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The following are the winners of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for literature award 2011. The winners were announced at a cocktail that took place on the 1st October 2011 at the Nairobi Serena presided over by Prof. Mathew Buyu, Vice Chancellor, DVC, United State International University(USIU). The award is sponsored by Text Book Centre
Winners were:
Literature for Adults
English
- Eye of the Storm by Yusuf Dawood, E.A.E.P
- Terrorists of the Aberdare by Ng’ang’a Mbugua
- The Lone Dancer by Joe Kiarie, E.A.E.P
Kiswahili
- Kijiba cha Moyo by Timothy M. Arege, Longhorn Publishers
- Utoro by Alex Ngure, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
- Fumbo la Maisha by John Habwe, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
Literature for the Youth
Kiswahili
- Mlemavu? Si Mimi by Godfrey Ipalei, Oxford University Press
- Kipendacho Roho by Pauline K. Kyovi, Oxford University Press.
English
- Tale of Kasaya by Eva Kasaya, Kwani Trust
- Breaking the Silence by Muthoni wa Gichuru, E.A.E.P.
- The Reunion by Leonard Kibera Njenga, Longhorn Publishers
Children’s Literature
Kiswahili
- Wema wa Mwana by Nuhu Z. Bakari, Longhorn Publishers
- Msichana Aliyeokoa Watu by Enan Mwakoti, Marimba Publishers
- Sungura na Mbwa by Florence Nyakeri, Marimba Publishers
English
- Upside Down by Peter Kimani, Oxford University Press
- Sheila, Let’s Write to God by Elizabeth O. Mazuri, E.A.E.P
- Let us Keep Tiger by Christopher Okemwa, Pauline’s Publications
Panel Observations
- Several of the entries were well edited; and a number had interesting storylines and good characterization. Many of the publications gave us the impression that the authors did background research before writing their stories.
- We were impressed by many of the entries in the children’s category. In a number of them, we saw what we were looking for, namely, child characters and children’s themes. In the past, we came across adult themes which were given to children in what were supposed to be children’s books.
- The youth category had some excellent entries, with the authors demonstrating a good grasp of issues that the young people of today are grappling with. The language, style, and characterization in this category were generally well executed.
- In the adult category, we came across works that furnished the reader with lasting insights into the human condition, insights that will resonate with readers a thousand years from now.
- In the same vein, we want to caution writers against the use of literature for political propaganda and other forms of advocacy. Writers should also guard against the portrayal of ethnic or gender stereotypes.
- The physical presentation of many of the entries indicated that publishers paid less attention to the appearance of books and more to the content. Yet a good book should not only be interesting to read, it should also be physically attractive. It should be packaged in such a manner it lasts a long time on the shelves.
- It is important, when writing a play, to imagine what if would look like on stage, and it might be advisable for publishers of dramatic texts to demand they be produced. Some of the plays we read were difficult to image on stage.
- Some of the Kiswahili works used a style that came across as stiff and pedantic – the kind you encounter in the classroom – with no attempt at creative variation, or a conversational rendition.
- A number of texts, especially those in Kiswahili, seemed to address a specific theme (e.g. the tribulations of the girl child), which inevitably excluded other areas of human experience.
- There were entries which were submitted in the wrong category. This was especially the case with the youth and children’s categories.
- Finally, the panel wishes to recommend a closer working relationship between authors and their editors to address shortcomings such as poor book design, grammatical and spelling mistakes, awkward plots, overuse of coincidence, factual errors, and improbable character names.
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