short-listed for the 2007 Commonwealth Writer's Prize
20 February 2007
Dr Z Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts & Culture congratulates the South
African writers and indeed all the authors short-listed for the 2007
Commonwealth Writer's Prize. This annual prize for fiction rewards writers from
the Commonwealth.
The books are short-listed in four different regional groups, namely,
Africa, Canada and the Caribbean, Europe and South Asia and South East Asia and
South Pacific. Each region shortlists six books in two different categories:
the Best Book and the Best First Book. The regional winners in these categories
are then pitted against one another for the final prizes. This prize recognises
outstanding literary works creating opportunities for them to reach a wider
international audience beyond the borders of their country of origin. It
promotes new writing and rewards achievement, encouraging wider readership,
thereby increasing the appreciation of different cultures.
The full list for the Africa region is as follows:
Africa â Best Book
Native Commissioner by Shaun Johnson (South Africa)
What Kind of Child by Ken Barris (South Africa), Kwela Books
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
The Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Kenya)
Playing in the Light by Zoe Wicomb (South Africa)
Song of the Atman by Ronnie Govender (South Africa)
Africa â Best First Book
All We Have Left Unsaid By Maxime Case (South Africa)
Ice in the Lungs by Gerald Kraak (South Africa)
A Life Elsewhere by Segun Alofabi (Nigeria)
Room 207 by Kgebeti Moele (South Africa)
The Beggar's Sign Writer by Louis Greenberg (South Africa)
The Shadow Follows by David Medalie (South Africa)
"We are delighted to see so many South African authors short-listed in both
the categories for the Africa region. This certainly attests to the outstanding
quality of writing and creativity emerging from our country. This confirms that
the South African story has international resonance and provides inspiration to
the people of the world," Minister Jordan stated.
Enquiries:
Sandile Memela
Cell: 082 800 3750
Premi Appalraju
Cell: 082 903 6778
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
20 February 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
