2008 UJ Prize English Shortlists Announced
Alert! The shortlists for the 2008 University of Johannesburg Prizes for English creative writing have been announced – and BOOK SA’s Kopano Matlwa, Richard de Nooy, Ceridwen Dovey and Finuala Dowling feature in the mix.
This year’s main prize, like last year’s, is worth R50 000, and the debut prize R10 000. Among the publishers, Penguin fared the best, with four titles out of seven; Jacana has two; and with Yvette Christansë’s Unconfessed, Kwela squeeks in with one.
The UJ Prize is unique in that it is genre-less, simply focussing on the best writing in the given language. The Afrikaans prizes were awarded earlier this year (with some haste) to Breyten Breytenbach and Willem Anker.
Shortlist and official statement:
Some of the most exciting names in South African literature are on the shortlist for the 2008 UJ Prizes for Creative Writing in English. The shortlist has been compiled from 50 submitted works. The panel of seven adjudicators has agreed on a shortlist of possible winners:
Main Prize
Ceridwen Dovey – Blood Kin
Finuala Dowling – Flyleaf
Bridget Hilton-Barber – Garden of My Ancestors
Yvette Christiansë – Unconfessed
Debut Prize
Richard de Nooy – Six Fang Marks and a Tetanus Shot
Richard Poplak – Ja, No, Man
Kopano Matlwa – Coconut
The prize winners will be announced by the end of July and the prizes will be presented at a gala ceremony later in the year.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2006, the University of Johannesburg instituted two prizes for Creative Writing in English:
The UJ Prize for the best creative work in English; and The UJ Prize for the best creative debut work in English.
The value of the prizes is:
The UJ Prize: R50 000
The UJ Debut Prize: R10 000
Requirements:
The UJ Prize is awarded to the writer of the best original creative work in English published in the previous calendar year. The UJ Debut Prize is awarded to the writer of the best original creative debut work in English published in the previous calendar year.
The 2008 selection panel
The selection panel comprised the following seven members:
Four members of the Department of English, UJ: Karen Scherzinger, Craig MacKenzie, Ronit Frenkel, Jane Starfield.
Two academics from other universities: Imraan Coovadia (UCT, English Dept), Ashlee Neser (Wits, Wiser),
One member from the media industry or publishing: Shaun de Waal (Mail & Guardian).
Book Details – Main Prize
- Blood Kin by Ceridwen Dovey
EAN: 9780143025306
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- Flyleaf by Finuala Dowling
EAN: 9780143025313
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- Garden of My Ancestors by Bridget Hilton-Barber
EAN: 9780143025887
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- Unconfessed by Yvette Christiansë
EAN: 9780795702587
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Book Details – Debut Prize
- Six Fang Marks and a Tetanus Shot by Richard de Nooy
EAN: 9781770093041
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- Ja, No, Man by Richard Poplak
EAN: 9780143025498
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- Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
EAN: 9781770093362
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