Tuesday, July 10, 2007

The Caine Prize

By JG

Caine Prize: Nigeria’s Round

With three Nigerians among the five on the short-list, West African hopes were high for a Nigerian winner of the 2007 Caine Prize. In the event there was disappointment when the winner was announced at the dinner held at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, on 9th : it was ‘Jambula Tree’ by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko.

However, there were West African ‘credits’ at the function. Some of these were Ghanaian since ‘Jambula Tree’ had appeared in African Love Stories edited by Ama Ata Aidoo and published by Ayebia Clarke.

Nigeria was also involved. It seems that the principal sponsors of the Caine Prize are the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (one of the Sainsbury Family trusts) and Celtel International BV. (The last named picks up the cost of writing workshops.) At Oxford on the 9th guests enjoying the hospitality of the Caine Prize organizers were told that a major Nigerian institution, the First City Monument Bank Plc, had provided the wines offered, a South African Chenin Blanc and the Wine Society’s Côtes du Rhône.

See also here.

12 comments:

Nkem 4:11 pm  

More than anything, I'm curious about the story, a lesbian affair. It's very "unAfrican".

Afolabi 12:05 am  

one day i'll win the caine prize and nobel and pulitzer. dreaming, and I'll actualize it...some body say AMEN!!!!

Anonymous,  10:11 am  

Great news for my country woman

Timothy Ogene 10:33 am  

I think we here in Nigeria have done well in recent timess...Chimamand and Achebe...more awards will come

Anonymous,  12:46 pm  

I pray one day African literature will be decolonized and not depend on prizes and publishers beyond its shores to survive.

catwalq 5:26 pm  

i'm with nkem. do u know if these books are available for purchase?

STREETBRAND 1:02 am  

Oh yeah, I am dreaming with you Afolabi, I want those prizes too....Caine, Nobel, Pulitzer, Orange...hmmm, yeah, that would be nice!!!

PS: Naijablog, love dis blog. Keep up the good work.

Kofo @ STREETBRAND

Anonymous,  8:51 am  

All of this is good and well, but Jeremy i am surprised i do not see a follow up on the NIgerian that was drugged, tied hands and feet and gagged to death in Spain!!

A month later and still they haven't returned his body!!

When will our government show value for the rights of its people..i tire, it seems like we are constantly being abused whether it be our culture which grows more westernized by the day, our women who have lost more and more of their self-respect and now can be seen smoking and sleeping with tom dick and harry, our resources which is being capitalized upon by everyone but Nigerians (at least the majority), I work a lot in the enrgy sector and most financing applications for oil and gas fields are made by non-nigerians but rather Indians and Lebanese former corner shop owners who cam there to use the credit the tone of their skin allows them to execute...

Not to go on too much but i tire of all this gold dust being sprinkled on steaming faeces... I enjoy all this lovely chat about art, books and theatre but what does this have to do with the price of garri in Naij?

I shall stop now as i am tired, been up too early...I am just looking for someone to bring up a topic thats worth debating...

All you blogger please hear me, you are not the first and won't be the last people to keep talking about Nigeria...my question is what can yuo do for your country, what is stopping us the new generation of Nigeria from forming a political party and developing our country ... no...we would rather talk about book prizes...those of you people who are writing from all over the world, be bold and take your first steps back home, do not live in a world built on other peoples sacrifices, it is time for you to sacrifice for your grandchildren, live through the hardship so your children and grandchildren can say wow...we are a great nation...!!

Signed..a frustrated Olu!!

Mr.Fineboy 9:18 am  

Love your blog. Stopped by a few times, but have never left a comment. Very interesting, very relevant. Keep up the good work.

Jumi 1:12 pm  

I congratulate the winner though I was rooting for E.C. Osondu's entry, Jimmy Carter's Eyes. I read the piece and it is great.

wienna,  1:17 pm  

Jeremiah, when r u updating na?

chika 9:42 am  

Nkem,
I don't know that lesbian affairs are "UnAfrican." I know that talking about them is. That's why Monica's story is bold. Especially as she is heterosexual. She's hoping that this opens up a dialogue.
You can find the story in the short story anthology, African Love Stories (Ayebia Clarke, 2006) edited by Ama Ata Aidoo. Apart from the African Book Centre, I believe it's available in other bookshops.

C.

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