Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, has joined the Isaac Delano Foundation and the Pan African University Press to institute a prize known as Isaac Oluwole Book Prize for Yoruba Studies.
The award which is worth $1,000 (about N3.6 million) is designed to recognise outstanding works and fictions that uphold and represent the legacy of Yoruba icons, including Isaac Delano, a nationalist and language scholar who in his lifetime committed himself to the proper documentation, preservation, presentation and teaching of the Yoruba language and culture.
Some of Delano’s popular works that border on history, literature, linguistics, biography, religion and sociology include Owe L’Esin Oro, Atumo Ede Yoruba, A Modern Yoruba Grammar, Iran Orun, Josiah Ransome Kuti, The Drummer Boy, and Aiye d’aiye Oyinbo.
The organizers of the award in a statement made available to newsmen by Mr. Godwin Ugbaka from Babcock University said their reason for instituting the award was to promote and revive, just like the late.
Delano, the socio-cultural, political and religious significance of the Yoruba race, and by so doing contribute to the stream of revivalist efforts geared towards the resuscitation of the African spirit.
They noted that the prize would not only encourage and welcome diverse submissions that could contribute to the sustenance of the totality of the Yoruba people, but would also help scholars and young people to contribute to better understanding of the Yoruba race.
So, at the moment, the organisers pointed out, the prize is worth $1,000, making it one of the most robust prizes for Yoruba studies and the most prestigious recognition for Yoruba scholarship globally.
According to the organizers, submission of works for the prize is open to all Yoruba people located in Africa as well as every other person with a shared Yoruba ancestry and scholars of Yoruba Studies.
The selection criteria, they said, include originality, creativity and innovativeness, contribution to Yoruba race and Yoruba studies and so forth.
They said while submission of opened on February 15 and closes May 30, the winner would be announced in December 2020. Members of supervisory board for the award include Dr Bola Dauda, chairman; Chief Akinwande Delano; Professor Bola Sotunsa; Dr Michael Afolayan, and Dr Olajumoke Jacob-Haliso.
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