By Binyam Tamene, The Daily Monitor
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – The first edition of the award “Grinzane for Africa,” an African version of the prestigious Italian literary prize, bestowed upon three figures of contemporary African literature, including the famous writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o of Kenya, on Friday.
The award presented by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), as a part of the celebrations of its 50th Anniversary.
Along with African Heritage Prize to Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Kenya), the other writers acclaimed for the honor are Nigerian Ben Okri in the African Mainstream Prize and Ondjaki of Angola in Young Writer Prize.
The writers joined the African club along with Nadine Gordimer (South Africa), Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), J. M. Coetzee (South Africa), who were awarded the Grinzane-Cavour Prize, and have subsequently received the Nobel Prize for literature.
The three writers selected by panel of adjudicators that involved students from high schools and universities in Italy and the rest of the world, with a jury of critics, composed by prominent Italian and foreign intellectuals, selects a list of novels, but the winner was finally chosen by the juries of students.
“Grinzane for Africa was created with the aim, every year, of celebrating African writers of global relevance, as well as detecting young authors who are emerging on the international scene and giving them the opportunity to publish one of their works in Italy, translated into Italian,” Premio Grinzane Cavour said.
This year’s three awarded writers represent two important African linguistic areas: the English and Portuguese-speaking areas. For young Ondjaki, however, the award includes the publication of one of his books in Italian.
At each edition, according to the organizers, the award will go – in rotation – to the various African countries.
Praising the writers who won the award, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mohamoud Dirir, lamented the rare opportunities Ethiopian writers inter into the list.
“It is a rare opportunity that famous Ethiopian writers are also in the list of the recipients of this highly revered prize,” said the minister.
Although this event was the first of its type to be held in Ethiopia, the minister said there is a plan to make the event annually staged on a regular base here.
“We have decided to work closely with all concerned bodies to make it a continuous major annual event in our capital, Addis Ababa,” Mohamoud Dirir said, adding the need for the immediate realization of setting up a Center for Translations as part of this important Initiative.
The ambassador said the vision is to connect Piedmont and Addis Ababa through cultural initiatives that could bring together writers, painters, artists and the budding young filmmakers.
Many African and Italian writers including Scholastique Mukasonga (Rwanda), Werewere Liking (Cameroon), Wondesen Adane (Ethiopia) Sisay Nigussu (Ethiopia), Sahlesellassie’ Beranemariam (Ethiopia), Luca Doninelli (Italy), Giovanni Porzio (Italy), Paolo Di Stefano (Italy), Claudio Gorlier (Italy) have already confirmed their participation, attended the awarding ceremony.
The Grinzane Cavour Literary Prize was set up in 1982 with the institutional purpose of getting young people interested in literature and with time it has become one of the most important international literary awards.