Three listed for African literature prize

15 Apr 2013

Finalists for the 2013 Burt Award for African Literature have been named.

The nominees are Tony Mochama for Meet the Omtitas, Argwings Otieno for A Taste of Fame and Erick Livumbazi Ngoda for A Name for Himself.

Announcing the nominees, the chairman of the National Book Development Council of Kenya (NBDCK), which runs the award in Kenya, Prof Chris Wanjala, said the winner will be announced during the Book Week in September.

NBDCK runs the award in collaboration with the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education.

It is the biggest award in the country, with the top winner bagging Sh765 000 while the writer in second position receives Sh595 000. The one in third position takes home Sh425 000.

Phoenix Publishers CEO, John Mwazemba said he was happy that two of the three titles picked came from his publishing house.

University of Nairobi's Prof Henry Indangasi, who chairs the judges panel, challenged Kenyans to donate prize money to encourage reading and writing in the country.

Source: www.nation.co.ke