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Official Winners Announced 16th January 2006
First time writers from Ghana and Nigeria and a midwife from Uganda have triumphed as
winners of the third Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa, the only prize to promote
the best in unpublished African fiction for children and young people. This year some 600
entries were submitted by writers from 19 different countries across the continent and
from African writers living overseas.
An independent judging panel, chaired by award-winning children’s author, Meshack
Asare, had the difficult task of choosing the three winners.
We were all impressed by the high quality of writing shown this year and there was some
lively debate between us about a number of very worthwhile entries. Finally though, we
reached agreement on the winners, and we congratulate them all. We hope and trust that the
Prize will continue to give a real boost to new writing for young people in Africa.’
The winners are shown below, with the judges’ comment:
JUNIOR AWARD
For an original, unpublished story in English for children between the ages of 8 and 12.
The Saint in Brown Sandals
Elizabeth Irene Baitie (Ghana)
‘A delight to read; amusing, touching and personal, and with
an underlying message about the choices we have between superficial and true values. The
writer’s skilful use of a diary format engages the reader with the young protagonist
right from page one.’
SENIOR AWARD
For an original, unpublished story in English for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17.
Voice of a Dream
Glaydah Namukasa (Uganda)
‘A sincere and well-structured story, taking on the real issue of a teenage girl
coping with the fallout from AIDS in her family, and resolutely following her dream.
Namukasa demonstrates a warm understanding of teenage frustrations; the courage of her
heroine shines through.’
NEW CHILDREN’S WRITER AWARD
For an original story in either category by a previously unpublished writer.
The House that Kojo Built
Ngozi Ifeyinwa Razak-Soyebi (Nigeria)
‘A quiet but exceptional young hero takes on a challenge that others couldn’t.
The writer has a sharp eye for character, and creates a vivid world in the space of one
multi-tenanted city compound at the mercy of a forbidding landlord.’
MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATOR AWARD FOR AFRICA
Also announced is the winner of the first Macmillan Children’s Illustrator Award for
Africa, which is a new feature of the Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa and was
launched in 2005 in recognition of the importance of pictures in children’s books.
The winner is:
Enoch Yaw Mensah (Ghana) Click here to see Enoch Yaw Mensah's award-winning illustrations
The Prize was judged by a panel of three professional illustrators which included this
year’s chair of judges, writer and illustrator Meshack Asare. The judges were
particularly impressed by Mensah’s imaginative use of perspective and his
interpretation of the brief. The incidental details also added to the overall effect of
the illustration and the consistency of character in the subsidiary drawing demonstrated a
key illustrator talent.
Enoch Mensah wins US$1,000 and will be illustrating one of the award-winning stories. His
work will be displayed along with the shortlisted entries on the website and also at the
various Writers’ Awards Ceremonies which are to be held throughout Africa this year.
The Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa is in its third competition. The junior and
senior winners will each received US$5,000 and the best newcomer US$3,000. All books will
be published by September 2006, where they will be launched at three Awards ceremonies to
be held in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
The judges for this year’s Prize:
Award winning children’s authors Meshack Asare (Chair) and James Berry,
children’s poet, playwright and presenter Lemn Sissay and winner of the 2004 New
Children’s Writer Award Ellen Mulenga Banda Aaku.
For further information on the Prize, including details of previous winners contact your
local Macmillan office or visit www.write4africa.com.
Pictured above are the judges at the workshop in London.
From Left to Right Ellen, Lemn, James, Meshack
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