arts-culture
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Anup Bhattacharya passes away
Anup Bhattacharya, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste and freedom fighter, passed away on Thursday. He was 77.
He breathed his last at 7:30 pm at the Asgar Ali Medical College Hospital in the capital, renowned lyricist Kabir Bakul Saïd.
According to family sources, the singer was suffering from various old-age complications. He also suffered from lung problems, diabetes and high blood pressure for a long time.
His body is being kept at the mortuary of Birdem Hospital tonight. His last rites will take place in Dhaka tomorrow.
Anup Bhattacharya was born in Zakiganj, Sylhet in 1954. His journey as a vocalist began on March 11, 1963 with Tagore songs as an enlisted singer in the Rajshahi station of the then Radio Pakistan.
During the 1971 Liberation War, he worked as a composer and music director at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and lend his voice to patriotic songs like "Teer Hara Ei Dheu-er Sagor", "Rokto Diye Naam Likhhechhi", "Purbo Digonte" and "Nongor Tolo Tolo".
After independence, he emerged as a composer with popular songs such as "Baishakhi Megher Kachhey Jol Cheye", "Shuk Pakhi Rey Pinjira Tor", "Ekattorer Juddher Diney", "Pakhi Janey Na Keno Kandey", "Lalon Tomar Aarshinagar" and "Notey Gachh Moraeye Na", among more than 100 songs in his illustrious career.
Considered as one of the forerunners of modern Bangladeshi music genre, Anup Bhattacharya was also a founder member of the Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha. In his career, he worked with many iconic singers including Andrew Kishore, Mitali Mukherji, Rafiqul Alam, Dilruba Khan, Samina Chowdhury and more.
Bangladeshi Imtiaj Rasel in the running for Sovereign Asian Art Prize
Bangladeshi artist Imtiaj Rasel is in the running for a prestigious art prize in Asia.
He is among 30 artists from the Asia-Pacific region who have been nominated for this year's Sovereign Asian Art Prize.
With his artwork, ‘Journey by Bus’, being shortlisted, Rasel is now competing with artists from India, Australia, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Japan, Iran, Singapore, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and host Hong Kong for the prize.
Rasel, an ICCR scholarship recipient, holds an MFA degree in painting from Rabindra Bharati University (2019). He went to Kolkata for higher studies after earning a bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University in 2015.
“I received an email on September 18, 2020 from the Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) about my nomination, which was sent on behalf of me by artist Tayeba Begum Lipi. After that, I applied before the October 19 deadline. The authorities informed me by email about being a finalist on February 22, 2021,” he told UNB.
Using his travel experiences as a visual language, Rasel explores connections between places, culture, environment, time, and memory. Through this practice, he is instilled with a sense of wanderlust, through which new narratives are created.
On his 'Journey by Bus’, Rasel told UNB, "My travels instilled in me a wanderlust, which makes me explore the landscape from a visual and research point of view. I continued observing people during those bus journeys and made instant drawings, sometimes captured photographs. Later, I painted those elements on the bus tickets."
“Here I have tried to communicate with the characteristic of the local community, society and situations," he added.
Rasel has received the Artist Grant for the Brihatta Home Art Project, Brihatta Art Foundation (2020), and the Kazi Abdul Baset Memorial Award from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka (2016). His artworks were exhibited at the 52nd Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Fine Art, Kolkata (2019); 23rd National Exhibition, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka (2019), and All India Fine Art Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata (2018), to name a few.
The Sovereign Asian Art Prize was launched in 2003 to increase the international exposure of artists in the region while raising funds for programmes supporting disadvantaged children using expressive arts. Held annually, the prize is now recognised as the most established and prestigious annual art award in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Prize invites mid-career contemporary artists, nominated by a board of independent art professionals, to each enter up to three artworks online. A judging panel comprising world-class art experts shortlist the 30 best artworks from a range of digital images.
The shortlisted artworks are then exhibited in Hong Kong, where they are judged for a second time and voted on by the public. The judges’ scores are aggregated, and a Grand Prize winner is named. The other shortlisted artworks are auctioned, and proceeds split evenly between the artists and SAF. Artists receive the same split as they would through a gallery and the artworks often fetch higher prices through the generous bidding from charity patrons.
All of these 30 shortlisted artworks for the 2021 Sovereign Asian Art Prize will be exhibited at Hong Kong’s famous 9 Queen’s Road Central building from May 5 to May 16, 2021.
To boost engagement and increase exposure for the artists, art admirers from all over the world are invited to cast a vote online or in-person for their favourite artwork displayed in the exhibition.
Art-admirers from Bangladesh and all over the world can vote and make Rasel the grand prize winner by visiting https://www.sovereignartfoundation.com/art-prizes/2021-edition/?fbclid=IwAR15uwCkB3ChY3DxCi9PBrLwPltBnOBS27GU8D6-UxZuV-pxDeDL8PIvGrs.
Ronni Ahmmed’s solo exhibition explores mysticism of Sufism
Month-long exhibition ‘NOOR’ by artist and painter Ronni Ahmed recently begun in the capital in both offline gallery and virtual platform.
The exclusive, solo exhibition started on April 14 at Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue, marking both the occasions of the first day of Ramadan and Pahela Baishakh 1428.
But the ongoing countrywide lockdown forced the exhibition to go virtual in association with art agency ARTcon.
Showcasing Ahmed's personal and artistic journey toward Sufism, NOOR features 48 paintings and five installations, along with a premiere screening of the film ‘Taslima’s Garden’.
