News | Wednesday, 26th May 2021
Writer Dr Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi awarded Jhalak Prize Book of the Year 2021
Lecturer's novel The First Woman wins annual literary prize that celebrates writers of colour in Britain
Novelist and University lecturer Dr Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi has been awarded the Jhalak Prize Book of the Year 2021, an annual literary prize celebrating writers of colour in Britain.
Published last year, her third novel The First Woman is a feminist coming-of-age tale that was first written while Dr Makumbi was studying for a Creative Writing masters degree at Manchester Metropolitan over 15 years ago, and has received widespread praise in the UK and US.
Now in its fifth year, the Jhalak Prize was launched to recognise and support work by writers of colour in Britain. This year, two prizes were awarded: Book of the Year and a new Children’s and Young Adult Prize, with winners from both prizes receiving £1,000. The winners were announced during a special livestreamed event on Tuesday.
The First Woman follows Kirabo growing up in a small Ugandan village surrounded by powerful women. It follows Kirabo’s journey to becoming a young woman and finding her place in the world, as her country is transformed by the dictatorship of Idi Amin.
Speaking when she was shortlisted, Dr Makumbi, Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Oh, it’s exciting and extremely rewarding to be recognised at this level by a prize that puts a spotlight on BAME writing in Britain. This opens doors for my writing to communities it would otherwise not have reached.”
Before joining Manchester Metropolitan in 2018, Dr Makumbi studied for a PhD at Lancaster University, and won the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Her debut short story collection Manchester Happened was published in 2019.
Reported in The Guardian, judge Peter Kalu described Dr Makumbi as a “giant of literature”. “The First Woman has magnetic, tender, vindictive, generous oh-so-human characters whose journeys through the novel moved me – this block of stone known as me – to tears,” he said. “Makumbi is a supremely gifted writer and The First Woman an astonishing accomplishment.”
Previous reviews of The First Woman have been overwhelmingly positive, with the New York Times praising Dr Makumbi for her “irresistible and poignant” prose, that shows “remarkable wit, heart and charm”. O the Oprah magazine described it as “a mesmerising feminist epic”, while the Economist said that “Ugandan literature can boast of an international superstar in Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.”
Speaking about her book when it was released, Dr Makumbi said: “I hope the world will see a happy Ugandan childhood. I hope they'll see through the eyes of a Ganda girl what it means to occupy a female body and the implications of being a woman in that society.
“I hope people will see the Ganda indigenous thoughts on feminism and the nature of family and family ties in Uganda where I come from.”
Shortlists
There was further recognition for University lecturers and affilitated writers in the Jhalak Prize shortlists.
Danielle Jawando, author and screenwriter and Associate Lecturer (Writing for Children), was shortlisted for the inaugural Jhalak Children’s and Young Adult Prize for her debut novel And the Stars Were Burning Brightly.
An extraordinary story about loss, understanding and the importance of speaking up when all you want to do is shut down, And the Stars Were Burning Brightly explores issues around mental health, suicide, bullying and growing up around social media.
Award-winning author and Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan Alex Wheatle was longlisted with his novel Cane Warriors, inspired by the true but little-known story of an 18th century slave rebellion in the Caribbean, while Romalyn Ante, joint winner of the 2017 Manchester Writing Competition, was shortlisted with her novel Antiemetic for Homesickness.
