The Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature aims at supporting the cultural, artistic and literary fields considering them as a way to emphasise the cultural and humanitarian promotion.
The competition also aims to implant the values of traditions and evolvement in the upcoming generation through providing them with a perfect ambience based on the intellectual, artistic and scientific competition. The award aims to honour artists and intellectuals for their cultural contribution towards evolving the intellect and promoting humanitarian conscience. The award is a part of the continuous interest and Royal care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos towards culture and its position in the Sultanate’s comprehensive development.
The Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture is responsible for all the award’s specialisations and its application.
The award is granted for winners in the fields of culture, arts and literature where one branch of each field will be chosen in each turn of the award, so that three winners of intellectuals, artists and literature will be granted the award each year. Which means, there will be one winner in each field. The Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted based upon the total work and achievements of the applicant, whereas the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted upon one work only for the applicant.
Applicants can apply personally or through scientific, cultural and artist institutions, and the process of evaluation will undergo a couple of procedures and general criteria, such as traditions, commitment to scientific method, innovation and evolvement, whereas other criteria are more specific and will be left for local evaluating committees in each field of the award to decide.
The awards will be in three fields, the first one will be in the cultural field. It is related to the varied cultural works and writings in specialisations of human and social horizons in general, for instance language, history, heritage, philosophy, translation and intellectual studies. The second one is art field. It is related to the artist work production in its different international aspects, such as music, fine arts, sculpture, photography and painting.
The third one is literature field. It is related to different literature types including poetry, novels, short story, literature critique and writing plays. The first winner of the Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted the Sultan Qaboos Order for culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 100,000.
Secondly, the winner of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted The Sultan Qaboos Order for Culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 50,000. The Board of Trustees of the Award has decided that the award — in its first turn — be merely for Omanis in areas of short story, drawing, painting and historical studies. Details will be declared through different local media streams and on the award’s website.
(Note: Application details and forms will be posted, when available. You may check the website of the responsible institution, The Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, for updates.)
Following its inception in 1397H / 1977G, the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) has quickly established itself as one of the world's most prestigious awards. This reputation could not have been accomplished without, firstly, the strict adherence to nomination and selection procedures to ensure that all the winners are selected solely on the basis of merit, and secondly, the continuous support of academic institutions both nationally and internationally Through the Prize, the King Faisal Foundation seeks to show its appreciation to those individuals who have rendered exceptionally outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, and to scholars and scientists who have made significant contributions and advances in areas that benefit developing and Islamic countries, and humanity at large.
Each year, Islamic organizations, universities and other learned circles throughout the world nominate individuals for any of the five categories of the Prize. The winners are usually announced in January, and receive their awards two months later in a special ceremony held in Riyadh under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia. This ceremony is one of the most important annual events organized by the King Faisal Foundation.
INVITATION TO NOMINATE FOR THE KING FAISAL INTERNATIONAL PRIZE (KFIP) FOR THE YEAR 1434H / 2013G IN THE FIELD OF ARABIC LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
The General Secretariat of King Faisal International Prize is pleased to announce nomination for the 1434H / 2013G King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) for Arabic Language and Literature in the topic: Individual and Institutional Efforts in Writing Arabic Dictionaries
CONDITIONS:
Nominations should be from Islamic Institutions, universities, research centers and other learned circles. Nominations are also accepted from previous winners of King Faisal International Prize. Nominations are not accepted from individuals or political parties.
Nominated works must be published, benefit mankind and enrich human knowledge. Dissertations are not accepted.
REQUIREMENTS FROM NOMINATING BODY:
An official letter of nomination for each nominee separately, adequately justifying the nomination and outlining the nominee's achievements in the prize field.
A list of nominated works.
A general information form filled by the nominee; this form can be duplicated if more than one candidate is nominated.
REQUIREMENTS FROM EACH NOMINEE:
A typed curriculum vitae of each nominee with a list of his/her publications.
Six copies of each nominated work. The total number of nominated works should not exceed 5.
One high resolution color photo of each nominee (10 X 15 cm).
Nomination documents and nominated works will not be returned
PRIZE COMPONENTS:
A certificate written in Arabic calligraphy, describing the work for which the winner is awarded the Prize.
A Commemorative 24-carat, 200-gram gold medallion.
A sum of SR 750,000 (US$ 200,000).
REMARKS:
Nominations are judged exclusively on the basis of merit. Any nomination not fulfilling all conditions and requirements shall be excluded. More than one winner may share the Prize. The decision of the Prize's Selection Committee is final. Winners will be announced in Safar 1434H occurring January 2013G and honored at an official ceremony later in Riyadh.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: contact (966-1) 465 2255 or info@kfip.org
For submissions: all the required documents must be received at the following address - The General Secretariat, King Faisal International Prize, Al-Khairia Building, King Fahd Road, P.O. Box 22476 Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Bookbird in conjunction with the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET). The CET has promoted education, literacy and literature throughout the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations for 125 years. Their work has much in common with IBBY. Papers are invited on the literatures of Commonwealth countries, as well as on literacy education, the development of the imagination and critical thinking through reading, and other practical uses of literature. Papers of 4000 words are invited on, but not limited to, the following topics:
National identity in literature for children and teens
Literacy programmes which incorporate children’s literature
Thematic developments in national literatures
Indigenous and diasporic literatures for children
Multilingual children’s literature
The impact of colonization and/or Empire on national literatures for children
The oral tradition and/or literary retellings
Trends in illustration techniques
Prizes for children’s literature
Non-fiction publishing for children and teens
Titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012: Roxanne Harde rharde@augustana.ca and Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
The full papers will be expected by 30th June 2012. Please see Bookbird’s website at www.ibby.org/bookbird for full submission details.
In addition, short reviews of recently published children’s literature (c.a. 300 words) or of research on children’s literature (c.a. 750 words) are warmly welcomed.
Papers which are not accepted for this issue will be considered for later issues of Bookbird.
Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature (ISSN 0006 7377) is a refereed journal published quarterly by IBBY
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: Harde rharde@augustana.ca or Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
For submissions: titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012: Roxanne Harde rharde@augustana.ca and Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Bookbird in conjunction with the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET). The CET has promoted education, literacy and literature throughout the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations for 125 years. Their work has much in common with IBBY. Papers are invited on the literatures of Commonwealth countries, as well as on literacy education, the development of the imagination and critical thinking through reading, and other practical uses of literature. Papers of 4000 words are invited on, but not limited to, the following topics:
National identity in literature for children and teens
Literacy programmes which incorporate children’s literature
Thematic developments in national literatures
Indigenous and diasporic literatures for children
Multilingual children’s literature
The impact of colonization and/or Empire on national literatures for children
The oral tradition and/or literary retellings
Trends in illustration techniques
Prizes for children’s literature
Non-fiction publishing for children and teens
Titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012: Roxanne Harde rharde@augustana.ca and Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
The full papers will be expected by 30th June 2012. Please see Bookbird’s website at www.ibby.org/bookbird for full submission details.
In addition, short reviews of recently published children’s literature (c.a. 300 words) or of research on children’s literature (c.a. 750 words) are warmly welcomed.
Papers which are not accepted for this issue will be considered for later issues of Bookbird.
Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature (ISSN 0006 7377) is a refereed journal published quarterly by IBBY
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: Harde rharde@augustana.ca or Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
For submissions: titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012: Roxanne Harde rharde@augustana.ca and Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi
The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, launched by the UAE National Chapter of the International Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), is an incentive for the children’s book industry in the Arab World intended to encourage publishers, authors and illustrators to develop the quality of books, in both form and content, as well as to motivate children to be open to the world of knowledge and culture. The significance of this award is manifested in encouraging children’s book industry partners to provide the best, to help the book Award initiative become a milestone in enrichment and creativity in the Arab world, and to further stimulate the imagination and creativity of children.
