Martina ‘Mamle Wolo’ Odonkor Wins Burt Award for African Literature for The Kaya Girl
Ghanaian author Martina Odonkor, writing under the pseudonym Mamle Wolo, has won the Burt Award for African Literature, scooping the top prize of GH₵21 600 (the equivalent of R92 800) for unpublished manuscript, The Kaya Girl. The prize was initiated to recognised excellence in young adult fiction from Africa, focusing on Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana. Canadian philanthropist Bill Burt sponsors the award, along with CODE in partnership with IBBY Canada.
Second and third prizes were awarded to Ruby Goka for The Lost Royal Treasure and Manu Herbstein for Akosua and Osman respectively. In addition to a cash prize, the winners will have their work published by companies based in Ghana.
The 2011 Burt Award for African Literature, a literary prize that recognises excellence in young adult fiction from Africa, has been held in Accra.
Martina Mamle Wolo Odonkor’s “The Kaya Girl” was adjudged the overall winner, earning her a cash prize of GHC21, 600.00 ‘The Lost Royal Treasure” and ‘Akosua and Osman’ written by Ms Ruby Goka and Mr Menu Herbstein respectively were adjudged the second and third winners. Goka took home a cash prize of GHC10, 800.00 while Herstein had GHC5, 400.00
The event was organized by CODE and Ghana Book Trust while the awards were made possible by the generosity of Canadian philanthropist William Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation.
Image courtesy CODE
Apr
