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South African author, Songeziwe Mahlangu, has emerged winner of the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature competition at the ceremony which took place on Sunday at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos. The Cape Town resident won the prize for his debut novel ‘Penumbra’, a story of the life of an underachieving young man suffering from mental illness in post-apartheid South Africa. ‎ ‎‎ The 30 year-old writer beat fellow South African, Nadia Davids and Nigerian, Chinelo Okparanta to the grand prize of £15,000. In addition to his prize, Songeziwe will attend the prestigious Etisalat Fellowship at the University of East Anglia where he will be mentored by Professor Giles Foden. When asked what he would use the money for, he commented, “I will use the money to support myself for the next two years while I keep on writing” said a visibly emotional Mahlangu. He also thanked his publisher and his mother for giving him a platform and believing in him. ‎ Music was supplied by Angelique Kidjo who closed the show with breathtaking performances of her hit songs including: Wobolombo, Agolo, Eva, Mama Africa among other hits. She also featured the Winner of the Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol season 4, Evelle, who had earlier performed her hit song, Kilimanjaro. Mahlangu now joins Zimbabwean, NoViolet Bulawayo as the second winner of the annual pan African prize that promotes the work of published first time authors.‎  
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This article was first published on 17th March 2015

michael-abimboye

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