Presentation on Burt Award for African literature Project

Ramadhan Ali

Project Data Officer

Introduction

The Burt Award for African Literature is a newly created annual award to recognize excellence in young adult fiction from Africa, it is implemented in Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania with the objective of generating excellent quality literature that have been written by indigenous writers that both contribute to one’s pride in place and nation at the same time provide books that are fun and entertaining to read. The Award is sponsored by CODE through the generous support of a Canadian patron, Mr. Bill Burt.

Objectives of Award

• To recognize excellence in young adult fiction.

• To support and motivate the development of supplementary reading materials for a critical stage of learning – the transition period between mother tongue and English medium instruction.

• To strengthen the English language skills of youth and help foster enthusiasm and love for reading.

• To stimulate and support the African Publishing industry and the development of African literature.

• To increase the stock of English readers in established school and other libraries.

Modality of Submission

Initially on the first round publishers were

allowed to submit 3 manuscripts, but after the

first round the modalities were revised to allow

individual writers who don’t have access to

publishers submit their manuscripts directly to

CBP then CBP would link them with publishers

who would assist them improve on their

manuscripts.

Project Implementation and Procedure

The Burt Award is a combination of a writing competition and a Book Prize. Therefore, CBP and partners have agreed to a standardized process of awarding winners:Manuscripts are received for consideration.A shortlist of 3 titles is selected. Names of the shortlisted titles are publicized.Authors continue working on their manuscripts with editorial support from publishers until the works are fully edited and proofread. Each title has its own timeline depending on how much rewriting and editing work is needed.The jury re-reads the selection of finalists and then ranks the titles for 1st , 2nd and 3rd prize.

Project implementation

The Burt Award for African Literature was

launched in Tanzania in July 2008. So far CBP has

published 18 titles, and another 3 manuscripts

are at different levels of publishing whose

writers were awarded yesterday. To-date

published books are:

Project implementation Cont…

1. The Best is Yet to Come2. Treeland: The Land of Laughter3. A Hero’s Magic4. Living in the Shade5. In the Belly of Dar es Salaam6. Face under the Sea7. Close Calls8. Lessilie the City Maasai9. The Choice10. The Birthday Party

Project implementation Cont…

11. Tears from a Lonely Heart

12. Run Free

13. The Temporary Orphan

14. The Wish

15. The Detectives of Shangani

16. Human Poachers

17. Adventures of Tunda and Zamaradi

18. The Raid and the Eclipse

Project implementation Cont…

In 2014, the sixth round of the Award was

announced and 12 manuscripts were

received.

Out of which three best manuscripts were

Shortlisted, revised and published.

Project implementation Cont…

Also in the same year Round Seven

BAAL was announced and 13 manuscripts were

received.

Seven manuscripts were eliminated due to a

number of reasons i.e. some were short

manuscripts that did not meet the

set criteria although some were resubmissions

That were not revised.

Workshop for Writers

Since 2008 CBP has been organizing workshops for writers who aspire to write in English. To-date the workshops has enabled more than nine winners who have excelled in writing in English. The workshops have been facilitated by both local and International facilitators from Canada. Attendance has always been good, and more people have been requesting to attend the workshop from upcountry.Furthermore, the workshop for writers has been providing opportunities for editors with the aim of enabling the discussion on relationship between writers/ editors and the forms of editing that go into bringing a manuscript to a finished product.

Achievements

• To-date CBP has produced eighteen (18) BAAL titles.

• The Project has trained more than 300 prospective English writers.

• The government through The Ministry of Culture has recognized the efforts that BAAL has put into promoting the culture of Tanzania.

• Improved quality of BAAL books in terms of editorial work and physical quality.

Achievements cont...

• CBP has distributed 52,500 copies of BAAL titles to programme schools , community libraries and public libraries another 10,500 copies will be distributed this year too.

• Writers have been given a platform to express themselves and communicate with young minds about what they believe to be issues of concern with the youth.

Challenges of the Award

• Many manuscripts were not targeting young readers but adults.

• Many manuscripts submitted were not thoroughly edited, most of them were not well edited, hence depicted poor language usage, poor prose style, plotting problems, too many characters, too many plots and lengthy digressions to explain facts i.e. historical events, traditions etc.

• Lack of competent editors is another major problem.• For many years CBP has continued receiving very few

manuscripts as compared to other countries implementing the same project all the rounds.

The End

Thank you