Fatum Salim has become the first woman to win the category of the Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature, with her poetry collection, Changa La Macho (Sand in the Eyes). Philipo Oyaro won in the fiction category with his novel, Dunia Duara (The Earth is Round). Both writers hail from Tanazania and walk away with $5,000 each.
Dr. Lizzy Attree and Dr. Mukoma Wa Ngugi established the Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature in 2014 to recognise literature written in African languages and promote translation from, between, and into African languages. The prize is supported by Safal Group, through its Kenyan subsidiaries Mabati Rolling Mills, and ALAF Tanzania, as well as Cornell University’s Africana Studies Centre and the Ngugi wa Thiong’o Foundation.
This year’s jury include Prof Kyallo W. Wamitila of the University of Nairobi (chair), Dr Zuhura Badru of the University of Dodoma, and Mr Ali Mwalim Rashid of the State University of Zanzibar.
This years’s category winners were not the only ones who left with cash prizes as runners-up also received $2,500 each. Further to the prizes, winning fiction entries will be considered for publishing by Tanzanian publisher Mkuki na Nyota, and winning poetry will be translated to English and published by the Africa Poetry Book Fund.
Below is a full winners list:
Fiction
1st Prize – Philipo Oyaro – Dunia Duara (Tanzania)
2nd Prize – Ahmad Simba – Safari Ya Maisha (Tanzania)
Poetry
1st Prize – Fatuma Salim – Changa La Macho (Tanzania)
2nd Prize – Lenard Mtesigwa – Ndani Ya Subira Kichwangomba (Tanzania)
Runners-Up
Fiction: Nicholas Ogal – Salome Anaishi (Kenya)
Poetry: John Karithi – Ushairi Wa Maisha Ya Kesho (Kenya)
Short Story Collections
Edwin Omindo – Mtoto Wa Mama Na Hadithi Nyingine (Kenya)
Stallone Joyfully – Koti La Karani Na Hadithi Nyingine (Tanzania)
Congratulations to everyone on the list!
