Soji Cole

Soji Cole is a Nigerian academic, playwright and author. He is the 2018 recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.[1] His research areas are on drama therapy, trauma studies and cross-cultural performance research.[2][3]

Soji Cole
Dr. Soji Cole in his office (2018)
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
GenreShort story, Realistic fiction, drama

His book, Embers was listed as one of the best Nigerian books for 2018 by Dailytrust Newspaper.[4]

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.[5][6] He was also a visiting fellow at University of Roehampton.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11] 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.[12]

Bibliography
  • My Little Stream (2010) [9]
  • Ghost (2014) [9]
  • Bambo Bambo (2014) [9]
  • Maybe Tomorrow (2014) [9]
  • War Zone (2017) [9]
  • Embers

Recognition

Aside the awards won below, Cole has been shortlisted for Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and BBC World Playwriting Competition.[7][13]

  • African Theater Association (AfTA) Emerging Scholars Prize (2011) [9]
  • The International Federation for Theater Research New Scholar Prize (2013) [9]
  • Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Writing (2014) [10]
  • Nigeria Prize for Literature (2018)

References
  1. "Pomp, drama as Soji Cole wins 2018 Nigeria Prize for Literature". Nigerian Tribune.
  2. "Soji Cole". Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  3. "Soji Cole". Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  4. "15 best books of 2018". Dailytrust. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  5. Unibadan Press. "Dr SOJI COLE, wins NLNG Prize for Literature". University of Ibadan. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  6. "Writer on the rise: Embers earns Soji Cole $100,00 NLNG literature prize". Sun. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  7. "JUDGES FOR THE NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE (NSPP) 2018". Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  8. Bivan, Nathaniel (November 10, 2018). "I endured mosquitoes writing prize-winning book". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  9. "Soji Cole: How I won the NLNG prize". Sun newspaper. November 24, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  10. "NLNG, A Tedious Journey of Expectation & Anxiety – Soji Cole". Leadership Newspaper. November 23, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  11. Ajeluorou, Anote (October 14, 2018). "Absence of clout around literature diminishes its cause". Guardian. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  12. Duru, Prisca-Sam (October 20, 2018). "Soji Cole wins $100,000 NLNG Prize for Literature". Vanguard. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  13. "International radio playwriting competition 2007". BBC. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
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