Soji Cole
{{short description|Nigerian academic, playwright, and author|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Soji Cole
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| image = 2018_NLNG_Prize_for_Literature_winner_Soji_Cole.jpg
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| caption = Dr. Soji Cole in his office (2018)
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| birth_name = Olusoji Henry Cole
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| birth_place = Mushin Oloosa, Lagos State, Nigeria
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| occupation = Writer
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| nationality = Nigerian
| citizenship = Nigeria
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| alma_mater = University of Ibadan
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| genre = Short story, Realistic fiction, drama
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| awards = Nigeria Prize for Literature
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| years_active = 2010 - present
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Soji Cole is a Nigerian academic, playwright, and author. He is the 2018 recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/170895/ |title=Pomp, drama as Soji Cole wins 2018 Nigeria Prize for Literature |website=Nigerian Tribune}} His research areas are on drama therapy, trauma studies and cross-cultural performance research.{{Cite web |url=https://ui-edu-ng.academia.edu/SojiCole |title=Soji Cole |access-date=2018-12-31}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Soji_Cole2 |title=Soji Cole |access-date=2018-12-31}}
His book, Embers was listed as one of the best Nigerian books for 2018 by Dailytrust Newspaper.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/15-best-books-of-2018.html |title=15 best books of 2018 |website=Dailytrust |access-date=2018-12-22}}
Early life and education
Born on 27 December 1976, Olusoji Henry Cole was born into the family of Mr Gbadebo John Cole and Mrs Gbemisola Adunni Cole at Mushin Oloosa, Lagos, Nigeria
Cole is an alumnus of University of Ibadan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ui.edu.ng/news/dr-soji-cole-wins-nlng-prize-literature |title=Dr SOJI COLE, wins NLNG Prize for Literature |last=Unibadan Press |website=University of Ibadan |access-date=2018-12-23}}{{Cite web |url=https://sunnewsonline.com/writer-on-the-rise-embers-earns-soji-cole-10000-nlng-literature-prize/ |title=Writer on the rise: Embers earns Soji Cole $100,00 NLNG literature prize |website=Sun |access-date=2018-12-23}} He was also a visiting fellow at University of Roehampton.{{Cite web |url=http://www.poetsinnigeria.org.ng/index.php/judges-for-the-nigerian-students-poetry-prize-nspp-2018/ |title=JUDGES FOR THE NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE (NSPP) 2018 |access-date=2018-12-23}}
Writing career
Cole disclosed to Dailytrust that writing short stories was how he got his first publication. Speaking on challenges of emerging authors in Nigeria, he singled financial constraints and infrastructural decline as factors diminishing the litOloerary drive in the country. He also recounted how electricity was a huge challenge while writing his novels.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-endured-mosquitoes-writing-prize-winning-book.html |title=I endured mosquitoes writing prize-winning book |last=Bivan |first=Nathaniel |date=November 10, 2018 |website=Daily Trust |access-date=2018-12-22}} In an interview with The Sun, Cole recalled that he began writing while in elementary school just to feel among his age-groups. He also narrated how My Little Stream became his first published novel.{{Cite web |url=https://sunnewsonline.com/soji-cole-how-i-won-the-nlng-prize/ |title=Soji Cole: How I won the NLNG prize |date=November 24, 2018 |website=Sun newspaper |access-date=2018-12-22}} He published his first play, Maybe Tomorrow (2014), a story based on the plight of the people in the Niger Delta. The book was long-listed for the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature, and won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) award.{{Cite web |url=https://leadership.ng/2018/11/23/nlng-a-tedious-journey-of-expectation-anxiety-soji-cole/ |title=NLNG, A Tedious Journey of Expectation & Anxiety – Soji Cole |date=November 23, 2018 |website=Leadership Newspaper |access-date=2018-12-22}}{{Cite web |url=https://guardian.ng/art/absence-of-clout-around-literature-diminishes-its-cause/ |title=Absence of clout around literature diminishes its cause |last=Ajeluorou |first=Anote |date=October 14, 2018 |website=Guardian |access-date=2018-12-22}} In October 2018, Cole book Embers emerged best out of 89 entries that qualified for the 2018 Nigeria Prize for Literature. The book was on the impact of religious and ethnic violence on the living conditions of persons in Northern Nigeria.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/soji-cole-wins-100000-nlng-prize-for-literature/ |title=Soji Cole wins $100,000 NLNG Prize for Literature |last=Duru |first=Prisca-Sam |date=October 20, 2018 |website=Vanguard |access-date=2018-12-22}}
Bibliography
Recognition
Aside the awards won below, Cole has been shortlisted for Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and BBC World Playwriting Competition.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1521_int_play_comp/ |title=International radio playwriting competition 2007 |website=BBC |access-date=2018-12-23}}
- African Theater Association (AfTA) Emerging Scholars Prize (2011)
- The International Federation for Theater Research New Scholar Prize (2013)
- Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Writing (2014)
- Nigeria Prize for Literature (2018)
References
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Category:University of Ibadan alumni
Category:Nigeria Prize for Literature winners