stated in a press release today in Abuja that the development was “a significant milestone for Nigerian literature,” arguing that the six writers emerged after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.
He said their residency will take place at the esteemed Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja from August 30 to September 29, 2025.
Zaguru noted: “Under the visionary leadership of ANA President Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, this landmark residency represents a bold step in strengthening the culture of literary residency in Nigeria.
“The selected residents embody the fearless and imaginative spirit of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria’s renowned writer and environmental activist.”
He gave a brief profile of the 2025 cohorts as follows:
1. Osedebamen David Oamen: A multifaceted creative – playwright, poet, storyteller, songwriter, singer, and cultural activist. As an Associate Professor at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, he has published extensively and manages Forthspring Publishing Venture.
2. Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema: A fiction writer known for exploring themes of alienation through speculative fiction. She is the founder of a creative writing community for secondary school students and has been published in several notable journals.
3. Aliyu Muhammad: A bilingual creative writer, poet, and linguist with publications in Songs of Almajiri: An Anthology of Poems. He is also a community builder through writing and environmental initiatives.
4. Maymunah Kadiri: A celebrated storyteller, poet, screenwriter, and editor whose work interrogates justice, identity, and women’s lives. She has won multiple awards, including the ANA Kogi/Yusuf Ali Short Story Prize.
5. Bizuum Yadok: A poet, critic, and literary administrator who has authored two notable books – King of the Jungle and Echoes of the Plateau. He co-founded the Plateau Writers’ Society and won the 2024 Sevhage/E.E. Sule Prize for African Literary Criticism.
6. Joel Oyeleke: A poet and essayist whose works explore apologetics, literature, and therapy. He is the author of God is a Poet (2024) and serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the ANA OAU Subchapter.
A New Literary Milestone
Zaguru said: “This residency promises to be a transformative experience for these emerging voices, providing them with a rare opportunity to deepen their craft, collaborate across genres, and contribute to Nigeria’s vibrant cultural life.
“As they embark on this month-long creative journey, literary enthusiasts and readers alike eagerly anticipate the innovative works and collaborations that will emerge from this historic gathering.”