The Award also contributes to developing the children’s literature publishing industry, since the book is one of the most prominent and important contemporary cultural elements, serving as the key tool of knowledge within children’s programmes provided by advanced technology. Etisalat’s support of this award reflects the advanced awareness of this institution and highlights its leading role in community participation at both the local and national levels.
We invite creative and talented people to participate in the award, which we hope will contribute to the emergence of a new generation of children’s books that can attract children and encourage them to read.
THE UAE BOARD ON BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (UAEBBY)
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953. UAEBBY officially came into being on 1st January 2010, following IBBY’s approval of the UAE as a member, which was a direct result of the efforts of Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association, and Founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing House. As a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, UAEBBY aims to act as a bridge to facilitate communication and information exchange with establishments and institutions concerned with children’s books, to develop and promote children’s literature and artistic works, and to exchange skills with authors and illustrators. The organisation is also responsible for organising contests and conferences on children’s books, facilitating access to children’s books, especially in remote areas of the UAE, promoting authorship and production of children’s books in the UAE, developing public libraries for children throughout the country, encouraging translation of children’s books from and into Arabic, and helping to raise the bar for children’s books in the UAE to international levels.
AWARD OBJECTIVES:
The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature is designed to support the children’s book industry in the Arab world and achieve the following objectives:
• Upgrading the children’s book industry in the Arab world. • Enhancing the Arab child’s culture and enriching it with everything that’s contemporary and distinguished. • Consolidating the position of the children’s book against the technological alternatives. • Motivating publishers, writers and illustrators to be innovative in the publishing of children’s books.
AWARD ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is responsible for the supervision of the Award in compliance with its regulation.
Nomination Conditions:
1. The book should be published in the Arabic language. 2. The book should not have been published more than 3 years ago. 3. The book should not be a local, Arab or international award winner. 4. It should be an original work. Translated works shall be excluded. 5. Educational and scientific series and books are not eligible for entry. 6. The nominated book should not be a republication of an old version. 7. The book should be printed and published in a hard copy. 8. The award includes children’s books targeting children from 0-14 years of age. 9. Each publisher may nominate a maximum of three books. 10. Intellectual rights shall be taken into consideration upon the submission of applications. 11. The jury shall be authorized to overlook any nomination that does not comply with the conditions. 12. The award jury may withhold the award. 13. None of the candidates may object to the decisions of the awarding jury. 14. The winning publisher shall publish 2,000 copies of the winning book bearing the logos of the Award and the UAEBBY, for non-profit purposes.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE FOR NOMINATION
1. Nominations for the Award open on 1 June 2011. 2. The application form for nomination should be filled in accordance with the approved form and submitted along with the following: • Seven non-refundable copies of the nominated title(s). • Author’s and illustrator’s contracts for the nominated title(s), or acknowledgement of contracting. • Profile of the publishing house and up-to-date CVs for the author and illustrator. • An overview of the nominated works, along with the justifications for their nomination.
3. The submission deadline for nominations is 12 noon on 31 August 2011.
4. Nominations should be sent by express mail, and the following information should appear on the envelope:
Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature Al Qasba – Block D – First Floor Sharjah P.O. Box: 5424 Sharjah – United Arab Emirates Tel +97165542111 Fax +97165542345 e-mail: info@uaebby.org.ae
VALUE OF THE AWARD
The value of the Award is one million dirham’s (AED1 million), distributed as follows:
• 50% of the Award value goes to the publisher. • 50% of the Award value to be distributed among the other parties involved, in a manner decided upon by the Jury.
JUDGING OF THE AWARD
First: In order to achieve the principle of transparency and professionalism in the selection of members of the Jury, we take into account the following regulations:
• Literary works by members of the Jury are excluded from nomination for the Award. • As far as possible, the Jury must be diverse, with members having a range of qualifications and specialties (publisher, author, critic, illustrator, and judging expert) • The Jury may seek help from experts in the fields of science, literature or the arts when needed, in a way that does not contradict the principle of confidentiality and full neutrality, with adherence to matters mentioned in clauses 1 and 2. • There must be full confidentiality in the selection of members of the Jury, and their names must not be revealed before the winner of the Award has been announced. • The Jury must comprise a geographically diverse selection of members.
Second: The Award’s Board of Directors shall form a panel of judges (the Jury) every year, provided that it comprises a minimum of five members with relevant expertise, competence and integrity.
Third: The Jury’s sessions shall be presided over by a Chairman, to be chosen by the Award’s Board of Directors. The Jury shall select a Rapporteur.
Fourth: The names of the members of the Jury and its session should remain secret, and Award Management may announce the names of the Jury at the closing ceremony.
Fifth: The Jury’s work shall begin the day after the closing date for nominations for the award, and end with the submission of its report on the date determined by the Award’s Board of Directors.
Sixth: The Jury shall present a written report on the results of their work, explaining their reasons for having chosen the winner.
Seventh: Decisions by the Jury shall be reached by majority vote. In the case of a tie, the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote.
Eighth: If a Jury member cannot attend a session due to an emergency, his written report shall be sufficient and he shall have no right to object.
Ninth: The Jury is confidential and the names of its members should not be announced. It is not permitted for a Jury member to announce his name or the results of the arbitration or its deliberations.
Tenth: A Jury member shall step down from the membership if one of his relatives of first or second degree submits a nomination application for the award.
Eleventh: The Jury shall consider the books nominated for the Award according to the conditions approved in the Award’s work system.
Twelfth: The Jury shall submit its detailed report, signed by its members, to the Award’s Board of Directors for approval of the results.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: info@uaebby.org.ae
For submissions: Etisalat Award for Arabic, Children’s Literature, Al Qasba – Block D – First Floor, Sharjah P.O. Box: 5424, Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
Since its founding in 1992, Writers Omi at Ledig House has hosted hundreds of authors and translators, representing more than fifty countries. We welcome published writers and translators of every type of literature. International, cultural and creative exchange is a foundation of our mission, and a wide distribution of national background is an important part of our selection process. Guests may select a residency of one week to two months; about ten at a time gather to live and work in a rural setting overlooking the Catskill Mountains. Ledig House provides all meals, and each night a local chef prepares dinner. Daytime is reserved for writing and quiet activities, while evenings are more communal. A program of weekly visits bring guests from the New York publishing com-munity. Noted editors, agents and book scouts are invited to share dinner and conversation on both creative and practical subjects, offering insight into the workings of the publishing industry, and introductions to some of its key professionals.
TRANSLATION LAB, FALL 2012
Writers Omi at Ledig House, a part of Omi International Arts Center, has been awarded a grant from Amazon.com to fund Translation Lab, a weeklong special, intensive residency for five collaborating writer‐translator teams in the fall of 2012.
Writers Omi will host five English language translators to the Omi International Arts Center for one week. These translators will be invited along with the writers whose work is being translated. This focused residency will provide an integral stage of refinement, allowing translators to dialogue with the writers about text‐specific questions. It will also serve as an essential community‐builder for English‐language translators who are working to increase the amount of international literature available to American readers.
The dates for Translation Lab are November 9 - 16, 2012. All residencies are fully funded, including international airfare and local transport from New York City to the Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, NY.
Writers Omi will be accepting proposals for participation until July 1, 2012. Translators, writers, editors, or agents can submit proposals. Each proposal should be no more than three pages in length and provide the following information:
Brief biographical sketches for the translator and writer associated with each project
Publishing status for proposed projects (projects that do not yet have a publisher are still eligible)
A description of the proposed project
Contact information (physical address, email, and phone)
Proposals should be submitted only once availability for residency participation of the translator and writer has been confirmed.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries/ submissions: proposals and inquiries should be sent directly to DW Gibson, director or Writers Omi at Ledig House at: dwgibson@artomi.org
A special academic meeting presenting a flag-ship cultural practice and celebration for University scholars, researchers and lovers of culture interested in studying and experiencing unique rural/small urban communal festivals as a part of the global conversation on cultural renaissance
Organised by the League of Ogori Professors (LOP) as a Prelude to the 2012 Annual Ovia-Osese Festival
Facilitated by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and The Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan Ogori, Kogi State of Nigeria . Friday, 20 April, 2012.
