The $10,000 prize is awarded every two years to the best book written by an African.

Anena's A Nation in Labour and Nigeria's Tanure Ojaide's Songs of Myselfjointly won the prize at an event held in Lagos, Nigeria.

She took to Twitter and said: "Super happy to be the joint winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, 2018, for my book A Nation in Labour."

This year’s edition of the prize was for poetry from 11 African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

110 submissions were received for the prize and were later sieved to a shortlist of three by a jury led by Margaret Busby -- a publisher, writer and Editorial Director of Literary Works.

"The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa seeks to celebrate excellence in all its cerebral grace, its liberal quality, the honour and recognition it brings to a myriad of people of diverse cultures and languages."

Anena's short stories and poems have featured in the Caine Prize anthology 2013 and Jalada Africa.

She had described the nomination for the prestigious award as 'overwhelming in a great way' that 'made me feel light and deeply grateful'.

"A Nation In Labour is a collection of social conscience poetry that paints a picture of the giant politician, the restless citizen, the clueless youth, those struggling to heal from life's scratches and the ones hunting for words to describe fiery flames of affection."