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Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize in Literature, award eludes Kenyan great Ngugi wa Thiong’o

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 has been awarded to American songwriter, and singer Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. The award has caused a deep consternation amongst African social media users who feel seminal Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o deserved to win the Prize.

Published

8 years ago

October 14, 2016

This Is Africa

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 has been awarded to American songwriter, singer, artist, and writer Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. Dylan’s music is popular in America and across the world and his lyrics touch on a wide range of political, social, and philosophical issues.

Dylan has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. While the award to Dylan continues to be celebrated by fans and observers across the world, the decision has not been well received across the African continent, if social media reactions are anything to go by.

Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o participates in an event of the 13 Paraty International Literaty Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 03 July 2015. Photo: ANP /EPA Sebastiao Moreira

The award has caused a deep consternation amongst social media users who feel seminal Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o deserves the award. Thiong’o was among the names of favourites tipped to win this year’s Prize, but the award has eluded the African writer yet again.

Writers, journalists, observers and critics have weighed in on the discussion, with some arguing that African writers should not be seeking external validation, while others are criticising and questioning the fairness of the Swedish Academy.

Four African writers have won the Prize, Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt), and two South African writers, Nadine Gordimer and J. M. Coetzee respectively.

Thiong’o was recently awarded the prestigious Pak Kyong-ni Literature Award in recognition of his outstanding literary achievements, and he became the sixth recipient of the award since its inauguration in 201. Thiong’o was recognized by the review committee for his outstanding work, which have been a “great influence on world literature”.

Thiong’o is currently a Distinguished Professor of the Departments of Comparative Literature and English at the University of California, Irvine, U.S.

Twitter reactions

To the Ngugi conspirators: surely a pan-Africanist anti-colonialist like him does not need colonialist prizes? So you must rejoice for him!
— Petina Gappah (@VascoDaGappah) October 13, 2016

Shocked Nobel Prize for Literature didn't go to Africa's Ngugi wa Thiong'o. Methinks @NobelPrize has a curious fascination with white men.
— Prof Makau Mutua (@makaumutua) October 13, 2016

As a Kenyan, of course I was hoping Ngugi Wa Thiong'o won the Nobel. The fact that he didn't doesn't change that he's a remarkable writer.
— Effie (@effbomb_) October 14, 2016

Bob who? Ngugi wa Thiong'o earned that Literature Nobel Prize years ago and just because they won't give it to him doesn't diminish his work
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) October 13, 2016
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https://twitter.com/ztsamudzi/status/786562567460184066

Nobel's now the Grammy? A songwriting white man from US picked for Literature over any lifelong novelists from the huge non-Western world.
— Suki Kim (@sukisworld) October 13, 2016

Absurd: US novelists complain no recent win when US won 1/4 of all Nobel for 100 yrs. When used to privilege, equality feels like oppression
— Suki Kim (@sukisworld) October 13, 2016
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If Dylan can win the Nobel for Literature, as a writer can I now win a Grammy or get in the RocknRoll Hall Of Fame? #writerslife #amwriting
— John F Tuckerman (@jftuckerman) October 13, 2016