What a year it has been for Uganda! On Sunday, Harriet Anena became the first Ugandan to win the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
Just hours after Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo walked away as 2018 Miss World Africa, another Ugandan lifted one of the most prized writers’ awards in the field of literature.
Harriet’s poetry stood out from a pool of 110 submissions from eleven African countries.
Her poetry, A Nation In Labour, won her the award tied up with Nigeria’s Prof. Tanure Ojaide. It was originally published in 2015.
Harriet’s award was presented to her by the great poet, Wole Soyinka himself at a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria.
Super happy to be the joint winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, 2018, for my book A Nation in Labour. pic.twitter.com/I5uVZtgjpf
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) December 9, 2018
She walked away with $10,000 (about sh37m) which is awarded to the best poetry produced by an African.
Harriet is no stranger to such achievements after significant presence in the Top 21 List in the Short Story Day African Prize in 2017. She was also shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Prize in May this same year.
CONGRATULATIONS Harriet Anena, you’ve given us more reasons to celebrate!
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