Washington, D.C. — Approximately 1,700 nominations for 100 of Africa's best books of the 20th century have been received, according to a jury formed last month at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF). The idea to create such a book listing came from Professor Ali Mazrui almost two years ago. The project was launched at the fair last year and a final list will be announced in early March 2002.
The aim of the best books project, as stated in a recently-produced brochure, "is to direct the spotlight of the world onto the achievements of African writers and those who have published their works throughout the past century."
The ambitious project has generated an unprecedented amount of cooperation and coordination among African book publishers, African writers, and academics. A worldwide network has been established to promote the project. "Our dream," said Zimbabwean writer and professor Moses Samkange who is executive director of the Zimbabwe book fair, in a July 5 statement, "is that 'Africa's 100 Best Books' list will be a highly respected resource, a widely published media issue and an indispensable marketing tool for all those involved in the promotion of African publishing."
Among those on a jury drawn from around the continent are professor Mazrui, Dr. Nana Wilson-Tagoe of Ghana, Professor Fatima Mendonça of Mozambique, Kassahun Checole of Eritrea, Professor Njabulo Ndebele of South Africa, and Professor Bankole Omotoso of Nigeria. They will determine the final 100 books.
Only books written by Africans are eligible. "After much discussion and debate," according to the ZIBF, the jury decided that 'African' means "someone either born in Africa or who has become a citizen of an African country." Authors who do not fit this definition but who consider themselves African or have made "notable" contributions to African scholarship and literature "will be addressed on their merit should their books be nominated."
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The jury will seek to have all geographic regions, and all major languages in which Africans have writen in the 20th century, represented in the final selection.
Among the concerns of the jury in its first meeting was that indigenous languages, and the literature of the Maghreb (Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya) were very under represented in the nominations so far received.
Each member of the jury will select his or her 100 best books. The list will be winowed down at the next meeting of the jury, scheduled for Cairo, Egypt, early in 2002.
Nominations close September 30, 2001.
