By Yunus S Saliu
As the celebration of International Day of the African Writer reached climax, the Association of Writers of Senegal (AES) has awarded some African writers which among them were the Gambia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Mamadou Tangara, the President of the Writer’s Association of the Gambia, Dr Cherno Omar Barry, as part of activities marking the celebration.
The annual organized International Day of the African Writer’s week held in Kër Birago Bu Bees, Dakar Senegal between 7th to 11th November was organized by the Association of Writers of Senegal (AES). It was sponsored by the Congolese writer, Henri Djombo – President of the Union of Writers of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of DRC.
However, for his hard work and commitment, the highest award and prize is the “Yasser Arafat Grand Prize for Peace and Freedom” which was awarded for the first in 2017 to the Egyptian writer – Mohamed Salmawy was received this year edition by the Guinean writer – Djibril Tamsir Niane.
Also, other prizes as presented by the AES include the Golden Birago (Birago D’Or) awarded to Minister Mamadou Tangara, while the Aminata Maiga Ka prize was awarded to Dr Cherno Omar Barry – both Gambians. Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal honored with De La Fraternite De Plume, Adama Barrow of The Gambia honoured with De L’Integration Africaine and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo received De La Fraternite De Plume respectively.
Other awards include the Parrain de la 27 Edition JIEA for Henry Djombo (R Congo); Oumar Sankhare de la Critique Litteraire – Abdoulaye Racine Senghor (Senegal); Ousmane Sembene du Roman – Helene Lobe (Cote D’Ivoire), David Diop de la Poesie – Jean Claude Awono (Cameroun), Amadou Cisse Dia du Theatre – Ibrahima Sall (Senegal), Aminata Maiga Ka de la Nouvelle – Dr Cherno Omar Barry (Gambia), Bernard B Dadie de la Reconnaissance Internationale – Huppert Malanda (R Congo).
The event was presided over by the Senegalese President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Aminata Toure.
The Writers’ Association of the Gambia (WAG) was the guest of honor at the weeklong celebration, with full support from the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Honorable Hamat Bah.