Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature
The Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature is a biennial literary award given by the Kenya Publishers' Association.[1] It has been called "the most prestigious literary award in the country".[2]
The first award ceremony took place in 1974, however due to financial constraints, it was unable to continue.[1] In 1990, the award was revived with sponsorship from the Text Book Centre, and the first prize was given in 1992.[1] Beginning in 2015, the award's official name was changed to Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.[3]
Honorees[edit]
1974[1]
- English winner: Meja Mwangi, Kill Me Quick
- Kiswahili winner: Abdilatif Abdalla, Sauti ya Dhiki
1992[1]
- First prize: Wahome Mutahi, Three Days on the Cross
- First prize: David Maillu, The Broken Drum
1995[1]
- First place: Margaret Ogola, The River and the Source
- Second place: Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Homing In
- Third place: Sam Kahiga, Paradise Farm
1997[1]
- English winner: Ngumi Kibera, Grapevine Stories
- Kiswahili winner: Emmanuel Mbogo, Vipuli vya Figo
- Children's winner: Ezekiel Alembi, Settling the Score
1999[4]
2001[1]
- English winner: Meja Mwangi, The Last Plague
- Kiswahili winner: Kyalo Wamitila, Nguvu ya Sala
- Children's winner: Lily Mabura, Ali the Little Sultan
2003[1]
- English Adult Fiction first place: Stanley Gazemba, The Stone Hills of Maragoli
- English Adult Fiction second place: Tobias Otieno, The Missing Links
- English Adult Fiction third place: Paul Nakitare, I Shall Walk Alone
- English Children's first place: Wahome Mutahi, The Ghost of Garbatula
- Kiswahili first place: Ken Walibora, Ndoto ya Amerika
- English Adult Fiction first place: (no prize)[7]
- English Adult Fiction second place: Muroki Ndung’us, A Friend of the Court
- English Adult Fiction third place: Valerie Cuthbert, Wings of the Wind
- Kiswahili Adult first place: Kyalo Wamitila, Musaleo
- Kiswahili Adult second place: Ken Walibora, Kufa Kuzikana
- Kiswahili Adult third place: Kyalo Wamitila, Pango
- English Youth first place: Bill Ruto, Death Trap
- Kiswahili Children's first place: Ruth Wairimu Karani, Kofia ya kadogo
- English Adult Fiction first place: Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, A Farm Called Kishinev
- English Adult Fiction second place: Margaret Ogola Place of Destiny
- English Adult Fiction third place: Wanjiru Waithaka, The Unbroken Spirit
- Kiswahili Adult first place: Kyalo Wamitila, Msimu wa Vipepeo
- Kiswahili Adult second place: Joseph Muthee, Kizuizini
- Kiswahili Adult third place: Kimani Njogu Al Amin Mazrui, Sudana
- English Youth first place: Kingwa Kamencu, To Grasp at Star
- English Youth second place: Ken Walibora, Innocence Long Lost
- English Youth third place: Meja Mwangi, Boy Gift
- English Children's first place: Kabaru Ndegwa, The Wonderful Ball
- English Children's second place: Kyalo Wamitila, The Mysterious Box and the Magic Spoon
- English Children's third place: Nyambura Mpesha, Far Far Away
- Kiswahili Children's first place: Nyambura Mpesha, Hanna na Wanyama
2009[1]
- English Adult Fiction first place: Henry Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah
- English Adult Fiction second place: Rhodia Mann, Hawecha: A Woman for All Time
- English Adult Fiction third place: Meja Mwangi, Big Chief
- Kiswahili Adult first place: Kyalo Wamitila, Unaitwa Nani
- Kiswahili Adult second place: Mwenda Mbatia, Vipanya Vya maabara
- Kiswahili Adult third place: Kala Tufaha, Omar Babu
- English Youth first place: Stephen Mugambi, Walk with me Angela
- English Youth second place: Juliet Barnes, Lake of Smoke
- Kiswahili Youth first place: Sheila Ali Ryango, dago wa munje
- Kiswahili Children's first place: Kisasi Hapana, Ken Walibora
- Kiswahili Children's second place: Bifungu Matundura, Sitaki iwe siri
- Kiswahili Children's third place: Atibu Bakari, Ngoma za Uchawi
- English Children's first place: Elizabeth Kabui, The Prize
2011[9]
- English Adult Fiction first place: Yusuf Dawood, Eye of the Storm
- English Adult Fiction second place: Ng'ang'a Mbugua, Terrorists of the Aberdare
- English Adult Fiction third place: Joe Kiarie, The Lone Dancer
- Kiswahili Adult first place: Timothy M. Arege, Kijiba cha Moyo
- Kiswahili Adult second place: Alex Ngure, Utoro
- Kiswahili Adult third place: John Habwe, Fumbo la Maisha
