Ahmadou Kourouma prize established

The Ahmadou Kourouma prize (Prix Ahamadou Kourouma) has been established by the Geneva international book fair (Salon international du livre et de la presse de Geneve) in honour of the novelist from Cote d'Ivoire who died in December 2003 (Read his obituary here).

The 2004 winner of the prize was Esther Mujawayo and Souad Belhaddad for Survivantes, Rwanda 10 ans apres: Entretiens (Survivors, Rwanda 10 years later: Interviews). The book, only available in French, is the life story of Mujawayo written by Belhaddad and tells of one woman's life in Rwanda, her family who were massacred and her story of survival.

The prize, to be awarded every year at the Geneva book fair, is awared to an ouvre, essay or novel from Africa and which reflects the spirit of independence and creativity which is the heritage of Ahmadou Kourouma, whose novel The Suns of Independence is one of Africa's 100 Best. The prize carries a cash element of SFr5,000 (about £2,300 or $5,000). The 2005 prize will be awarded at the Geneva book fair which takes place from April 27 to May 1 2005.