Venue: National Open University of Nigeria Community Study Centre, Ogori
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
Scholars and researchers in African Studies, history, language and linguistics, anthropology, cultural studies, women studies, African-American studies, and sociology of rural and communal studies.
Institutes/Centres/Faculties of African/Cultural/African-American/Afro-Caribbean history Studies.
Federal and State Government Ministries/Departments of Tourism and Culture especially senior officials involved in internationalisation of cultural activities of rural and small urban communities.
All those interested in cultural music, dance and folklores, socialization of women and puberty development and celebrations.
Cultural tourists.
REGISTRATION FEES
The registration fee of USD$50 for participants from outside of Africa or Naira5,000 from within Africa includes
Attendance at the Symposium
Symposium bag
Copy of the Symposium programme and book of abstracts
Lunch and morning/afternoon coffee breaks
EXPERT SPEAKERS
Language/linguistics; cultural, African, Women Studies and other invited expert speakers from the USA, UK, Africa and the Caribbean.
SYNOPSIS
Nestled snugly at the foot of three magnificent hills which rise steeply into the sky, crested sometimes by the cool and refreshing morning mist, the sleepy town of Ogori has a long and distinguished history. It lies roughly at the intersection of longitude 6° 7” E and latitude 7° 30”N. It is located at the extreme south-west region of Kogi State and shares a border with Edo State. Its uniqueness has tripartite intersections: its culture; its language, called Oko which Ogori and Magongo are the only communities on this planet who speak and understand it and; the importance of education. The Ogori people’s precocious affinity for education has produced, in relation to its size and population, the largest number of professors by square kilometre in Nigeria. (Askari, 1969; Apata, 1986; Adegbija, 1994; Atoyebi, 2010).
One of the cultural icons of Ogori is the Ovia-Osese festival, an annual celebration of the attainment of womanhood by girls whose parents, peers, friends, clans, community and well wishers celebrate this significant cultural and moral attainment. It was a taboo for a girl to get pregnant, let alone marry before her Ovia-Osese. In the olden days, if this occurred the family is ostracized and the girl loses her respect and integrity in the community (Sofola, 1986; Adegoke, 2001). The celebration is accompanied by a week-long activities which include lessons in homemaking, motherhood, music, drumming, dancing, feasting and thanksgiving services at the various mosques and churches in Ogoriland.
Over the years, the Ovia-Osese has become the flagship of the Ogori people and a major mark of the identity of Ogoriland in the global scene. The ceremony and festival have become an international event having attracted tourists from the Unites States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany and South America. Many Nigerians have made it a tourist Mecca and the MTN has supported and participated in the Ovia-Osese festival for several years now.
As their own contributions to the Ovia-Osese festival, the League of Ogori Professors (LOP) made a pronouncement at the 2011 festival that they would add and integrate an academic dimension through an international Symposium to further expose Ogori culture to the world. The first International Symposium on Ogori Culture and People marks a part of the 2012 Ovia-Osese Festival with a view to making it an annual event for scholars, researchers and lovers of culture to form a seamless blend with the community celebrations of an identity of a people whose culture has become a household of knowledge generation, teaching and learning in many parts of the world.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME
International expert speakers and researchers will address the uniqueness of culture as an identity of peoples all over the world. Researchers and teachers of Ogori culture and language will present vital information about the special nature of the Ogori community and people, in relation to the visibility of the culture and language in a global context. Emerging needs and issues of honorary citizenships for Africans in diapora and Afro American and Afro-Caribbean relatives and, their impact on cultural studies worldwide will be of interest to the Symposium.
Symposium Theme: Culture: An Indispensable and Enduring Identity of a People
Sub-Theme1: History, Sociology and Anthropology
Sub-Theme2: Language, Literature, Women Studies
Sub-Theme3: Music, Dance and Folklores
Within the guidance of the above theme and sub-themes, the sessions will explore and discuss issues and trends in:
Strategic development and use of culture an identity
Achieving cultural renaissance through branding of unique festivals in rural and small urban communities in Africa
Building partnerships with other researchers and workers in the field of cultural, women and African studies
Enhancing the role of research and knowledge generation in the perpetuation of cultures whose existence and language are threatened by Western cultures and assimilation.
Attracting international scholars, researchers, faculty and students.
Presentation of case studies will be welcome. The Symposium will conclude with a panel discussion and participation from the audience on how the One-day Symposium can achieve annual global event calendar and status; how higher education institutions can own and identify with the Ovia-Osese festival as an avenue for the contemporary academic celebration of studies in Culture, African and Women studies; and how individuals from the diaspora can identify and adopt cultural communities as honorary members.
Very limited, but excellent papers, selected by an international panel of assessors, will be invited for presentation. All those interested should send their papers, to reach the under listed, on or before Monday, 2nd of April, 2012. A turn-around time of no more than 72hrs will apply on the assessment of each paper from date of receipt. The Institute of African Studies of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria will publish a special edition of their international journal, African Notes, based on the papers presented at the Symposium.
It will be a case of first come, first accepted.
INVITATION TO ATTEND AND PRESENT PAPERS
The general public is invited to express interest in attendance and or presenting papers at the One-day Symposium. Please send your expression of interest or full paper to any of the under listed. The full Symposium programme will be sent to confirmed participants by Monday, April 9, 2012.
Participants may wish to consider attending and participating in the Ovia-Osese Festival and Dance of the Maidens on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Information on accommodation will be sent to those who are interested.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: secgen@aau.org, tellohio@yahoo.com, alexodaibo@yahoo.com
For submissions: secgen@aau.org, tellohio@yahoo.com, alexodaibo@yahoo.com
The Sheikh Zayed International Book Award, one of the most prestigious and well-funded prizes, has announced the opening of nominations for its sixth session of 2011/2012. The deadline for nominations is September 1st, 2011.
Commenting on the rollout of the Award’s sixth session, Juma'a Al Qubaisi, Deputy Director General of ADACH for the National Library, Member of the Award’s Higher Council, said: “The significant successes which the Award generated since its inception six years back, give us confidence today to rollout our latest session with an aspiration to reach the international market. It’s our sixth year now and we are still speeding forward with the same passion and commitment to the core objectives inspired by late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. ”
Accordingly, the Award now welcomes nominations from authors, translators and publishing houses in any of the Award’s nine categories; Best Contribution to the Development of Nations, Children’s Literature, Young Author, Translation, Literature, Fine Arts, Best Technology in the Field of Culture, Best Publishing House, and Cultural Personality of the Year. For cultural personality of the year award, applicants should be nominated by academic, research or cultural institutions. For the other eight categories, applicants are requested to fill in the Nomination Form in person.
Applicants must fill the application form either online www.zayedaward.ae or by downloading the form. Once completed and signed, the application forms should be submitted to the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Offices along with the candidate's resume, passport copy, personal photo, and Five copies of the nominated book - works nominated for the Award of the Best Technology in Culture, can be in digital format.
All nominated works must have been published in the last two years. The work must be written in Arabic, except for the Translation Award.
Over the past six years the Award has recognized the creative literary and cultural achievements of more than 34 individuals and entities, including Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi; Novelist Wacini Laredj; Prof. Pedro Martinez Montavez; Novelist Ibrahim al-Kouni; Orientalist Xhong Jikun and many more. In its last session, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award received a record total of 715 nominations, flooding from 28 countries with impressive variety, including the Arab World, Europe, and East Asia.
