Caine Prize for African Writing
1 appearances
-
Edition 8 (2007) Winner
Monica Arac de Nyeko
モニカ・アラック・デ・ニエコ
Monica Arac de Nyeko
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1979-01-01 （Kitgum, Uganda）
- Nationality
- Uganda
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Kitgum (birth) → Kampala (grew up) → Gulu (high school) → Nairobi (residence) → Groningen, Netherlands (study)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Editor, Teacher
- Active Years
- 2000-
- Affiliations
- FEMRITE (Uganda Women Writers Association), T:AP Voices (chief editor), St. Mary's College Kisubi (former teacher)
- Memberships
- FEMRITE
- Nominations
- 2004 Caine Prize shortlisted ("Strange Fruit")
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makerere University | — | Faculty of Education | Bachelor of Education | — | Uganda |
| University of Groningen | — | Humanitarian Assistance | Master's in Humanitarian Assistance | — | Netherlands |
Makerere University
Faculty of Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Education
Country:
Uganda
Active in FEMRITE during studies; began writing within that network.
University of Groningen
Humanitarian Assistance
Degree:
Master's in Humanitarian Assistance
Country:
Netherlands
Studied humanitarian assistance at master's level.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Caine Prize for African Writing | Jambula Tree | — | Caine Prize committee | Winner |
| — | Women's World, Women in War Zones essay competition (first prize) | In the Stars (essay) | — | Women's World | First prize |
Caine Prize for African Writing
2007
Work:
Jambula Tree
Organization:
Caine Prize committee
Result:
Winner
Women's World, Women in War Zones essay competition (first prize)
Work:
In the Stars (essay)
Organization:
Women's World
Result:
First prize
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Jambula Tree
2007 Short storyA short story about two teenage girls who fall in love and face an unforgiving community; it explores family and societal reactions and individual conflict.
LGBTQ+AdolescenceCommunitySocial prejudice
Translations
- Included in multiple anthologies (English)
Strange Fruit
2004 Short storyA story addressing child soldiers, containing allusions to the song of the same name; it portrays human conditions under conflict.
ConflictChild soldiersTrauma
Back Home
2008 Short storyA short story about homecoming, memory, and the relationship between person and place.
HomecomingMemory
Bibliography
- Jambula Tree and other stories (collected)
- Seventh Street Alchemy (includes "Strange Fruit", "Grasshopper Redness")
- Dreams, Miracles and Jazz (anthology: "Back Home")
- African Love Stories (anthology: "Jambula Tree")
- Various essays and short stories (magazine publications)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Concise, restrained proseSubtle depiction of characters' inner lives within social contexts
- Recurring Motifs
- Alienation and belongingAdolescent conflictCommunity norms
Legacy
Arac de Nyeko gained international recognition after winning the Caine Prize in 2007 and is regarded as a leading voice among contemporary African writers. Her involvement with FEMRITE and selection for Africa39 highlight her significance in African literature.
Academic Societies
- FEMRITE
In Popular Culture
- Selected for Africa39 project (2014)
- "Jambula Tree" included in multiple anthologies
Trivia
- First Ugandan to win the Caine Prize (2007).
- Active member of FEMRITE (Uganda Women Writers Association).