By Prosper Mene
Acclaimed Nigerian author, publisher and cultural advocate, Lola Shoneyin, has been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL), the UK’s leading charity dedicated to promoting literature.
Her formal induction took place during the RSL’s annual summer event in London. Founded in 1820 by King George IV, the Society elects Fellows based on their outstanding literary work and significant contribution to global literature.
In line with tradition, new Fellows sign the RSL Roll Book, a historic register that dates back to 1825. Shoneyin marked her induction by signing with a historic dip pen once owned by 19th-century novelist George Eliot.
Shoneyin gained international recognition with her debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. The book was longlisted for the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction and went on to win both the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award and the Ken Saro-Wiwa Prose Prize.
Beyond writing, she has been a major force in Africa’s creative industry. She serves as Director of the Book Buzz Foundation, Founder of the Aké Arts and Book Festival, and Founder of Lagos-based publishing outfit and bookstore, Ouida Books.
The RSL said her election reflects its growing commitment to honouring international writers whose work is shaping the global literary scene and inspiring the next generation of storytellers.