The award comprises a total monetary prize value of seven million UAE dirhams. Each prize consists of a gold medal bearing the SZBA logo, a certificate of merit. The Cultural Personality of the Year winner receives a prize of one million dirhams, while the winners of the other categories receive 750,000 dirhams.
Award Categories
Award Value:
The value of the award amounts to AED seven (7) million. Every winner is granted:
- a financial amount of AED 750,000 - a golden medal bearing the logo of the award - an appreciation certificate for the winning work
Sheikh Zayed Award for the Cultural Personality of the Year receives 1 million dirhams.
Nomination
Step 1: Applicants are requested to read and abide by the general terms of the award nomination.
Step 2: If applicable, choose which category they want to apply to, and then fill in the application form found under that same award category “Award Categories” tab. However, the “Cultural personality of the year” Category nominations should be filled out and sent by one of the following groups:
• Three prominent figures in the cultural world • Academic institutions • Literary or research entities
Step 3: Once completed and signed, the application forms should be submitted to the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Offices along with the:
• Candidate's Resume. • Passport copy. • Personal photo. • Five copies of the nominated work.
Note: Application forms can be downloaded or collected from the Administrative Offices of the Award
General Terms
1. The nominated work should have contributed to the development of Arabic culture. 2. The nominated work shouldn’t be previously awarded by an international/ prominent Prize. 3. The work must be published in a book format. Works, nominated for the Award of the Best Technology in Culture, can be in digital format. 4. The work should have been published for no more than two years. 5. The work must be written in Arabic, except for works nominated for the Translation Award. They could be translated either from or to Arabic. 6. The work should maintain high standards of authenticity and creativity 7. Nomination is not accepted for more than one work. 8. Re-nomination for the same work is accepted if time condition is still valid. However, a new application form should be filled out and new copies of the work submitted. 9. The work must abide by the terms listed in the application form.
* The award of any category may be detained or withdrawn at the discretion of the Advisory committee and the committee is allowed to take any decision it sees fit .
*Nominees are not entitled to object to the decisions of the Advisory Committee of the award.
FAQs
What is the Sheikh Zayed Book Award?
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is an independent cultural award. It is presented every year to outstanding Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers as well as young talent whose writings and translations of humanities have enriched Arab cultural, literary and social life.
Who was Sheikh Zayed?
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the principal architect of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE for over 30 years.
What has the award done to expand its international profile over the past two years and how will this impact nominations for session three?
In 2008, the Award Committee evaluated a total of 512 works from more than 1,200 nominated across the nine award categories and which represent submissions from more than 30 countries. Needless to say we’ve achieved a great deal over the past two years to increase our visibility overseas. In 2008, we exhibited at both the London Book Fair and Book Expo America in Los Angeles and held high profile speaking engagements at both of these events. We saw these milestones as real opportunities to talk internationally about the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and its missions. We very much hope that this heightened international presence will translate into an increased number of nominations for 2009 from a broader pool of talented and creative individuals.
Do you have plans to host or attend any other events in the near future?
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award hosted its very first regional event in Paris at the Arab World Institute in July 2008. This event is themed around ‘recognising creativity’ and addressed how translation can help to build bridges between the French and Arab cultures. The future plans of sheikh zayed book award is to host 6 international events around the world.
Approximately how many people were nominated across the nine book award categories? If we take 2008 figures as a guideline, the Award Committee evaluated a total of 512 works from more than 750 nominated across the nine award categories and which represent submissions from more than 20 countries.
Who manages and oversees the entire selection process?
The award is supervised by a Higher Committee and an Advisory Council that manage a rigorous award selection process
Who selects the members of the selection committee?
Every year, the Advisory Council appoints a group of distinguished regional and international cultural figures who serve on nine separate selection committees, one for each award category
Why do judges remain anonymous?
The selection committee members remain anonymous to maintain the independence and integrity of the selection process.
Do the judges meet?
The category judges independently evaluate the nominations and submit their evaluations against a stringent, quantifiable scoring criterion to ensure the decision is truly reflective of their independent and expert views. The assessment results are then calculated for each category and evaluated by the Supreme Advisory Committee for the award.
Doesn’t this approach inhibit discussion and full vetting of the nominees?
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award judging procedure maximizes independence and consistency throughout the evaluation process. The two-stage structure is designed to ensure that the independent views of the expert judging panel are fully captured in a quantifiable and qualifiable manner while also allowing for collective evaluation by the Supreme Advisory Committee.
Why was the prize for Best Technology in the Field of Culture Award not awarded for two consecutive years?
The Best Technology in the Field of Culture Award was withheld for the second consecutive year because the judging panel felt that none of the entries lived up to the high standards that have been set for this category for driving innovation in digital publishing throughout the Arab World. Some awards have been witheld last year as the works did not meet the high standards of the award.
Deadline: 31 July (Autumn issue), 31 December (Spring issue)
Lapis Lazuli is a refereed Bi-annual International e-journal of emerging Literary and Linguistic perspectives in the contemporary literatures in English relating to theoretical articles, interviews and book reviews on both literature and language. It is published on behalf of PINTER SOCIETY OF INDIA.
Lapis Lazuli encourages interpretative criticism, fresh insight into new and established literary/linguistic areas and seeks to entertain meaningful pursuits of different contemporary academic issues. It also encourages original contributions in the form of poetry. Each issue contains essays on major works of literatures in English in the global perspective. The journal will love to invite articles on the literatures in English of Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Africa, South Africa and South East Asia.
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Journal would like to have original, well-written, duly researched articles on various segments of both the older and the contemporary literature in English, throwing light particularly on Drama and Theatre. The journal, nevertheless, will also encase, in the global perspective, such articles on poetry, fiction, literary criticism, linguistics, critical theories, creative writings and reviews of published books. We invite critical and analytical articles on various aspects of contemporary literature written, researched and duly documented by the academics, scholars and perceptive readers across nations.
The society will make efforts to publish occasional special issues. The editorial policy, with no leaning towards any particular ideology or concept, is open to any intellectual exercise in any area of literature. Publishers may send copies of their published books for review by selected experts.
Submissions, should be typed double spaced on hard copies (not exceeding 3000 words) on one side of the paper only, in conformity with the MLA style sheet (6th or 7th Edn.) documentation pattern; or may also be submitted by e-mail Attachment or by sending CDs using MS word. Hard copy manuscripts submitted for publication can not be returned to the authors, if not personally collected.
SPRING ISSUE of LAPIS LAZULI the last date for submission is 31 DECEMBER of every year.
AUTUMN ISSUE of LAPIS LAZULI the last date for submission is 31 JULY of every year.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: lapislazulijournal@gmail.com or drdineshpanwar@rediffmail.com
For submissions: submissions to be sent through e-mail at lapislazulijournal@gmail.com or drdineshpanwar@rediffmail.com
The Research institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa (RISSEA) was borne out a felt need and desire to coordinate Swahili scholarship. Currently there is no Institution in Kenya and the Region that has assumed such a mandate even though great strides have been made by public universities and other institutions in the development of Kiswahili.
With the spread and development of Kiswahili as the lingua franca of the region, the institute will be the reference point for governments, schools and institutions of higher learning. In kenya for example there are moves to entrench Kiswahili to be the second official language in addition to English in the new constitutional dispensation (bilingualism).
INTENSIVE SWAHILI STUDIES
An intensive 2-10 week Swahili studies school for international and regional students. Short courses on related themes including regular workshops on Swahili studies and language. In- house training workshops tailored to the needs of individual organizations and individuals interested in Swahili studies.
MODULE OFFERED
1. Swahili Literature and Performance
Contemporary Swahili novel and play: In-depth analysis of the two genre of Literature that is play and novel in terms of-The plot, characters, themes and language used.
Short story in Kiswahili literature.
Swahili poetry.
Classical Swahili poetry and contemporary Swahili poetry.
