Post by Culture, The Arts, Entertainment (@culturepower)
Acclaimed Nigerian author, poet, publisher, and cultural entrepreneur Lola Shoneyin has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
"From Lagos to London, literature continues to strengthen the ties between the UK and Nigeria.
Congratulations to @lolashoneyin on being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature - @royalsocietyofliterature.
The UK and Nigeria share a rich literary heritage, and this recognition is a reminder of how stories, ideas and creativity continue to connect our two countries.
Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement, @lolashoneyin." wrote the British High Commission in Nigeria's official social media account.
The formal induction took place during the society’s annual summer gathering in London, where Shoneyin officially joined the UK’s premier charity for the advancement of literature. Founded in 1820 by King George IV, the RSL reserves its Fellowship for writers who have produced works of exceptional distinction and made lasting contributions to global literary culture.
As part of the induction tradition, newly elected Fellows sign the official RSL Roll Book—a historical register dating back to 1825. Shoneyin marked her induction by signing the record using a historic dip pen once owned by the 19th-century English novelist George Eliot.
Shoneyin achieved international critical acclaim with her debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. In April 2014 she was named on the Hay Festival’s Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define trends in African literature. Lola won the PEN Award in America as well as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Award for prose in Nigeria. She was also on the list for the Orange Prize in the UK for her debut novel, The Secret of Baba Segi’s Wives, in 2010. In 2017, she was named African Literary Person of the Year by Brittle Paper. She was published three volumes of poetry so far.
Congratulations Lola Shoneyin! 💚🤍💚
#Literature #NaijaPride #LolaShoneyin #Books #Reading
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