EU launches new literary award in South Africa

The embassies/high commissions of the European Union countries in South Africa are launching a new literary award to encourage new South African writing, in partnership with Jacana publishers, ThisDay, a daily newspaper, and Safm, a radio station. South African writers can submit a first, unpublished novel to Jacana Publishers, who will publish the award-winning novel. The award will consist of R25.000 (£2,200) and a trip to a literary festival in Europe. The 2004 award winner will be invited to the Winternachten festival in the Netherlands.

"Through this award we wish to enhance writing and reading in South Africa, says Netherlands ambassador Frans Engering, who holds the presidency of the EU. Elinor Sisulu said recently when she accepted the Noma award that "African countries need increased investment in the three "l's " – language, literature and libraries: No books, no African Renaissance". The EU wants to contribute to this process by creating this new award. Furthermore, we want to raise the profile of new South African writers in our countries. Hence, the invitations to literary festivals for the award winners. The first award winner will go to the Netherlands, the next will go to festivals in France, Germany, the UK and other EU-countries."

Nadine Gordimer is the chair of the jury of this prestigious award. Other well-known members of the jury are professor Andries Oliphant (Unisa) and professor Kole Omotoso (writer and lecturer). The media partners; Alan Swerdlow of Safm and features and books editor of ThisDay – Alex Dodd, as well as Dutch book critic Fred de Vries. Maggie Davey of Jacana will also be represented on the jury.

The shortlist for the award will be announced in November, the published manuscript will be presented in March 2005, at the "Time of the Writer" festival inDurban.

Writers can submit their manuscripts before1 October 2004 to Jacana Publishers. Criteria for submission can be downloaded from www.jacana.co.za