Types of Swahili poetry.
How to write Swahili poetry
Language use in Swahili poetry.
Swahili epic
Oral Literature
Swahili songs, dances and music
2. Swahili History and Identity.
The study of the origins and history of the Swahili
Swahili economy and international relations
Spread and development of Kiswahili in East Africa and the Diaspora.
Dialects of Kiswahili.
Swahili and her neighbors
3. Anthropology of the Swahili
Economic activities of the Swahili eg. Fishing, farming, weaving, dhow making, stone house building, wood carving etc.
The Swahili way of life, (birth, marriage and death )
Art, dressing, adornments, and other forms of creativity and personal beauty.
Religion Beliefs and forms of worship.
Swahili songs and dances.
4. Swahili Language will include Swahili basic (beginners) and advanced.
Teaching will be conducted on Swahili grammar and phonetics depending on one’s level of proficiency in Swahili. An entry examination will be conducted to determine the student’s level of proficiency in Swahili.
APART FROM THE FOUR MODULES, THE INSTITUTE WILL ALSO OFFER WHERE APPROPRIATE:
Trips/ excursions will be arranged: while in Lamu a visit to Matondoni village and Takwa ruins, while in Mombasa will visit Fort Jesus Museums, Mnarani, Jumba and Gede ruins.
Resource persons: will be invited to talk to students/ researchers on different Swahili cultural topics.
Panel discussions male and female panel discussion will be organized where students /researchers will get the opportunity to ask questions /inquire on any issue that they would like to know or clarified about the Swahili. Hence there will be interactions between the students/ researchers and selected members of the Swahili community that constitutes the panel.
FEES AND COURSE CALENDAR
28 May to Friday 15 June, 4 weeks - $350 (language module), $1,000 (4 modules)
18 June to Friday July, 4 weeks - $350 (language module), $1,000 (4 modules)
9 July to Friday 3 August, 4 weeks - $350 (language module), $1,000 (4 modules)
6 August to Friday 31 August, 4 weeks - $350 (language module), $1,000 (4 modules)
The winners of the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize were announced today in Sydney in an exciting climax to this year's final programme. Critically acclaimed international literary titles for Best Book and Best First Book were awarded to:
Best Book Winner – The Memory of Love, Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
The judges praised The Memory of Love for its risk taking, elegance and breadth. A poignant story about friendship, betrayal, obsession and second chances – the novel is an immensely powerful portrayal of human resilience. The judges concluded that The Memory of Love delicately delves into the courageous lives of those haunted by the indelible effects of Sierra Leone’s past and yet amid that loss gives us a sense of hope and optimism for their future. Forna has produced a bold, deeply moving and accomplished novel which confirms her place among the most talented writers in literature today.
Best First Book Winner – A Man Melting, Craig Cliff (New Zealand)
The judges chose this highly entertaining and thought provoking collection of short stories for their ambition, creativity and craftsmanship. Confidently blending ideas that frequently weave outlandish concepts with everyday incidents, the prose is skilfully peppered with social observations that define the world we live in. The eighteen short stories are truly insightful and amplify many of the absurdities around us, reflecting our own expectations, fears and paranoia on the big questions in life. This book is of the moment, and is rightly at home on a global platform. Cliff is a talent to watch and set to take the literary world by storm.
Now in its 25th year and supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation, Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is unique in offering both established and emerging writers the opportunity to showcase their work. The Best Book winner claims £10,000 while the writer of Best First Book wins £5,000.
For the last 25 years the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has played a key role in unearthing new international literary names, bringing compelling stories of human experience to a wider audience. As highly acclaimed international authors Aminatta Forna and Craig Cliff will follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in modern fiction in winning the Prize, including Louis De Bernieres, Andrea Levy, Ian McEwan, and Zadie Smith.
For the fifth consecutive year the Macquarie Group Foundation, one of Australia’s leading philanthropic foundations, is helping to advance one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world. With Macquarie’s support the prize has grown to reach more people around the world, encouraging wider reading across a range of Commonwealth cultures and rewarding the rising talent that other prizes often overlook.
Aminatta Forna was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Her first book, The Devil that Danced on the Water, was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2003. Her novel Ancestor Stones was winner of the 2008 Hurston Wright Legacy Award, the Literaturpreis in Germany, was nominated for the International IMPAC Award and selected by the Washington Post as one of the most important books of 2006. Aminatta lives in London.
Craig Cliff was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand. A graduate of Victoria University’s MA in creative writing, his short stories and poetry have been published in New Zealand and Australia. His short story 'Another Language' won the novice section of the 2007 BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards. Craig lives in Wellington, New Zealand.
Commenting on the winning announcement, Danny Sriskandarajah Interim Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, said:
“I am delighted to congratulate, the winners of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2011. In its 25th year, the Prize embodies the Commonwealth at its best. It unearths the best writing from across 54 countries, promoting dialogue and understanding on an international scale.”
Richard Sheppard, Chairman of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the supporter of the Prize, added:
"The Macquarie Group Foundation is delighted that two such diverse writers have won this year's Commonwealth Writers' Prize. For the last 25 years, the Prize has helped to bring writers to new global audiences and I'm sure once again that this year's winners will delight and inspire readers and writers around the world."
Nicholas Hasluck, Chair of the judging panel said:
“This year’s winning books demonstrate the irreducible power of the written word at a time of rapid global change and uncertainty. The standard of entries this year has been exceptional, showcasing work with strong insight, spirit and voice introducing readers to unfamiliar worlds.”
The regional prize winners are:
Africa:
Best Book: The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone) Best First Book: Happiness is a four-letter word by Cynthia Jele (South Africa)
Caribbean and Canada:
Best Book: Room by Emma Donoghue (Canada) Best First Book: Bird Eat Bird by Katrina Best (Canada)
South Asia and Europe:
Best Book: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (UK) Best First Book: Sabra Zoo by Mischa Hiller (UK)
South East Asia and Pacific:
Best Book: That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott (Australia) Best First Book: A Man Melting by Craig Cliff (New Zealand)
With the participation of about 30 invited countries worldwide and over 80 events planned around the world, will take place throughout the month of March 2012 the 2dn International Poetry Festival " Woman’ Scream" will be coordinated worldwide by the Women Poets International Movement (MPI) with the support of our good-will ambassadors, supporters, institutions, etc. This festival aims to bring together men and women poets, musicians, actors and artists and others in various countries, to pay a fitting tribute to the woman during the entire month of March and extending a cry of "Enough!" to the violence perpetrated against her. "Woman’ Scream" was conceptualized and designed by the Dominican writer Jael Uribe, President and direct Coordinator of the Movement based in the Dominican Republic.
This year's calling has been translated into five languages (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian) but has managed to include many other languages in different countries that have joined this calling, capturing a great reception in other countries not only speak Spanish as it was the case of last year festival.
The event not only for local and international poets (men and women), but there are also made from March 1st. to 31, all kinds of cultural activities such as: Music, theater, lectures, exhibitions, fairs, debates, among others. We have the support of cultural institutions, foundations, ministries, businesses, educational institutions and municipalities, as well known figures in the field of literature and art in their respective host nations.
Participating countries at the time are:
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Spain (Málaga, Murcia City, Eagles-Murcia, Granada, Barcelona (2 events), Toledo, Bajadoz-Extremadura), Mexico (DF (2 events), Puebla, Ciudad Victoria-Nuevo Laredo, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Mérida-Yucatán, Morelia-Michoacán, Veracruz, Tijuana, Jalisco-Guadalajara), Argentina (Buenos Aires (2 events), Santa Fe, Unquillo, Jujuy, Chacabuco, Patagonia-Rio Negro, Santiago del Estero and Rosario), Colombia (Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Bogota), Peru (Lima, Trujillo), Panama, Chile (Valparaiso, Santiago (2 events), Ovalle), USA (NY, Miami, Seattle, California, Connecticut, Indiana), Guatemala (2 events), Venezuela, Puerto Rico (San Juan, Humacao), El Salvador (3 events), Cuba (Havana, Las Tunas), Ecuador (Loja), Costa Rica (San Jose), Uruguay, Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Luxembourg, France (Paris (4 events), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Omer), Germany (Berlin (2events)), Kosovo (Prishtina), Africa (Morocco (Larache), Botswana-Gaborone, Maseru-Lesotho, Port Elizabeth-South Africa), England (London), India, Finland, Russia (San Petersburgo), Switzerland. This list continues to grow until March 2012.
