TANZANIA’S ABDULRAZAK GURNAH WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE

Black history month takes place yearly in celebration of the heritage and culture of black people and their contribution to society as well as fostering an understanding of black history in general. October was declared Black history month in the UK and it is lined up with a lot of activities highlighting and recognizing the history of the black people.

Abdulzarak Gurnah recently took home the Nobel prize in literature, the Swedish academy recognized the Tanzanian novelist for his writing of “Effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee.” The novelist is best known for his 1994 novel “paradise” which was set in colonial East Africa during word war 1 and was short listed for booker prize for fiction. So far he has 10 novels to his name and a number of short stories.

Gurnah was born in Zanzibar but based in England, he worked as a professor for post colonial literature at the University of Kent until he recently retired. At the time when he received the news he was in the kitchen of his home in southwest England. “It was such a complete surprise that I really had to wait until I heard it announced before I could believe it.” said Gurnah.

The chairman of the Nobel Committee for literature Andres Olsson called Gurnah “One of the world’s most prominent post-colonial writers.” The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and 10 million swedish Kronar ($1.14m)

About 80% of the of the Nobel prize in literature recipients have been Europeans or North Americans, so it is great to see the Tanzanian earn himself one.

It is amazing to witness Gurnah’s Nobel recognition, many more black people are being recognized world wide for their various contributions, be it in entertainment, business or sports. They have payed fundamental roles in society but campaigners believed their value and contribution to society was often overlooked, ignored or distorted, we are glad to see these kinds of recognition taking center stage.