The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, internationally recognised for its role in celebrating ground-breaking works from both new and established authors, on Friday said female writers dominate the Africa regional shortlist for the 2011 Prize.
The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation and now in its 25th year, has selected nine African women on a shortlist of 12 for the regional Best Book and Best First Book awards.
According to a statement received in Accra on Friday, the winners from Africa would go on to compete against writers from across the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize’s final programme to be held at the Sydney Writers’ Festival from the May 16-22.
The shortlisted writers for the Africa Best Book are:
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone); Men of the South by Sukiswa Wanner (South Africa); The Unseen Leopard by Bridget Pitt (South Africa); Oil on Water by Helon Habila (Nigeria); Blood at Bay by Sue Rabie (South Africa) and Banquet at Brabazan by Patricia Schonstein (South Africa).
The short listed writers for the Africa Best First Book are: Happiness is a Four Letter Word by Cynthia Jele (South Africa); Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke (Nigeria); The Fossil Artist by Graeme Friedman (South Africa); Colour Blind by Uzoma Uponi (Nigeria); Voice of America by E. C. Osondu (Nigeria); Wall of Days by Alastair Bruce (South Africa)
The statement said for the last 25 years the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize had played a key role in bringing African literature to an international audience, unearthing compelling stories of human experience.
It said winners of this year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize would follow in the footsteps of the biggest African names in fiction, including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who won the Best First Book award in 2005 for her book Purple Hibiscus.
The statement said the regional winners of the Best Book and First Book prizes would be announced on the March 3, with the final programme commencing on the may 16 May at the Sydney Writers’ Festival in Australia.
This, it said, would bring together the finalists from the four different regions of the Commonwealth, and the two overall winners would be announced on the May 21.
Commonwealth Foundation Director, Dr. Mark Collins, said: “The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize aims to reward the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English and underlines our commitment to promoting cultural exchange and diversity.
“This year the range of subjects, the breadth of genres and the diversity of writers will bring the very best of Commonwealth literature to new audiences.
“The support of the Macquarie Group Foundation has seen the Prize gain in international standing and expands its reach. This year we’re delighted to be holding our final award programme in Sydney, the home of Macquarie, at Sydney Writers’ Festival.”
Mr David Clarke, Chairman of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the main supporter of the Prize, added: "The Macquarie Group Foundation's continuing support of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in its 25th year is the cornerstone of Macquarie's arts philanthropy. The Prize plays a valuable role in recognising and rewarding diverse literary talents and, in so doing, connects global communities."
Commenting on the shortlist for Best Book, Ms. Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Africa Regional Chair, said: “One couldn't help but be struck by the dazzling diversity of the approaches to telling a love story presented by the 2011 Best Book entries from the Africa Region.”
Commenting on the shortlist for Best First Book, Ms Yeboah-Afari added: “In a world now so focused on other creative forms, the talent demonstrated by these first works of fiction is awesome and gives hope for the future of creative writing in Africa.”