Nigerian writer and author of a novel, titled: An Orchestra of Minorities, Chigozie Obioma, has won the Internationaler Literaturpreis 2020 awarded by Berlin’s Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures) in Germany.
His co-winner is Haitian writer James Noel, according to a statement by the organisers.
Since 2009, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt and the Stiftung Elementarteilchen have awarded the Internationaler Literaturpreis (International Literature Award), honouring an outstanding work of contemporary international literature and its first translation into German.
Previous winners of the award have included Teju Cole, Indian-French author Shumona Sinhaand, and Mexican Fernanda Melchior.
In the past, the winning duo for the best novel and the best translation are honoured with a major celebration to which all other authors and translators of the books nominated for the final round are invited.
Unfortunately, with the current COVID-19 pandemic across the world, the organisers have opted not to have a major physical celebration and honour this year but all six titles on the shortlist.
This means there are 12 winners instead of two, among whom the prize money of 36,000 Euros will be shared.
Obioma is the Nigerian author of An Orchestra of Minorities, which was shortlisted for the Booker
The winning books are: Yevgenia Belorusets: Glückliche Fälle, translated from Russian by Claudia Dathe, Matthes & Seitz Publishing, 2019; Angel Igov: Die Sanftmütigen, translated from the Bulgarian by Andreas Tretner, eta Publishing, 2019; Chigozie Obioma: Das Weinen der Vögel (An Orchestra of Minorities), translated from English by Nicolai von Schweder-Schreiner, Piper Publishing, 2019; Amir Hassan Cheheltan: Der Zirkel der Literaturliebhaber, translated from the Persian by Julia Himmelreich, C. H. Beck Publishing, 2020; James Noël: Was für ein Wunder, translated from the French by Rike Bolte, Litradukt Publishing, 2020; Isabel Waidner: Geile Deko (Gaudy Bauble), translated from the English by Ann Cotten, Merve Publishing, 2019.
Obioma is the Nigerian writer of An Orchestra of Minorities, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize; James Noël is a Haitian poet, writer, and actor.
One of the most important voices in contemporary Haitian poetry, he writes in French and Creole to “empty his body of all words to move forward and become lighter than paper”.