Commonwealth Writer’s Prize

Aminatta Forna wins 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

May 21, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa Leave a Comment

Sierra-Leonean author Aminatta Forna was today announced as winner of the 2011 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize. Her book, The Memory of Love took the Best Book prize, while the prize for Best First Book went to Craig Cliff from New Zealand for his book, A Man Melting.

Forna, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa has had a magnificent year and is on the shortlist for a number of other literary prizes. Her first book, The Devil that Danced on the Water, was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2003.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: Africa Books, African writers, Aminatta Forna, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, The Memory of Love

Cynthia Jele on Winning Best First Book Award

April 4, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa 2 Comments

South African author, Cynthia Jele was recently announced as one of the winners of the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Africa region. Her book, “Happiness is a Four-Letter Word” scooped top prize in the “Best First Book” category beating off stiff competition from the likes of Chioma Okereke, Alastair Bruce and E.C. Osundu.

Africa Book Club interviewed Jele about the exciting news, her new book and her budding writing career. She also talks her source of inspiration as a writer and what it takes to succeed.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: African Writing, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Cynthia Jele, Happinness is a Four Letter Word, South Africa

Helon Habila

March 5, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa 1 Comment

Born in Gombe State, Nigeria, Helon Habila has been referred to by some as the new Wole Soyinka of Nigeria. Like Soyinka, Habila is both a poet and prose-writer, who has achieved international recognition in both genres.

Filed Under: Featured Writers Tagged With: African writers, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Helon Habila, Measuring Time, Nigeria, Oil on Water, Waiting for an Angel

Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Regional Winners Announced

March 4, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa Leave a Comment

Sierra Leonean author Aminatta Forna and South Africa’s Cynthia Jele were today announced as the winners of the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Africa region. Forna’s book, The Memory of Love won the “Best Book” prize, while Jele’s “Happiness is a Four Letter Word” bagged the “Best First Book” prize.

Filed Under: News Roundup Tagged With: African Writing, Aminatta Forna, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Cynthia Jele, Nigeria, South Africa

An Interview with Ghanaian Author Benjamin Kwakye

February 27, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa 1 Comment

Africa Book Club interviews Benjamin Kwakye, one of Africa’s most successful contemporary writers. An award winning author, whose book, “The Sun by Night” won the 2006 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book (Africa Region), he is currently based in the US, where he practises law. He is also a director for a non-governmental organization that promotes science education in Africa. Kwakye’s latest book, The Other Crucifix, came out in late 2010 and was published by Ayebia Clarke Publishing.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: African writers, Afrincan Writing, Benjamin Kwakye, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Ghana, The Other Crucifix

An Interview with Award Winning Author, Manu Herbstein

January 26, 2011 By Daniel Musiitwa 4 Comments

In this month’s Writer’s Spotlight, Africa Book Club interviews South African author, Manu Herbstein, whose book Ama, A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade won the Best First Book: Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2002. Manu is currently based in Ghana, where he has lived since 1970. He visits South Africa regularly.

In this interview, Manu talks about his early years, life as a writer, the challenges of finding a publisher and how he got his first break. He also tells us about his role in the anti-apartheid movement. Manu’s latest book, The Brave Music of a Distant Drum won an honourable mention in the 2010 Burt Award for Ghana and will be published in Canada in late 2011 or early 2012

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: African writers, African Writing, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Ghana, Manu Herbstein, South Africa

Summer Time (by J.M. Coetzee)

October 4, 2010 By Daniel Musiitwa Leave a Comment

In Summertime, Coetzee reimagines his life in the 1970s, and although the story focuses on the imaginary John Coetzee, there are many similarities to the real Coetzee. Both are from South Africa. Like the real Coetzee, the John in Summertime returns home from overseas. Strikingly, he too has won a Nobel Prize.

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: African Fiction, African Writing, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, J.M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize in Literature, South Africa

Festus Iyayi

August 29, 2010 By Daniel Musiitwa 2 Comments

Africa’s best writers generally tend to be very well educated folks, often having attended some of the top universities on the continent, and in the west. But even by the generally high standards we have come to expect, Festus Iyayi’s credentials stand out.

Filed Under: Featured Writers Tagged With: African writers, African Writing, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Festus Iyayi, Nigeria

Uwem Akpam

August 28, 2010 By Daniel Musiitwa Leave a Comment

Uwe Akpan rose to international fame when his book “Say You’re One of Them) was picked by the Oprah Winfrey for her book club in September 2009. He has been interviewed by various international media, including the New York Times, the New Yorker magazine and CNN.

Filed Under: Featured Writers Tagged With: African writers, African Writing, Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Nigeria, Oprah Winfrey Book Club, Rwanda, Uwe Akpan

Aminatta Forna wins 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

Cynthia Jele on Winning Best First Book Award

Helon Habila

Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Regional Winners Announced

An Interview with Ghanaian Author Benjamin Kwakye

An Interview with Award Winning Author, Manu Herbstein

Summer Time (by J.M. Coetzee)

Festus Iyayi

Uwem Akpam

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