2011 Golden Baobab Prize Winners Named

Accra, November 18, 2011 – Ken Farnsworth, Edyth Bulbring and Luc Hassbroek - all of South Africa – have been announced as the winners of the 2011 Golden Baobab Prize. These authors join the growing circle of talented African authors annually selected by The Golden Baobab Prize, which is the only prize of its kind: awarded annually to African writers of unpublished works of African fiction for children and young adults. The prize offers a monetary award to its winners and connects outstanding stories with an array of African and international publishers.

Ken Farnsworth’s The Rooster won him the Golden Baobab Prize in the Senior Category (for the best story written for ages 12-15 years). Edyth Bulbring’s Sour Worms was awarded the Golden Baobab Prize for the Junior Category (best story written for ages 8-11 years) and Luc Hassbroek’s The Dance, earned him the Golden Baobab Rising Writer Award, given to a young writer 18 years and below who shows exceptional literary promise for his/her age.

The 2011 Golden Baobab Prize shortlist for the Senior Category (stories targeted at readers 12-15 years):
• Adeboyin Oluwaseun Olatoye (Nigeria), The Night Heaven Wept
• Tunji Ajibade (Nigeria), Siro Tombi

The 2011 Golden Baobab Prize shortlist for the Junior Category (stories targeted at readers 8-11 years):
• Marion Drew (South Africa), Refiloe and the Washed Chickens
• Dorian Haarlioff (South Africa), The Water Diviner

The 2011 Golden Baobab shortlist for the Rising Writer Award (for a promising writer 18 years or younger):
• Nnamani Chiemerie, (Nigeria) Nigeria at Fifty

Commenting on the literary award’s selection process, Golden Baobab’s executive director, Deborah Ahenkorah said, “ all the stories submitted to the Golden Baobab Prize go through a rigorous evaluation process in which the jury assesses the stories by title without knowing who the authors are or their countries of origin. Each story is read a maximum of six times and at the end of the process the stories are excitedly matched with their authors and the winners are determined!”

The Golden Baobab Prize continues to feature an exciting and distinguished jury. The 2011 panel of judges included: award-winning Nigerian author, poet and essayist Helon Habila; children’s writer, activist and chair of the Book Development Foundation at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town, Elinor Sisulu; chair of the Children’s Africana Book Award, Brenda Randolph; Ghana-based German children’s librarian, Tanja Galetti; Caribbean adventure children’s writer, Carol Mitchell and multi prize-winning children’s author and illustrator Meshack Asare.

The mission of the Golden Baobab Prize is to identify exciting African literary talent and inspire the creation of beautiful African storybooks that young people (and the young at heart!) will love for many years to come. The 2012 Golden Baobab Prize starts its call for submissions in January 2012.

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Note to Editors:

The Golden Baobab, established in July 2008, encourages the writing of African literature for children and young adults by recognizing gifted authors of the genre. It invites entries of unpublished short stories written by African citizens irrespective of age, race, or country of origin. The Prize was co-founded by Ghanaian Deborah Ahenkorah and Senegalese-born Rama Shagaya. Its Advisory Board includes renowned authors Ama Ata Aidoo, Patrice Nganang, Jay Heale and Maya Ajmera.

For further information, photos or to arrange interviews, please contact: Alida Uwera via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it