The Women Poets International Movement (MPI) has its center of action over the network in its different aspects, with thousands of fans everywhere and a direct follow up to over 350 Latin American poetesses.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: mujerespoetasinternacional@gmail.com
The award is independent and neutral, it is presented every year to outstanding Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers as well as young talent whose writings and translations of humanities have scholarly and objectively enriched Arab cultural, literary and social life.
The award established under the patronage and support of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture& Heritage. The award is supervised by a Higher Committee that sets the general policies and a Consultative Council to follow-up on its operational mechanisms. The value of the award totals AED 7 million.
Categories for Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2013 are Contribution to the Development of Nations, Children's literature, Young Author, Translation, Literature, Literary and Art Criticism, Arabic Culture and Non Arab Language, Publishing and Technology and Cultural Personality of the Year
The value of the award amounts to AED Seven (7) million. Every winner is granted a financial amount of AED 750,000, a golden medal bearing the logo of the award, and an appreciation certificate for the winning work. Sheikh Zayed Award for the Cultural Personality of the year receives 1 million dirhams.
Candidates are allowed to be nominated for one category per award cycle. Nominations are accepted from the following entities:
Step 1: the applicant himself / herself.
Step 2: Cultural institutions, literary unions, and universities
Step 3: Three prominent literary and cultural figures, to nominate one candidate jointly
However, the “Cultural personality of the year” Category nominations should be filled out and sent by any of the following groups:
• Three prominent figures in the cultural world • Academic institutions • Literary or research entities
GENERAL TERMS
1. The nominated work should have contributed to the development of Arabic culture. 2. The nominated work shouldn’t be previously awarded by an international/ prominent Prize. 3. The work must be published in a book format. Works, nominated for the Award of the publishing and distribution, can be in digital format. 4. The work should have been published in the last two years. 5. The nominations must be written in Arabic, except for books nominated in two categories; the Translation Award and the Arabic Culture in non-Arab language Award. 6. The work should project high standards of authenticity and creativity 7. Nomination is not accepted for more than one award each year. 8. Re-nomination for the same work is accepted if time condition is still valid. However, a new application form should be filled out and new copies of the work submitted. 9. The work must abide by the terms listed in the application form.
NOTES
• The award of any category may be detained or withdrawn at the discretion of the Scientific Committee . • The committee is allowed to take any decision it sees fit . • Nominees are not entitled to object to the decisions of the Advisory Committee of the award.
NOMINATION PROCESS :
1. Choose the category of the award you want to apply to, as per the subject of the nominated book
2. Get the application form from the website of the Award (zayedaward.ae) or from the Award’s Executive Office
3. Fill the application form [online or print], sign it and send it to Award's Executive Office [in Abu Dhabi] including the following documents:
Five copies of the nominated book
Candidate's Resume.
A valid Passport copy.
Personal photo
4. For the translation category, candidates must send five copies of their book and five copies of the translated work
SELECTION AND JUDGING PROCESS :
- The award is supervised by a Board of Trustees and an Scientific Committee that manage a rigorous award selection process
- Every year, the Scientific Committee appoints a group of distinguished regional and international literary figures [judges] who serve on nine separate selection committees, one for each award category.
- There are 3 – 5 selection committee members [judges] per category, each of whom remain anonymous to maintain the independence and integrity of the selection process
- Each committee reviews all nominated works and submits its selections to the Scientific Committee.
- Scientific Committee reviews and approves the panel’s suggestions, which are then officially endorsed by Board of Trustees, presided over by Sheikh Zayed Bin Tahnoon Al Nayan, president of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
- The winners are announced ahead of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, culminating in a prestigious tribute ceremony on during March of every year.
The art of literary translation is at the heart of World Literature Weekend. This will be marked in the 2011 festival through a programme of workshops led by a team of Britain’s most distinguished literary translators. This half-day workshop led by Paul Starkey focuses on the Arabic language and will be structured around close work on texts sent in advance to participants. Discussion will centre on the differences in approach evident in variant translations of the same texts. Participants should have a good working knowledge of the language and will be invited to prepare their own translations of the texts under discussion.
Paul Starkey is Professor of Arabic and Head of the Arabic Department at Durham University, England, and a Co-Director of the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World. His research interests include Arabic literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, literary translation theory and practice, and travel to and from the Middle East. He is the author of Modern Arabic Literature (Edinburgh University Press, 2006) and was co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature (Routledge, 1998).
He is currently working on a study of the Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim. Paul teaches Arabic-English translation at Durham and has published English translations of Arabic novels by Rashid Al-Daif, Edwar al-Kharrat, Turki Al-Hamad, Mansoura Ezz Eldin, and Mahdi Issa al-Saqr. He has also translated a number of short stories and novel excerpts which have appeared in Banipal and other international journals. He is currently working on a translation of the Palestinian author Adania Shibli’s second novel, We Are All Equally Far from Love, which is due to be published by Clockroot Books later in 2011.
To book two workshops at the discounted prices of £110 (£70 concessions) please call Claire Williams on 020 7269 9030
We are pleased to inform you that our first writing workshop would hold between 26 to 28 May 2011 in Obafemi Awolowo Uinversity, Ile-Ife. The venue for the workshop is the Natural History Museum, which has been described as the most beautiful building in Africa’s most beautiful campus.
This workshop is not designed for established writers – or writers with a book ready for publishers. It is designed for young people (and old?) who think they are talented, or have been told so. More importantly, it is designed for those who want to horn their talent into a craft, who wish to think of their writing as a carpenter thinks of furniture.
The Workshop is divided into General Sessions and Genre-based Sessions. General Sessions is to focus on the general creative life, contemporary creative and artistic indulgencies as well as reflections on the work of an artist. This aim is to be reflected in the general reading list as well as the conversations (between facilitators) discussions (facilitators and participants), talks (by various facilitators) and exposure to creative content (audio, video and slide presentations.)
In Genre-based Sessions, participants are split into the genres they indicated interest in – Poetry, Fiction or Non-Fiction. Participants are not allowed to register for more than one genre. Facilitators in the respective genres are to conduct these sessions, with emphasis on reviewing the work produced by participants, and discussing quality work by more established writers. Although our focus is on writers resident in Ile-Ife, the workshop is also open to writers outside Ile-Ife. However, we would not cater for the accommodation and feeding (aside breakfast) of any participant outside Ile-Ife.
Application: Application deadline is 23 May. There is space for only 40 participants, so apply early.
Complete the Application Form, and submit via email (sarabaworkshop@gmail.com) after payment of the WorkshopFee. Your letter of invitation would be sent upon confirmation of payment.
