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The Gambia Prize for Literature (GPL) is a Gambian literary award given annually to honor literary erudition by Gambian authors. The award rotates among ten genres; African Languages, Fiction, Gambian Literature, Poetry, Non-Fiction,  Spoken Word Poetry, Drama,  History, Children's Literature  and Emerging Young Gambian Writers. The Prize is presented at the Kunta Kinteh International Book Festival (KKIBF), now in its second year, a project of the Young Writers’ Association of The Gambia (YWAG), and over the last few years has become one of the flagship projects in the association’s overall strategy and perspective of creating an annual literary festival in the Gambia.

The festival is an annual literary, artistic, cultural, and creative arts event that was founded by Gambian writer [ Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe], and, takes place in The Gambia every year. It is the biggest literary award in The Gambia and one of the youngest literary awards in the world. It brings together new and established writers from across the Gambia to promote, develop and celebrate creativity on the African continent in various genres. Unlike the Open Mic Festival and the Janjanbureh Kankurang Festival, the book festival is the Gambia's biggest annual gathering of literary writers, book lovers, editors, critics, and readers.

The festival in October 2022 included an exhibition of Gambian books, a hall of fame for Gambian literature, autographing of books, keynote addresses, spoken word poetry, drama, storytelling, and musical performances. The Gambia is home to many talented young people in the fields of education, literature, and poetry.

==History==

The Inaugural Prize was established in 2022 and sponsored by Alliance Francaise Banjul and The French Institute of Senegal. However, the process and judging are administered by The Young Writers Association of The Gambia with an advisory board made up of members from the Writers Association of The Gambia and the National Centre for Arts and Culture.

==Past recipients==

(The YWAG Prize for Gambian Literature 2022)
 * Male: Dr. Tijan M. Sallah
 * Female: Lady Augusta Jawara, aka Ramatoulie Kinteh, posthumous

(The Dr. Tijan Sallah Prize for Gambian Poetry)
 * Male: Dr. Momodou Sallah
 * Female: Dr. Juka Fatou Jabang

(The Gabriel J. Roberts Prize for Gambian Drama)
 * Male: Sir Charles Thomas
 * Female: Janet Badjan Young

(The Ebou Dibba Prize for Gambian Fiction)
 * Male: Musa Bah
 * Female: Sally Saidy Singhateh

(The Baba Sillah Prize for Non-fiction)
 * Male: Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow
 * Female: Dr. Amina A. Sillah

(The Momodou Sabally Prize for Spoken Word Poetry)
 * Male: Omar Champion Cham
 * Female: Jainaba Touray

(The Dr. Ralphina D’ Almeida, Nee Philott Prize for Gambian History)
 * Male: Hassoum Ceesay
 * Female: Patience Sonko- Godwin

(The Nana Grey-Johnson Prize for Emerging Writers) '''
 * Male: Sanusi Camara
 * Female: Fatoumatta Bayo

Four other supplementary awards were given to:

1. Gambian youth Pan-Africanist, Ousman Touray, as the Distinguished Youth Personality of The Year 2021- 2022;

2. Hon. Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General, GRA, as Award of Honor for Eminent Personality in National Development;

3. Africell Gambia Limited, Award of Honor for Eminent Company in National Development; and:

4. Ms. Justine Guschlbauer, DG, Alliance Francaise Banjul, Award of Honor for Eminent Personality of The Year 2022

==Context==

Adoption of The Gambia Prize for Literature (GPL), by Decision A/JAN.7/01/19 of the Young Writers Association of The Gambia (YWAG) establishing the criteria and procedures for the award of the Gambia Prize for Literature.

==Goal==

Officially launched the Kunta Kinteh International Book Festival as a perpetual rendezvous to commemorate the relevance of Gambian literature and Gambian cultures worldwide in Africa and the African diaspora.

Specific Objectives


 * Promote African languages and African literature
 * Increase awareness and appreciation of Gambian literature by looking at pragmatic ways of empowering and rendering them relevant to the lives of Gambians;
 * Publish the proceedings of the roundtables in a book as a reference for the reconsideration of the indispensable role of Gambian literature in Africa’s integration, the maintenance of sustainable peace and development;
 * Contribute to the promotion of readership and authorship skills for a wholesome book society.
 * Reiterate in the minds of Gambians the place of books and other instructional materials in the area of educational advancement in the country.
 * Establishing an active book market with economic potential for social development using book fairs as a platform.
 * To foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue initiatives in promoting the culture of peace and social justice through literature.

==Categories of The Award in 2023==


 * The YWAG Prize for Gambian Literature
 * The Dr. Tijan Sallah Prize for Gambian Poetry
 * The Gabriel J. Roberts Prize for Gambian Drama
 * The Ebou Dibba Prize for Gambian Fiction
 * The Baaba Sillah Prize for Non-Fiction
 * The Momodou Sabally Prize for Spoken Word Poetry
 * The Dr. Ralphina D' Almeida, Nee Philott Prize for Gambian History
 * The Nana Grey-Johnson Prize for Emerging Writers
 * The ACALAN Prize for African Languages
 * The Dr. Amina A. Sillah Prize for Gambian Memoirs
 * The Next Generation Foundation Prize for Professional Writing

Note: plans are to expand the categories of the prize as time goes on.

==Value of the Prizes==

For the inaugural prize in 2022, all winners received a glass trophy and a plaque. Plans are to include cash prizes in 2023/2024.

==The Jury==

The jury is composed of seven (7) members, the majority of whom are Gambian citizens, and whose integrity, respect, and dignity are recognized. The jury shall take into account the gender and linguistic representativeness of the Writers Association of The Gambia (WAG), including a staff member of the NCAC, the Community of Gambianist Scholars (LISERV), partner institutions, or structures.