Award-winning writer, Chibundu Onuzo has been elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Literature. Chibundu Onuzo is a Nigerian novelist. Her first novel, The Spider King’s Daughter, won a Betty Trask Award, was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her second novel, Welcome to Lagos has received so many recognitions and awards as well. Chibundu, whose idea for the book Welcome to Lagos, came to her in a dream, was yesterday honored for her amazing literary works.
The Royal Society of Literature comprises up to 500 fellows who are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FRSL.
New fellows of the Royal Society of Literature are elected by its current fellows. To be nominated for fellowship, a writer must have published two works of literary merit, and nominations must be seconded by an RSL fellow. All nominations are presented to members of the Council of the Royal Society of Literature, who vote biannually to elect new fellows. Nominated candidates who have not been successful are reconsidered at every election for three years from the year in which they were proposed. Newly elected fellows are introduced at the Society’s AGM and summer party. While the President reads a citation for each, they are invited to sign their names in the roll book which dates back to 1820, using either T. S. Eliot’s fountain pen or Byron’s pen.
In an Instagram post, Chibundu proclaimed her excitement at being elected as a Fellow “What an honor to be elected a Fellow to the Royal Society of Literature as part of the 40 under 40 cohorts. Special shout out to my fellow Naija Fellows, @inuaellams @bolaagbaje and Irenoson Okojie. The four of us made up 10% of the group. Another example of Naija not carrying last.🙂 The Royal Society of Literature has existed for almost two hundred years and I’m very glad to be officially part of it. Swipe right to see me signing the register with George Eliot’s pen. And I bet you’re wondering what the Duchess of Cornwall and I were discussing?”
Swipe left to see the photos.
Learn more about the Royal Society for Literature on their website and on Guardian.
Follow up with these 10 Tips on Writing from Zadie Smith.
Featured Image via Faber Books website.