Caine Prize for African writing

A Ugandan, Monica Arac de Nyeko beat three Nigerians and a South African to win this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing. How exciting that there were three Nigerian finalists and yet disappointing that not one of them won. Her book Jambula Tree is about two young lesbian girls and the Jambula Tree is the precious spot from which a neighbor spies on the girls; the fruit of the tree represents the girls breasts, and so on and so forth that make this book very African and exotic, no doubt to the judges, in its use of prose and symbolisms. I’m sure the book is great, but I am inclined to believe that she got an edge, no matter how minute, over her peers because she wrote on a topic that is considered taboo in Africa,but then, that is one of the things that makes for an interesting read, something new, different, bold....

I have to reveal that the thought of one day writing a book that would be published and considered for such a prestigious award has put me back on dream lane. I love to write. I don’t write as much as I feel like, but I would love to one day complete a book that would be published. God bless my dreams in Jesus’ name.

There are so many young Nigerian authors these days that make me proud. I am spending the rest of my summer reading their books. My next book is by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun. I have heard so much about the book that I must delve into it as soon as work gives me time. Then there’s Helen Oyeyemi’s The Icarus Girl. Brrrr…that’s a horror one, but an impressive piece of literature for such a young girl who was nineteen at the time she wrote it. I am currently reading an older book by a Senegalese, God’s Bit’s of Wood by Ousmane Sembene who passed away I think earlier this year. What inspiration I draw from Sub-Saharan African Authors. God bless them all. And my Nigerians; I hope to one day meet Chinua Achebe, I haven’t tried to yet and so the word hope is a very unnecessary and emotional word at this time, but I will like to meet him nevertheless. Wole Soyinka is another author I appreciate. Of course, his notes and books need a lot more attention and passion, because he writes it in a very intellectual way, and so you cannot casually pick up his books and quick-read a few chapters, but that is also why I am drawn to his writing. I do hope that these authors, as with other Africans who excel in their passion mentor other young Africans to achieve even greater.

Kudos to African Authors.