(Photo: YWAG)
The Young Writers’ Association of The Gambia (YWAG) invites entries for The Gambia Prize for Literature (GPL), in tandem with its vision of creating the Gambia firmly rooted in culture and values through the art of creative writing and storytelling.
The annual literary prize is awarded by the Young Writers’ Association of The Gambia (YWAG) to honor the author of the best book by a Gambian within the last 10 years.
Over the last few years, the Gambia Prize for Literature has become one of YWAG’s flagship projects and aims to create an annual literary festival in the Gambia. The book festival is an annual literary, artistic, cultural, and creative arts event that was founded in 2019 by Gambian writer Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe, taking place in The Gambia every year.
It brings together new and established writers from across The Gambia to promote, develop and celebrate creativity on the African continent in various genres. Unlike the Open Mic Festival and the Janjanbureh Kankurang Festival, the book festival is The Gambia’s biggest annual gathering of literary writers, book lovers, artists, fashion designers, actors, editors, critics, and readers. The project targets the youth, art educators, spoken word artists, writers, publishers, editors, booksellers, critics, book enthusiasts, children, youth-led organizations and youth leaders, community-based organizations, the media, and creatives.
The festival in October 2022 will include an exhibition of Gambian books, a hall of fame for Gambian literature, autographing of books, keynote addresses, spoken word poetry, dramas, fashion, and musical performances. We discovered that The Gambia is home to many talented young people in the fields of arts, education, literature, theater, and poetry. The book festival is a project to further invest in Gambian youth and women and marginalized communities.
The theme for this year is ‘Reading Gambian Literature’.
The 1st edition of this event will be held physically in October 2022.
Gambians are doing great things wherever they are, home (in The Gambia) and abroad. This must not go unnoticed! The Young Writers Association of The Gambia has come up with the book festival to recognize and appreciate the efforts of Gambians in national development. The event is meant to recognize individuals and organizations for their achievements and commitment to society as part of celebrations to mark The Gambia’s 58 years as a nation.
The Categories of The Gambia Prize for Literature 2022-2023 are as follows:
1. Nobel Prize for Gambian Literature
(male and female: this award is for authors who have published more than 5 books and have gained international acclaim in addition to publishing 5 papers with prestigious international journals)
2. Nobel Prize for Gambian Poetry
(Male and female: this award is for authors who have published internationally acclaimed poetry books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least 3 books approved by MOBSE)
3. Nobel Prize for Gambian Drama
(Male and female: this award is for authors who have published internationally acclaimed drama books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least 3 books approved by MOBSE)
4. Nobel Prize for Gambian Fiction
(Male and female: this award is for authors who have published internationally acclaimed fiction books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least 3 books approved by MOBSE)
5. Nobel Prize for Gambian Non-Fiction
(Male and female: this award is for authors who have published internationally acclaimed poetry books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least 3 books approved by MOBSE)
6. Nobel Prize for Gambian Spoken Word Poetry
(Male and female: this category is meant for spoken word poets/poetess who have sold over 5000 copies of their albums and have gained international acclaim in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must not have published any book.)
7. Nobel Prize for Gambian History
(Male and female: this award is for authors who have published internationally acclaimed history books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least 3 books approved by MOBSE)
8. Nobel Prize for Young Gambian Writer (male and female: this award is for young emerging authors who have published nationally and internationally acclaimed books recognized in the Gambia and beyond. Authors in this category must have published at least a book approved by MOBSE, and must be between the ages-14- 22)
Click on the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IxZYP574xXTGSLfS15O0gntEppUn2QlbRquT6ArhtcE/edit?usp=sharing
Source: The Young Writers’ Association of The Gambia
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