| www.nomaaward.org | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
THE NOMA AWARD FOR
|
||||||||||||
|
WEREWERE-LIKING WINS 25TH NOMA AWARD FOR GROUND-BREAKING NOVEL The Noma Award for Publishing in Africa announce that La mémoire amputée by Werewere-Liking, the Cameroonian writer, has won the 25th Noma Award for Publishing in Africa in 2005. The book was published by Nouvelles Editions Ivoiriennes, Abidjan, in 2004. The Jury's citation reads: "Werewere-Liking's novel or - chant-roman - is a truly remarkable achievement, illustrating the potential of African literature to renew and regenerate its forms. Through innovative and fully successful use of traditional songs, praise-naming, lullaby, letters and myth, the novel is unique in its form. Halla wants to write the biography of her admired aunt, and through this process searches her own memory: a memory dislocated, with parts of the past seemingly lost forever, but seeking to reconstruct itself. This is a deeply felt presentation of the female condition in Africa; and a celebration of women as the country's memory, and feminine patriotism and wisdom as central to the question for the self-determination of Africa." The Noma Award, under the auspices of UNESCO, is delighted to announce that the presentation of the 25th Award will be hosted by the first Cape Town Book Fair, 17-20 June 2006. The Cape Town Book Fair is a joint venture by the Publishers Association of South Africa and the Frankfurt Book Fair. The cooperation marks a new partnership between the Noma Award and UNESCO. More... 90 titles, from 50 African publishers, in 12 countries, in 9 languages, were submitted for the 2005 competition. The Jury singled out a further three titles for Special Commendation, and four titles for Honourable Mention. The list is attached. The Noma Award Jury is chaired by Walter Bgoya from Tanzania, one of Africa's most distinguished publishers, with wide knowledge of both African and international publishing. The other members of the Jury in 2005 were: Professor Peter Katjavivi, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to the EU and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia; Dr. Fatou Keita, academic and writer, University of Cocody, Abidjan; Professor Femi Osofisan, head of the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Ibadan, and immediate past director of the National Theatre in Nigeria; and Mary Jay, Secretary to the Managing Committee (the Jury). The Award is sponsored by Kodansha Ltd, Japan. For further information about the Award, please contact: Mary Jay, Secretary to the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, PO Box 128, Witney, Oxon OX8 5XU, UK. Tel: +44-(0)1993-775235 Fax: +44-(0)1993-709265 Email: maryljay@aol.com www.nomaaward.org Special Commendation (alphabetical by publisher): Oliver Tambo: Beyond the Engeli Mountains by Luli Callinicos (Cape Town: David Philip Publishers, 2004) Exceptionally well-researched and documented, the book is both a biography of a great man, and a history of the ANC-in-exile. The story of the vital role played by the ANC's Acting President-in-exile, is a major contribution to the body of knowledge that will greatly enhance understanding of contemporary South African history. Constitutional Democracy in Africa. Vols 1-5 by Ben Nwabueze (Ibadan: Spectrum Books, 2004) A magisterial and authoritative treatment of all aspects of constitutional democracy in Africa. The author cares very deeply about democracy thriving in Africa, but never weakens his objectivity in assessing its history or prospects. It places the author securely as one of Africa's great scholars. Memoirs by Ahmed Kathrada (Cape Town: Zebra Press, 2004) A deeply honest, compassionate and moving memoir of an extraordinary life, told elegantly and without bitterness. The author played an important role alongside Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela in South Africa's liberation struggle; and his incarceration on Robben Island and the creation of a community of solidarity frame the narrative. Honourable Mention (alphabetical by publisher): À la poursuite d'aurore by George I. Zreik (Abidjan: Éditions CEDA, 2004) A young woman meets a young man over the internet, and her passion develops, as he gradually reveals his longing for his lost love Aurore. Imbued with a rich vocabulary and an intense poetry, the novel explores meanings in life, how much is illusion and how much reality. Makwelane en die krokodil (Makwelane and the Crocodile) by Maria Hendriks Illutrated by Piet Grobler (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 2004) An imaginative and delightful story in Afrikaans, in the tradition of great folk tales. The story of a little girl and an evil crocodile is set in a contemporary setting in Zululand: an old tale told with freshness and compassion. The illustrations have great imagination and flair making it accessible to younger readers. A History of Indigenous Slavery in Ghana from the 15th to the 19th Century by Akosua Adoma Perbi (Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2004) A rich history, and a major contribution to understanding the relationship between the indigenous institution of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The author demonstrates great skill as a historian, using her material in a masterful way to build an original and convincing picture. Figs of Southern & South-Central Africa by John and Sandra Burrows (Hatfield, SA: Umdaus Press, 2003) A work of great scholarship, and the first publication for more than a century to deal with the entire family of figs on a regional basis, pulling together many strands into a coherent whole. It is a rare combination of scientific accuracy and popular accessibility. The book is a major contribution to the knowledge of the species, and beautifully produced with excellent photography. |
||||||||||||
|
© Noma Award. Design & Hosting by smart-inter.net |
||||||||||||