The Witsprouts Project has announced Rachel Ajisafe as the grand winner of the inaugural Witsprouts Storytelling Prize for 2025. Ajisafe clinched the award, including a cash prize of ₦500,000, with a foundation set by her initial public entry, “Haunting Song of Promises,” and cemented by her shortlist-stage private submission, a retelling of the classic Sango folklore.
The competition, which launched earlier in the year with the theme “Rebooting Legends and Memories,” sought to revive the rich tradition of African oral storytelling by challenging Nigerian storytellers to create original, theatrical video performances.
The selection process began with an initial public call for video submissions. From many entries, three outstanding performers were shortlisted: Debbie Ajom for “His Last Safe House,” Keesh Rowland for “Tomorrow Didn’t Die,” and Rachel Ajisafe for “Haunting Song of Promises.”
These finalists were then invited to submit a second, shorter story privately for the final round of review by the judging panel, which included award-winning writer and filmmaker Jude Idada and acclaimed playwright Akanbi Taofeek.
Rachel Ajisafe’s winning performance, a powerful and emotive reimagining of a classic folklore motif, deeply impressed the judges. The panel noted her natural gift for narrative, describing her as “a natural storyteller with a poetic flair” who created stunning visual images with her words. They further commended her theatrical approach, observing that she “performs and not just recites,” giving her work a high-impact, stylistic feel.
The judges also praised Ajisafe’s commitment to cultural heritage, noting how she successfully centred her narrative around the story of Sango. Her “energetic delivery and clear passion for the subject matter brought an engaging vitality to her performance.” While noting that enhancing the visual quality of her submission would help elevate its overall impact, the panel concluded that Ajisafe showed “Strong effort and promising growth,” solidifying her as the deserving winner.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate Rachel Ajisafe, a truly exceptional talent,” said Tope Akintayo, Director of The Witsprouts Project. “When we conceived of this prize, our goal was to bring the ‘tales by moonlight’ experience back to life. Rachel, alongside our other finalists, has shown that there is a hunger for innovative, high-quality oral storytelling that honours our heritage.”
The Witsprouts Storytelling Prize received a few submissions from storytellers both in Nigeria and the diaspora, but hopes to improve on the visibility of the prize in subsequent years so it can properly establish itself as a vital platform for nurturing a new generation of performers and creatives who can leverage digital media to share their narratives.