Facilitators:
Ayobami Famurewa (Fiction) is currently pursuing a Master’s in Literature in English at the Obafemi Awolowo where she obtained a Bachelors’ degree in 2008. Her short stories have been published in African Writing Online, Farafina Magazine, Saraba Magazine, The Weaverbird Anthology of New Nigerian Fiction (Kachifo 2008) and Speaking for Generations: An Anthology of Contemporary African Short Stories (African World Press 2010). She was a participant in the Chimamanda Adichie-Binyavanga Wanaina writers’ workshop that held in Lagos in July 2007. Her writing received an honourable mention in the 2009 Commonwealth short story contest and won the Naija Stories Website launch Contest in 2010. In September, she will be commencing her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
Emmanuel Iduma (Fiction) holds a degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, and is currently studying to be called to the Nigerian Bar. His short stories and poems have appeared in African Writer, Story Time, New Black Magazine, Saraba, Itch, Sentinel Nigeria, Daughters of Eve and Other New Short Stories from Nigeria (CCC Press 2010), Speaking for Generations: An Anthology of Contemporary African Short Stories (African World Press 2010), Hack Writers, and is forthcoming in African Roar and MTLS. He was a participant of the Word into Art into Africa workshop organized by the Africa Centre/SPARCK (South Africa). His story was a finalist of the Word in Action International Literary Contest 2008. He won the Naija Stories Independence Day Contest 2010. In September he will be commencing his Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Manchester.
Dami Ajayi (Poetry) is a final year medical student and immediate past editor-in-chief of the Ifemed Journal Club. A consummate literary enthusiast and co-founder of Saraba literary magazine, he has had his poetry, reviews and short stories published in The Nation, The Guardian, Sunday Sun Revue, African Writing, Hack Writers, Saraba, MTLS, Sentinel Nigeria, Palapala Magazine, African Writer and his short story is forthcoming in African Roar. His first collection of poems, Clinical Blues, will be published next year. He was also a participant of the recently held Bayelsa Book and Craft Fair in Yenagoa.
Adebiyi Olusolape (Poetry) is a mechanical engineer by training. He often refers to himself as a journeyman collagist who lives at Ibadan, this is his modest way of describing himself as an encyclopaedia of some sort. He is currently the Poetry Editor of Saraba and has been influential to the creation of Saraba’s many intercontinental chapbooks. His poetry has appeared in Maple Tree Literary Supplement, 60 Minutes with the Geeks, and in Saraba. His other works have also appeared in several dailies including The Nation.
Arthur Anyaduba (Non-fiction) obtained a Bachelors’ Degree in English Literature in 2008. He has taught English Literature at Secondary School level. His reviews and criticisms have appeared, to critical acclaim, in 234Next. He is pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Literature in English in Obafemi Awolwo University. He works with Saraba as Fiction Editor.
Workshop Fee: Three Thousand Five Hundred Naira only (#3, 500)
We often share our own stories in the way we give gifts. In sharing stories, we share pieces of ourselves. Someone initiates. Someone reciprocates. Sometimes, we regret what we’ve given; other times, we receive far greater than what we give.
In July 2006, Dan Morrison, Zeenat Rahman and I founded the Hijabi Monologues. Since then, the HM has been a growing organic project with fresh stories shared by others touched by truth-telling; organized and performed for thousands across the U.S. and abroad including the Kennedy Center and Off-Broadway; and covered by various media outlets including The Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Miami Herald, America.gov and WAMU Latitudes.
After a wonderful five years, the Hijabi Monologues team is excited to announce the very first nationwide monologues competition. We are accepting stories from and for all ages: adults, teenagers and children. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters.
THREE GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
1. Winning writers will be announced on the Hijabi Monologues-Official Facebook fan page.
2. Winning writers will be given the opportunity to work closely with an official HM performer–including May Alhassen and Kamilah Pickett–in directing a performance of their stories.
3. Hijabi Monologues will upload the resulting performances on YouTube and the Hijabi Monologues-Official Facebook fan page.
TO ENTER
Entry is free.
When you submit your story, you will be asked to provide:
1. Confirmation that the monologue submitted is completely original to you. You are the present and exclusive and sole owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the story. 2. Confirmation that the monologue has not been published, used in an anthology, or winner of any other contests. 3. Confirmation that the monologue is a true story.
ENTRY GUIDELINES
1. One (1) entry per person (one monologue). 2. Scripts in Microsoft Word (.doc) are requested. 3. The monologue should be double-spaced and no longer than 800 words or 6 minutes. 4. Contact information (name, E-mail address, etc.) on the cover page only. 5. Please put the title of your monologue at the top of each page. 6. Please paginate your script at the bottom of each page: 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc 7. Submit your monologue by emailing hm.storycontest@gmail.com with the subject “Story Contest Submission 2011.”
Submission deadline: Friday, September 2, 2011, 11:59 EST
Monologues submitted after 11:59 PM EST of September 2 will not be accepted. Monologues that do not follow the entry guidelines will not be accepted.
Winners will be announced Friday, September 9, 2011 on our Official Facebook Page.
MONOLOGUE GUIDELINES AND TIPS
1. The hijab is to be used as a “prop” but not the centerpiece or story subject.
2. Your story does not have to be something absolutely crazy. In even the utterly mundane, there can be a narrative.
3. Use explicit regional references. Do not shy away from using Muslim (eg. He broke his wudu), cultural/ regional specific (eg. She was hella mad.) or ethnic (eg. Her dupatta was always freshly pressed) lingo. At the same time, the story should be accessible to a wide audience.
4. Stories about sexuality are fine but keep in mind that Muslim women have been represented as hyper-s3xual, asexual and s3xually repressed in popular film and literature. Be creative!
5. Stories written for young audiences are welcomed.
6. As an exercise, highlight the elements that are specific to the storyteller’s quirks. Then highlight the elements that are “universal.” Both of these elements are very important.
7. Read your monologue aloud. It should sound like a story–and less like a campaign speech, sermon and/or spoken word poetry.
8. Again, local stories (i.e., specific to a particular region, city or town) are a big plus!
JUDGES
Cristina Martinez organized HM shows in South Florida and Ohio State University. Cristina received her graduate degree in English Literature at OSU. Her research focus includes American and Latino/a fiction, memoir and graphic novels.
Dan Morrison is the CEO and Founder of Citizen Effect, a nonprofit that empowers anyone to be a philanthropist for a small but critical project around the world. Dan received his graduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies at University of Chicago where he met fellow Hijabi Monologues founders Sahar Ullah and Zeenat Rahman.
Zeenat Rahman is the Deputy Director for the Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID. Zeenat received her graduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies at University of Chicago where she met fellow HM founders Sahar Ullah and Dan Morrison.
Avery Willis-Hoffman is a freelance producer, director and writer working in theatre, opera, and museum exhibit design. She earned her BA in English Literature and Classics at Stanford University, and her MA and PhD in Classical Languages, Literature, and Theatre at University of Oxford (UK)
Sahar Ullah is a founder, the Creative Director and Head Writer for the Hijabi Monologues. From South Florida and a lover of good stories, she continues to learn the priceless value of “I don’t know” and lived experiences.
The FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages 2011, bestowed by the Civil Association of the Juan Rulfo Latin American and Caribbean Literature Prize opens the call for entries for candidacies to receive the FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages 2011, recognizing the life’s work of a living writer with a valuable creative work in any literary genre (poetry, novel, theatre, short story or essay) and whose artistic expression comes through Spanish, Catalan, Galician, French, Italian, Romanian or Portuguese.
Any cultural or educational institution, association or group of people interested in literature may submit nominations. Required documentation includes the candidate’s resume and any documents deemed necessary to sustain the candidacy, and should be sent to: Premio FIL de Literatura en Lenguas Romances 2011. Comisión de Premiación. Lerdo de Tejada 2121, CP 44150, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Telephones: +52 (33) 3630–9787 and 3630–9788.
Proposals must be received in office no later than July 22nd, 2011. Nominations will be considered by a group of seven jurors with recognized literary and critique achievement, selected by the Judging Committee. The jury’s decision is indisputable and will be announced at a press conference no later than August 29th, 2011. To the date, over 70 writers, academics and critics of unquestionable reputation from 19 countries have served as jury.
