Gotham Book Prize
2 appearances
-
Edition 21 (2023) Winner
Sidik Fofana
シディク・フォファナ
Sidik Fofana
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Brooklyn, New York City
Career
- Occupations
- novelist, public school teacher
- Active Years
- 2007-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxbury Latin School | — | — | — | — | United States |
| Columbia College (Columbia University) | — | — | BA | 2001-2005 | United States |
| New York University | — | — | MFA | — | United States |
| City College of New York | — | — | MA | — | United States |
Roxbury Latin School
Year of Graduation:
2001
Country:
United States
High school graduation (2001)
Columbia College (Columbia University)
Degree:
BA
Period:
2001-2005
Year of Graduation:
2005
Country:
United States
Bachelor of Arts
New York University
Degree:
MFA
Country:
United States
Master of Fine Arts (year not specified)
City College of New York
Degree:
MA
Year of Graduation:
2013
Country:
United States
Master's in Education (2013)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Whiting Award | Stories from the Tenants Downstairs | — | Whiting Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2023 | Gotham Book Prize | Stories from the Tenants Downstairs | — | Gotham Book Prize | ファイナリスト |
Whiting Award
2023
Work:
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs
Organization:
Whiting Foundation
Result:
受賞
Gotham Book Prize
2023
Work:
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs
Organization:
Gotham Book Prize
Result:
ファイナリスト
Awards & Nominations
Whiting Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 38 (2023) Winner
Works
Major Works
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs
2022 Short story collectionA collection of eight short stories about the struggles and inner lives of diverse residents of a Harlem high-rise who face rent increases after the building is sold to a corporate real estate company.
urban lifehousing insecuritycommunityimmigration and diversityeveryday voices
Bibliography
- Stories from the Tenants Downstairs (2022)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- polyphonic narration focused on distinct character voicesrealistic depictions of contemporary urban lifevoice mixing humor and acuity
- Recurring Motifs
- housing and rentcommunity disintegration and resilienceintergenerational relationships among immigrants
Legacy
Sidik Fofana has been recognized as an important emerging voice for his character-driven stories set in Harlem; winning a 2023 Whiting Award and becoming a finalist for the Gotham Book Prize established his reputation. He continues to write while working as a public school teacher.
In Popular Culture
- His work has been featured in The New York Times, Granta, and The Sewanee Review.
Trivia
- Named editor at large of The Sewanee Review in 2021.
- Has taught English Language Arts and Special Education in Brooklyn public schools since 2007.
- Graduated from Roxbury Latin School in 2001.