Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
1 appearances
-
Edition 6 (2018) Winner
Harriet Anena
ハリエット・アネナ
Harriet Anena
Aliases:
Ber Anena
Pen Names:
Ber Anena（Pen name / publishing name used in recent years）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- Gulu District, Uganda
- Nationality
- Uganda
- Languages
- English, Acholi
- Residence History
- Gulu (place of upbringing) → Kampala (work and literary activity) → New York (studies at Columbia University)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Poet, Journalist, Performer
- Active Years
- 2003-
- Nominations
- 2018 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (shortlist), 2017 Short Story Day Africa (longlist), 2018 Short Story Day Africa (longlist)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makerere University | Mass Communication | Department of Mass Communication | Bachelor of Arts | 〜2010 | Uganda |
| Makerere University | Human Rights | Department of Human Rights | Master of Arts | 〜2018 | Uganda |
| Columbia University | Creative Nonfiction / Writing | MFA Writing program | MFA (在学) | 在学（開始年不明） | United States |
Makerere University
Mass Communication
/ Department of Mass Communication
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
〜2010
Year of Graduation:
2010
Country:
Uganda
BA in Mass Communication
Makerere University
Human Rights
/ Department of Human Rights
Degree:
Master of Arts
Period:
〜2018
Year of Graduation:
2018
Country:
Uganda
MA in Human Rights
Columbia University
Creative Nonfiction / Writing
/ MFA Writing program
Degree:
MFA (在学)
Period:
在学（開始年不明）
Country:
United States
MFA in Writing (Creative Nonfiction), in progress/attended
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa | A Nation In Labour | — | Wole Soyinka Prize organizing committee | Joint winner |
Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
2018
Work:
A Nation In Labour
Organization:
Wole Soyinka Prize organizing committee
Result:
Joint winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
A Nation In Labour
2015 PoetryHer 2015 debut poetry collection addressing war, social injustice, personal pain and hope. The book combines lyrical and performative elements with satirical responses aimed at awakening social conscience.
Effects of war and conflictSocial justice and ethicsWomen's experiencesMemory and trauma
Bibliography
- A Nation In Labour (poetry collection, 2015)
- Short story 'Dancing with Ma' (2018)
- Short story 'The Satans Inside My Jimmy' (in Hotel Africa: New Short Fiction from Africa, 2019)
- Short story 'Waiting' (ID: New Short Fiction from Africa, 2018)
- Poems 'Forgiveness' and 'We Arise' (in anthology, 2014)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Performance-oriented poetryLyrical yet satirical voiceFocus on social and political themes
- Recurring Motifs
- Contrasts of war and peaceMotherhood and the female bodyRelation between nation and individual
Legacy
As a poet and writer from Gulu, she gained attention for works that depict experiences of war and social issues. Winning the 2018 Wole Soyinka Prize brought international recognition, establishing her as an important voice in contemporary Ugandan literature.
Quotes
-
An arresting evocation of love and war.
Source: The Economist (article) (2019)
Trivia
- Previously published as Harriet Anena; more recently also publishes as Ber Anena.
- Grew up during the Lord's Resistance Army conflict in northern Uganda.
- Has worked as a journalist for outlets such as the Daily Monitor.