Tunde Kelani to receive Nigerian Academy of Letters’ Award of Excellence
Veteran Nigerian filmmaker and storyteller, Tunde Kelani, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Award of Excellence in Humanistic Practice by the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).
The honour, announced in a letter dated July 31 and signed by the Secretary of the Academy, Professor Olakunbi O. Olasope, recognises Kelani’s outstanding contributions to filmmaking, storytelling and the promotion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
According to the academy, the award celebrates Kelani’s remarkable career as a filmmaker and multi-talented media practitioner whose works have consistently promoted Nigerian languages, culture and history while enriching the humanities.
“This award recognises your outstanding contributions as a filmmaker, storyteller, and multi-talented media practitioner. Through your exceptional work, you have elevated Nigerian languages, culture, and history, and have remained a professional artist of rare distinction whose practice continues to enrich the humanities,” the letter stated.
The investiture ceremony is scheduled to take place during the Nigerian Academy of Letters’ 2026 Convocation on Thursday, August 13, at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos.
The academy has requested Kelani to confirm his acceptance of the award and availability by August 7 to enable the necessary arrangements, adding that it will cover the logistics for his participation.
The Nigerian Academy of Letters also congratulated the acclaimed filmmaker and expressed its anticipation of celebrating his enduring contributions to Nigerian arts, culture and the humanities.