- English Youth first place: Eva Kasaya, Tale of Kasaya
- English Youth second place: Muthoni wa Gichuru, Breaking the Silence
- English Youth third place: Leonard Kibera Njenga, The Reunion
- Kiswahili Youth first place: Godfrey Ipalei, Mlemavu? Si Mimi
- Kiswahili Youth second place: Pauline K. Kyovi, Kipendacho Roho
- Kiswahili Children's first place: Nuhu Z. Bakari, Wema wa Mwana
- Kiswahili Children's second place: Enan Mwakoti, Msichana Aliyeokoa Watu
- Kiswahili Children's third place: Florence Nyakeri, Sungura na Mbwa
- English Children's first place: Peter Kimani, Upside Down
- English Children's second place: Elizabeth O. Mazuri, Sheila, Let's Write to God
- English Children's third place: Christopher Okemwa, Let us Keep Tiger
2013[10]
- English Adult: Henry Ole Kulet, Vanishing Herds
- Kiswahili Adult: Tom Olali, Watu wa Gehenna
- English Youth: David Mulwa, We Come in peace
- Kiswahili Youth: Patrick W. Kuloba, Mambo Kangaja
- English Children's: Kap Kirwok, I Blame the Sky
- Kiswahili Children's: Rebecca Nandwa, Nimefufuka
2015[11]
- English Adult: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Dust
- Kiswahili Adult: John Habwe, Pendo la karaha
- English Youth: Edward Mwangi, The Tissue Boy
- Kiswahili Youth: Ken Walibora, Nasikia Sauti ya mama
- English Children's: Stanley Gazemba, A Scare in the Village
- Kiswahili Children's: Clara Momanyi, Ushindi wa nakate
2017[12]
- English Adult Category: Henry Ole Kulet, The Elephant Dance
- Kiswahili Adult Category: Tom Olali, Mashetani wa Alepo
- Kiswahili Youth Category: Mwenda Mbatiah, Majilio ya Mkombozi
- English Youth Category: Goro wa Kamau, Ghost and the Fortune Hunters
- English Children Category: Muthoni Muchemi, Koko Riko
2019[13]
- English Adult Category: Mutu Wa Gethoi, Elders of the Mace
- Kiswahili Adult Category: Mwenda Mbatiah, Watoto Wa Mwelusi
- English Youth Category: Kinyanjui Kombani, Do or Do
- Kiswahili Youth Category: Hassan Ali, Picha Ya Karne
- English Children Category: Jennie Marima, Trio Troubles
- Kiswahili Children Category: Simiyu Mukuyuni, Busara Na Hekima
- Wahome Mutahi Literary Award: Kinyanjui Kombani, Of Pawns and Players
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature History 2011". Kenya Publishers' Association. 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "New Award to Shake Up Publishing Industry." Africa News Service 10 January 2011. Gale Student Resources in Context GALE|A246092961. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ Mbugua Ngunjiri (30 August 2015). "Must it be called Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature?". Standard. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Nation Correspondent (20 September 1999). "No award situation!" Africa News Service. Retrieved 12 October 2012
- ^ Judges decided that the books that had been submitted lacked creativity and therefore did not award any prize.
- ^ "Lack of Award Winner an Indictment of Our Writers." Africa News Service 17 October 2005. Gale Student Resources in Context GALE|A137645842. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ In 2005, judges failed to award the first prize in the English category, arguing that the titles submitted were not strong enough.
- ^ "Veteran Writer Oludhe Macgoye Wins Top Award As Book Fair Ends." Africa News Service 1 October 2007. Gale Student Resources in Context GALE|A169300498. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature Award 2011". Kenya Publishers' Association. 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ James Murua (4 October 2014). "Kenya: Star Columnist Wins Jomo Kenyatta Literature Award". allafrica.com. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Owuor wins literature prize at book awards". Daily Nation. Kenya. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ Murua, James (6 October 2017). "Text Book Center Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature 2017 winners announced". James Murua's African Literature Blog. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Murua, James (30 September 2019). "Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature 2019 winners announced". James Murua's African Literature Blog. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
External links[edit]
- Kenya Publishers' Association official website
- Text Book Centre official website