CEOAFRICA gathered that The Golden Baobab Prizes has today, 13th of November 2013, announced the distinguished winners of the 2013 edition of the prizes in Accra, Ghana.
Liza Esterhuyse from South Africa emerged the winner of the Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books with her story, ‘The Little Hippo’ ahead of other two nominees; The Princess with a Golden Voice by Philip Begho’ (Nigeria) ‘Grandma Mimo’s Breakfast’ by Carol Gachiengo (Kenya).
Karen Hurt, also from South Africa, won the Golden Baobab Prize for Early Chapter Books for her story, What’s Going on at 179 Jabulani Street?, having been distinguished from the other fellow nominees; ‘Seven’ by Sabina Mutangadura (Zimbabwe), ‘Rhino’ by Richard Street (South Africa).
While Kanengo Rebecca Diallo from Tanzania, won the Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers for her story, Pieces of Africa. Her story was adjudged to be literally more exceptional than that of her counterpart ‘The Little Secret’ by Fego Martins Ahia (Nigeria).
However, this is the fifth year of the Golden Baobab Prizes, which were established in July 2008 to inspire the creation of enthralling, culturally relevant African children’s stories by African writers.
The Prizes offer monetary prizes, publishing opportunities for winners of the Picture Book and Early Chapter Book Prizes, and the opportunity for the Rising Writer to be a part of the prestigious panel of judges for the 2014 prizes.
Judges for the 2013 Golden Baobab Prizes include award winning author and founder of the Brunel University African Poetry Prize, Bernardine Evaristo, recipient of the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books’ New Voices Contest, Zetta Elliott, African Studies scholar, Esi Sutherland-Addy, IBBY SA Chairperson, Nonikiwe Mashologu, English teacher and researcher, Annette Hansen, and Osayimwinse Osa, founding editor of the Journal of African Children’s and Youth Literature (JACYL).
Last year’s winners of the Golden Baobab Prizes were Joy Nwiyi from Nigeria, Jenny Robson from Botswana and Rutendo Chabikwa from Zimbabwe.