Under the name “Juan Rulfo”, the award was bestowed to Nicanor Parra (1991), Juan José Arreola (1992), Eliseo Diego (1993), Julio Ramón Ribeyro (1994), Nélida Piñón (1995), Augusto Monterroso (1996), Juan Marsé (1997), Olga Orozco (1998), Sergio Pitol (1999), Juan Gelman (2000), Juan García Ponce (2001), Cintio Vitier (2002), Rubem Fonseca (2003), Juan Goytisolo (2004), and Tomás Segovia (2005). As FIL Literary Award, it was granted to Carlos Monsiváis (2006) and Fernando del Paso (2007). Under its current title, it has been granted to António Lobo Antunes (2008), Rafael Cadenas (2009) and Margo Glantz (2010).
With a purse of $150,000 USD, the FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages will be given during the 25th Guadalajara International Book Fair.
Guidelines
• FIRST. Eligible to the FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages 2011 are writers with a valuable creative work in any literary genre (poetry, novel, theatre, short story or literary essay) whose literary expression is through any of the romance languages: Spanish, Catalan, Galician, French, Italian, Romanian, and Portuguese.
• SECOND. Nominations must be presented by any cultural or educational institution, association or group of people interested in literature. However, the award may also be presented to a writer who in the opinion of the Jury deserves it, even if he/she has not been nominated by any institution.
• THIRD. Nominating institutions, groups or associations must send their nominees along with a resume and due documentation to sustain said candidacy to: Premio FIL de Literatura en Lenguas Romances 2011. Comisión de Premiación. Lerdo de Tejada 2121, cp 44150, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
• FOURTH. All documentation regarding submitted candidacies to the Award Commission, as well as the identity of the nominees, will remain confidential. Documents will be destroyed after a decision is reached.
• FIFTH. Reception of nominations is open as of the publication of these guidelines and will close on Friday July 22nd, 2011.
• SIXTH. Seven outstanding literary critics will form the Jury of the FIL Award in Romance Languages 2011.
• SEVENTH. The Jury’s decision is indisputable and will be announced at a press conference no later than August 29th, 2011.
• EIGHTH. The Award has a purse of US $150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand US dollars).
• NINTH. The FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages 2011 will be given in the city of Guadalajara during the last week of the month of November, during the 25th Guadalajara International Book Fair.
• TENTH. Any unforeseen situation in these guidelines will be resolved by the Award Commission.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: fil@fil.com.mx
For submissions: Premio FIL de Literatura en Lenguas Romances 2011. Comisión de Premiación. Lerdo de Tejada 2121, cp 44150, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
For centuries, the Mediterranean Sea has both divided and joined the many disparate nations, cultures, language groups and artistic traditions which flourished in the Mediterranean Basin: the Maghreb, Iberia, Southern Europe, the Balkans, the Levant and Egypt. As a dividing line and barrier to inter-cultural exchange, it has allowed each of these regions and their many cultures to develop unique artistic traditions. As the major feature binding these diverse cultures together, however, it has also facilitated inter-cultural exchange. What happens, then, when these traditions travel, meet and merge with each other? How does the host country adopt and adapt the ideas and aesthetics coming from abroad to its own native tradition?
This volume will look at such pan-Mediterranean artistic exchange (in literature as well as film, painting, music, photography, etc.) produced during or about the Modernist period, roughly the last quarter of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th. We welcome papers addressing any aspect of Modernist and avante-garde literature and art on four related themes: first, papers which describe the interaction of two or more Mediterranean artistic traditions (international Futurism, for example, or the reception of French Surrealism in Algeria); second, two or more Mediterranean cultures (Alexandria’s Jewish community or relations between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus); third, depictions of the Mediterranean itself during the period (in, for example, Lawrence Durrell’s Bitter Lemons of Cyprus or Henry Miller’s Colossus of Maroussi); or, fourth, the myriad forms of Modernist and avante-garde art which emerged from a single location (such as Cavafy, Marinetti, Ungaretti and Durrell in Alexandria). Papers on similar themes will also be considered.
Title: The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Modernity
Eds. Adam J. Goldwyn (Uppsala University) and Renee Silverman (Florida International University)
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: adam.goldwyn@lingfil.uu.se
For submissions: Email one to two page abstracts by June 15 to Dr. Goldwyn at adam.goldwyn@lingfil.uu.se
The Danish Centre for Writers and Translators has the pleasure of being able to offer a four-week working residency in the buildings on the beautiful grounds of Hald Hovedgaard, near the town of Viborg, in the period of July 16 – August 13, 2012.
Four foreign authors and eight to ten Danish authors will gather for this period in a writing-conducive environment, where they will have the opportunity to work undistracted in an inspiring literary atmosphere.
This working residency is available to Danish and foreign writers who have had at least two works of fiction published, whether it be prose or poetry.
TO APPLY
The application should be one page long, maximum, and contain a short explanation of your motivation for attending this international summer residence programme, as well as a short description of the project that you plan to be working on during your stay. Applicants must also include a bibliography of published works. You are welcome to attach up to a five-page sample of a work-in-progress, but this is optional.
Applications from writers from abroad must be in English, while Danish writers may submit their application in either Danish or English.
Danish applicants are asked to specify whether they wish to participate in H.A.L.D. for one or two weeks and which period they prefer.
Applications are to be sent to Hald Hovedgaard’s director, Peter Q. Rannes, at pqr@haldhovedgaard.dk.
Deadline for applications from writers from abroad is April 1, 2012.
Deadline for applications from Danish writers is May 15, 2012.
Applicants can expect a reply 14 days after the deadline.
Obligations for Participants
As with all writers who have stayed as Hald Hovedgaard, the authors who are accepted for H.A.L.D.’s residency program are obliged to submit a short report on their stay after their residency is completed, as well as send a copy of their work-in-progress to Hald Hovedgaard when it is completed and published.
It is also expected that writers participate in reading-aloud sessions, meet-the-author sessions and other events during the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators’ book and literature festival, “St. Bogdag på Hald” (The Great Book at Hald), which will be held on August 11, 2012.
DIVA
The H.A.L.D. residency program is supported by DIVA – the Danish International Visiting Artists Exchange Programme, a programme administered by The Danish Arts Council (link to text in Danish and English). This means that, besides staying at Hald for free, the four chosen authors from abroad will receive a sum of DKK 10,000 to cover other expenses, such as food, as well as a refund of up to DKK 5,000 (DKK 7.000 overseas) for travel expenses.
On Monday, July 11, 2011, Lola Shoneyin, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Odili Ujubuonu will read at Pit Theatre in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The event will take off at 3.00 p.m. There will also be music and poetry performances. It will be an exciting afternoon.
Lola Shoneyin's first novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives was long-listed for the Orange Prize for fiction this year. Shoneyin attended the Iowa International Writers Programme, Iowa, USA, in August 1999 and was also in that year a Distinguished Scholar at the University of St Thomas, Minnesota. She has written three volumes of poems: So All the Time I was Sitting on an Egg (1998); Song of a Riverbird (2002) and For the Love of Flight (2010).She lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she teaches English and drama at an international school.
Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a professor of English at the University of Lagos. She is the author of several novels, poetry collections and children literature. A joint winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature (2007); Adimora-Ezeigbo has, over the years, won numerous literary awards and has undertaken reading tours locally and internationally.
Odili Ujubuonu’s debut novel, Pregnancy of the Gods was an instant success. Since then, he has published follow-ups, Treasure in the Winds and Pride of the Spider Clan. The three books are woven around a magical instrument – sacred flute – lost and sought in communities around the lower Niger Delta. Pregnancy of the Gods won the 2006 ANA/Jacaranda Prize for Prose while Treasure in the Winds won the 2008 ANA/Chevron Prize on Environmental issues and was nominated for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2008. Ujubuonu has practised Advertising since 1991.
Via: ayobamiadebayo.blogspot.com
Contact Information:
For inquiries: call 08063719839, 07065383510 or 08072071374
