| www.nomaaward.org | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
THE NOMA AWARD FOR
|
||||||||||||
|
MONUMENTAL REFERENCE WORK ON THE HISTORY OF THE ARABIC NOVEL WINS 2002 NOMA AWARD The Arabic Novel: Bibliography and Critical Introduction, 1865-1995 (6 vols.) by Hamdi Sakkut is announced as the 2002 Noma Award Winner. The book was published in 2001 by The American University in Cairo Press. The 23rd Award, for 2002, marks the first time that a University Press has won the Award. The Jury citation reads: “This comprehensive bibliography of the Arabic-language novel is a monumental reference work that fills a gaping hole in the history of Arabic literature. Covering the most mature novels from Africa and across the Arab world, it presents a spectacular amount of bibliographic information, unsurpassed in its scope. The scholarship is both rigorous and daring, opening new research agendas in the field. Arabic was established as one of Africa's languages by 632 A.D.; and this work will be a major canon of the African continental literature, unlikely to be surpassed for many years to come. The Award recognises the outstanding scholarship, and the furtherance of important work in African languages.” Volume 1 contains Prefaces and a Critical Introduction in Arabic, with an English translation; and a list of Arabic novels translated into English. Volumes 2-6 present the body of the bibliographic information, including short biographies and lists of critical essays - in Arabic and in European languages - about each title. Entries are alphabetically arranged by novel, with their critical writings in one listing and without such writings in another. They are chronologically and geographically indexed by country. The $10,000 23rd. Award will be presented at a special ceremony to be held in Africa in 2003, details of which will be announced. The Jury singled out two further books for Special Commendation (alphabetical order by publisher): Regions of Floristic Endemism in Southern Africa by Abraham van Wyk and Gideon Smith (Gauteng, SA: Umdaus Press (Pty) Ltd, 2001).This is an outstanding ecological work. It documents endemic plant species in Southern Africa, and particularly the Cape, which has a greater number of endemic plant species than any other area of comparable size in the world. The scope and depth of the treatment combined with the stunning illustrations are completely new for this discipline of plant geography coupled to conservation. All aspects of production – paper, layout and excellent mapping – contribute to a visually very beautiful book. Rock Paintings of South Africa: Revealing a Legacy by Stephen Townley Bassett (Claremont: David Philip Publishers, 2001) is a striking visual documentation of the San painting tradition, spanning more than 27,000 years. It contains 70 full-colour plates of the author's meticulously painted recordings of San murals rendered from those found in rock shelters throughout South Africa. It is a highly unusual, important and innovative book describing and discussing South African rock paintings. The central feature is the author's copies of the paintings, and it is unique in its focus on actual painting techniques and the (projected) relationship between the artist, subject and medium. Three first-novels were cited for Honourable Mention. The Jury considered the writers to have distinctive potential, and the books themselves were of the kind likely to spread reading in Africa. The titles (alphabetical by publisher) are: Parched Earth by Elieshi Lema (Dar es Salaam: E&D Ltd, 2001). Deep and wise, this love story is perhaps the first feminist novel from Tanzania in English. The story of a woman coming to age against the strictures of patriarchy, it is psychologically convincing, told in a style full of suggestive imagery which underlies the themes. Slagoffers by Dine van Zyl (Cape Town: Tafelberg Publishers, 2001). Set in Angola during the Swapo/UNITA war, the novel convincingly portrays the sufferings of women during the chaos of the war. Its importance lies in exposing the violent history, not least in Afrikaans, a language not often used to recount atrocities suffered by Africans. Welcome to our Hillbrow by Phaswane Mpe (University of Natal Press, 2001). Set in a South African township, the painful subject matter is AIDS, suicide and xenophobia. Its form vividly captures the chaotic, ambilvant and schizophrenic world of the New South Africa with vividness and imagination; and is unusual in its use of techniques borrowed from the African oral tradition. 94 titles, from 56 African publishers, in 18 countries, in 6 languages, were submitted for the 2002 competition. The Noma Award Jury is chaired by Walter Bgoya from Tanzania, one of Africa's most distinguished and respected publishers, with wide knowledge of both African and international publishing. The other members of the Jury in 2000 were: Luli Callinicos, South African scholar and historian, currently writing the biography of Oliver Tambo; Dr. Ato Quayson, Director of the African Studies Centre, and Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge; and Mary Jay, Secretary to the Managing Committee (the Jury). Dr. Fatou Keita, University of Cocody, Abijan, is the fifth member of the Jury (and who was unable to travel to the Jury meeting for circumstances beyond her control). The Award is sponsored by Kodansha Ltd, Japan. The presentation ceremony of the Award to Hamdi Samkkut will be held be held during Bookworld 2003 in Prague, Czechoslovakia , 24-27 April 2003. The Award will be the highlight of the Africa focus of the book fair, bringing African writers and publishers to a European audience; with cultural, literary and film festival events. For further information about the Award, please contact:
|
||||||||||||
|
© Noma Award. Design & Hosting by smart-inter.net |
||||||||||||