Akeem Lasisi
Multi-talented writer, Jude Idada, has emerged winner of the 2019 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.
He won the 15th edition of the prize founded and sponsored by Nigeria NLG, with which children’s book titled ‘Boom Boom’.
The Literature Committee headed by Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo announced the winner at an event in Abuja on Friday evening, based on the verdict of the judges.
On the panel are Professor Obodimma Oha, professor of Cultural Semiotics and Stylistics in the Department of English, University of Ibadan; Professor Asabe Usman Kabir, professor of Oral and African Literatures at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto; and Dr. Patrick Oloko, a Senior lecturer at the University of Lagos Nigeria who specialises in African postcolonial literature, gender and cultural studies.
Idada’s work emerged from a short list of three, with the other two being ‘ Mystery at Ebenezer’s Lodge’ by Dunni Olatunde and ‘The Great Walls of Benin’ by O. T. Begho.
One of the elements that brought Idada the honour is perseverance because he had at least twice participated in the contest before.
The victory thus opens for him the hall of fame of those who have won the award that some have described as the Nigeria’s own Nobel prize.
Reacting, he said he dedicated “everyone living with sickle cell anaemia” who he described as warriors. He also dedicated the award to his niece, nicknamed Boom Boom, whom he described as the inspiration behind the book.
he declared: “This award is for everyone; the last three finalists, the 12-year-old girl that was also a contender and one of those cheering me all the way. We will keep winning.”
According to a profile, Idada was a pure science student in high school without any background in the arts. He initially applied to study medicine in the university but, later, he changed his course of study to agricultural economics.
The profile further reads: “After a couple of semesters in agriculture, Idada quit studying agricultural economics and stayed at home for nine months after which, he got admitted to the University of Ibadan to study theater arts where he had his first degree.
“After graduation, Idada worked at Guardian Express Bank, a job he got while he was still a corps member after which he moved to Arthur Andersen. He immigrated to Canada, did a postgraduate and worked in banks, telecommunication firms and along that line. After seeing a short film with friends, he resigned his job to pursue writing and film production.
“He was selected as one of the screenwriters for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Adapt This! and the Afrinolly/Ford Foundation Cinema4Change projects. Idada was also an inaugural participant in the Relativity Media/AFRIFF Filmmaking project.
“He is the Artistic director of the Africa Theatre Ensemble in Toronto, Canada. Idada has stage plays, collection of short stories, poetry to his credit. Stage plays: Flood, Brixton Stories, Lost and Coma, 3some. He has also written and published a collection of short stories: A Box of Chocolates, Exotica Celestica. Written and directed Stage plays: Oduduwa – King of the Edos, By My Own Hands and a children’s book Didi Kanu and the Singing Dwarfs of the North.[7]
“As an acting coach, Idada teaches a wide variety of thespians, the rudiments and technicalities of acting for stage and for film. He has also guest lectured for the African Theatre Ensemble in Canada, the Mofilm/Unilever Sunlight Foundation Film Project in Nigeria, the AIDS foundation in Guyana and also chaired several panels at International Film Festivals and writing for various magazines.”
Some of Idada’s works
Films
Chameleon (Short Film) – 2016 – Writer/Director
Blaze Up The Ghetto (Documentary) – 2010 – Director
The Tenant (Feature Film) – 2005 – Writer/Producer
Inside (Short Film) – 2000 – Director/Producer
The Woman in my Closet – (Short Film) – 1999 – Director/Producer
Young Wise Fools – (Short Film) – 1999 – Director/Producer
Stage plays[edit]
3some by Idada – 2018 – Director/Producer
Coma by Idada – 2013 – Director
Lost by Modupe Olaogun – 2013 – Director
Brixton Stories by Biyi Bandele – 2012 – Director
The Flood by Femi Osofisan – 2011 – Director
In The Name of The Father – 2008 – Writer/Director
The Seed of Life – 2008 – Writer/Director
Love is the Word – 2007 – Writer/Director
Your God is Dead – 2000 – Director/Writer/Producer
Power of Love – 1999 – Director/Writer/Producer
Snares of Lucifer – 1998 – Director/Writer/Producer
Screenplays
Simi (feature film) – 2016 – For Applegazer and Karmacause Productions, Producer, Udoka Oyeka
Tatu (Feature film) – 2016 – For Filmhouse Productions, Producer, Don Omope
The River (feature film) – 2015 – For Applegazer and Karmacause Productions, Producer Orode Uduaghan
House Girls (TV Series) – 2015 – For Xandria Productions; Producers, Chineze Anyaene, Theophilus Ukpaa.
Driving Mr Akin (feature film) – 2015 – For Xandra Productions, Producer, Chineze Anyaene.
Doctor Death (feature film) – 2014 – For Raconteur/Creoternity Productions, Producer Chioma Onyenwe
The Road (Short film) – 2014 – For Afrinolly/Ford Foundation
Justice (Short film) – 2014 – For Elvina Ibru Productions
Sunshine (feature film) – 2013
Coma (Feature Film) – 2012 – For I Take Media, Producers, Fabian Lojede, Mickey Dube
Journeys of One (Feature Film) – 2011 – For Omcomm Communications, Producer; Soledad Grognett
Lagos Connection (Feature Film) – 2011 – For 1 Take Media, Producer; Fabian Lojede
Afreeka (Feature Film) – 2010
The Drum (Feature Film) – 2010
Sex in the Age of Innocence (Feature Film) – 2009
No More An Uncle Tom (Feature Film) – 2009
The Dilemma (Feature Film) – 2008
Ghetto Red Hot (Feature Film) – 2007 – (Optioned)
Mirage (Feature Film) – 2006
Kite (Feature Film) – 2006 – for NTFG Productions, Producer Yifei Zhang
The Tenant (Feature Film) – 2005 – released 2008 by Broken Manacles Entertainment
Somewhere in Between (Feature Film) – 2005 (Optioned)
Faces of a Coin (Feature Film) – 2004 (Optioned)
Inside – (Short Film) – 2000
The Woman in my Closet – (Short Film) – 1999
Young Wise Fools – (Short Film) – 1999
Two Faces of a Coin (Short Film) – 1998
Stage plays
Sankara – 2016 – Commissioned by G.R.I.P media
MKO – 2016 – Commissioned by the MKO Abiola family
3some – 2016 – Optioned by Make It Happen Productions
The March – 2016 – Optioned by Theatre Magnifica
Resurrection – 2014 – Optioned by Oracles Repertory Theatre
The Calling – 2013 – Commissioned by African Theatre Ensemble
Coma – 2012 – Optioned by Oracles Repertory Theatre
In The Name of The Father – 2008 – Performed by the Visionaries
The Seed of Life – 2008 – Performed by the Visionaires
Love is the Word – 2007 – Performed by the Visionaires
Vendetta – 2006 – Optioned by the Africa Theatre Ensemble
Oduduwa “King of the Edos” – 2005 – Performed by the Oracle Repertory Theatre
Published by Createspace/Creoternity Books
Power of Love – 1994 – Performed by Neighbours International
Your God is Dead – 1994 – Performed by Neighbours International
Snares of Lucifer – 1993 – Performed by Neighbours International
