Rachel Ajisafe received the top award alongside a cash prize of ₦500,000 for her compelling oral performance, “Haunting Song of Promises”.
By Emmanuel ‘Waziri’ Okoro
The Witsprouts Project, a cultural organisation dedicated to reviving and celebrating African performance arts, has announced Rachel Ajisafe as the winner of the inaugural Witsprouts Storytelling Prize 2025.
Ajisafe received the top award alongside a cash prize of ₦500,000 for her compelling oral performance, “Haunting Song of Promises”. The prize, launched under the theme, Rebooting Legends and Memories, seeks to identify and celebrate outstanding Nigerian storytellers capable of bringing the country’s ancient oral traditions into the digital age.
The competition involved a two-stage process. Following an initial public call for video submissions, three finalists were shortlisted: Debbie Ajom, Keesh Rowland, and eventual winner, Rachel Ajisafe. Each was invited to submit a second story privately for the final judging round.
Ajisafe’s performance, which focused on the cultural heritage of Sango, impressed the judging panel comprising writer and filmmaker, Jude Idada, and playwright, Akanbi Taofeek. They praised her “natural storytelling with a poetic flair”, commending her ability to create vivid imagery and her energetic delivery that went far beyond simple recitation.
Tope Akintayo, Director of the Witsprouts Project, highlighted the importance of Ajisafe’s achievement: “Rachel Ajisafe’s victory is a testament to the enduring power and relevance of African oral storytelling in the modern age. She embodies our mission to connect the wisdom of our ancestors with the creativity of the next generation. We are incredibly proud to celebrate her truly exceptional talent”.
The Witsprouts Storytelling Prize will host a virtual awards ceremony later this year to formally celebrate the winner and all finalists. The organisation has confirmed that the prize will return in 2026.
Through initiatives such as the Storytelling Prize, the Witsprouts Project continues its mission to foster engagement with African arts and culture, while promoting artistic excellence and safeguarding vital cultural traditions.