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Tanzania plans literary award to encourage writing

Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Education, Catherine Nombo (right), launches Peponi, a Swahili translation of Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Paradise. Others, from left, are the managing director of Mkuki Na Nyota Publishers, Mkuki Bgoya, translator of Paradise, Ida Hadjivayanis, Nobel Prize Laureate, Gurnah, and former managing director and founder of Mkuki Na Nyota, Walter Bgoya. PHOTO | COURTESY

By  Lilian Ndilwa

Mwananchi Communication Limited

What you need to know:

  • The permanent secretary in the ministry of Education, Ms Catherine Nombo, announced this at the launch of Peponi, a translated version of a novel titled Paradise written by Abdulrazak Gurnah, on October 24, 2023.

Dar es Salaam. The government plans to create a literary award in early 2024 in order to encourage competition in the writing field.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of Education, Ms Catherine Nombo, announced this at the launch of Peponi, a translated version of a novel titled Paradise written by Abdulrazak Gurnah, on October 24, 2023.

“This award will recognise Tanzanian writers whose works explore all genres, especially those that capture and detail Tanzania’s culture and history through written words,” she said. According to Ms Nombo, the writings that will be accepted for the award will have to abide by the country’s traditions, culture, and norms as they unfold Tanzania to the world.

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“The government also intends to buy all books written about Tanzanian leaders and history from the country’s various publishers. These books will be available in school libraries, as well as district and regional libraries, to help foster a reading culture in this age of social media,” she explained.

Ms Nombo also detailed that such books carry rich information about the country and the people who have played vital roles in bringing Tanzania to the point it currently is.

 “Such knowledge cannot go unnoticed. It has to be passed down from generation to generation. On the other hand, writing is also a business, and by doing this, we will grow this business within our country and beyond,” she stressed.

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