Read Two-month long art show on Sheikh Hasina ends with tributes to Bangabandhu
The works in the exhibition are themed on the mystical and romantic aspects of Sufism, where light and enlightenment are emphasised. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) art project by the artist can also be viewed in a VR tour of his own studio.
Bangla Academy Chairman Shamsuzzaman Khan loses battle with Covid-19
Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan, legendary folklorist and Chairman of Bangla Academy, passed away at a city hospital Wednesday (April 14, 2021) after losing his battle with Covid-19.
The 80-year-old was on life support after being tested Covid-19 positive and was undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital for other illnesses as well.
Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Siraji confirmed the news to UNB, saying: "Professor Shamsuzzaman breathed his last at around 2pm at BSMMU after fighting with Covid-19 for two weeks."
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The folklorist will be laid to rest at his family graveyard in Manikganj later in the day.
Professor Shamsuzzaman was put on life support on Monday as his condition had worsened. He and his wife tested positive for Covid-19 on March 30.
Born in 1940 in Manikganj's Charigram, Shamsuzzaman is recognised as one of the most respected folklorists of the country.
As a folklorist, researcher and writer, Shamsuzzaman penned and edited more than 100 books including "Folklore Charcha," "Muktabuddhi," "Dharmanirapekshata O Samakal," "Bangarashtrer Galpasamagra," "Kishore Rachanasamagra," and "Bangladesher Utsab."
Read Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan dies of Covid-19
He was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2001, Ekushey Padak in 2009 and Independence Award in 2017 for his great contribution to the arts and culture of Bangladesh.
The folklorist completed his post-graduation from the University of Dhaka and started his career as a lecturer for Haraganga College in Munshiganj and Jagannath College (now university) in 1964.
He was appointed as the director-general of Bangla Academy on May 24, 2009, and continued till May 23, 2018.
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Shamsuzzaman was named the new Bangla Academy Chairman in June 2020 after the death of former president National Professor Anisuzzaman, who also died from Covid-19.
In his esteemed career, Shamsuzzaman also served as the director-general of Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Shamsuzzaman worked as a faculty member of Bangladesh Agricultural University from 1968 to 1973 and National University from 1998 to 2001, too.
Read Eminent Rabindra Sangeet singer Mita Haque passes away
After lives & livelihoods: Covid strikes at culture, with Pahela Baishakh forced indoors
The country will be forced to abandon its traditional Bengali New Year celebration on April 14 for a second consecutive year, as the local outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic witnesses a resurgence, forcing the festive occasion of Pahela Baishakh to be welcomed and celebrated once again through online platforms and symbolic programmes like the last year.
Although millions are bound to be disappointed by the turn of events, most of them would not be surprised that it came to such a pass, where the year 1428 in the Bengali calendar will be ushered in by most people indoors, same as 1427 was a year ago.
With its celebration of the changing of the seasons, rooted in nature through its relation with the spring harvest, and rife with symbolism drawn from the region's flora and fauna, Pahela Baishakh is an essentially outdoor event. No one can look forward to recreating any of its traditional magic in an indoor setting. Besides, Covid restrictions mean very few can even gather under the same roof to be with their near and dear ones at least.
Renowned cultural organizations and institutions including Chhayanaut, the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Liberation War Museum Bangladesh (LWM) and more will observe the day with online-based festivities and programmes, to welcome the new calendar year 1428.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
The marquee events of the dawn are the traditional Borsho-Boron programme by Chhayanaut at Ramna Batamul in the capital and the Mangal Shobhajatra parade of the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), Dhaka University, which will not be arranged live this year.
However, both Chhayanaut and FFA have informed UNB that they are going to showcase pre-recorded programmes on national televisions in the morning.
First observed in 1989 by FFA as a colourful procession celebrating the Bengali New Year with the participation of people from all walks of life, the annual Mangal Shobhajatra has received the recognition of UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage on November 30, 2016.
With the theme "Kal Bhoyankorer Beshe, Abar Oi Ashe Sundor", FFA was forwarding to celebrate this year's procession and started preparation for making props on April 6, as it could not organize the parade last year due to the lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions.
Also read: Bangladesh’s complete lockdown set to begin on Apr 14; notification issued
Unfortunately, plans for organizing the large procession this year had to be cut down, and instead of cancelling the event, FFA has pre-recorded a symbolic programme at the premises of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
"Initially, the Dhaka University authorities decided to arrange a symbolic event on FFA premises on the day of Pahela Baishakh, as it has always been culturally very significant and this year marks the Golden Jubilee of our Independence. As per the government's directive regarding the lockdown restrictions to curve the ongoing pandemic, we decided and pre-recorded a symbolic Mangal Shobhajatra for 1428 on a very limited scale at the premises of FFA with the participation of our State Minister for Cultural Affairs and fewer than 20 people, showcasing our banner and 100 prop items made by our students and teachers including face shields and masks," Nisar Hossain, Dean of the FFA, told UNB on Tuesday.
The press and electronic media were not allowed to broadcast the recording, however, The DU authority will provide a video and press elements of the programme to the press and electronic media tomorrow, he informed.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 69 more die, 6,028 infected
On Monday, Chhayanaut general secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa stated, “As we could not celebrate Pahela Baishakh 1427 through arranging our traditional cultural festivity under the banyan tree at Ramna Park, we had been preparing and rehearsing to organize the festivity this year without the crowd at the venue and also we had plans to pre-record the programme if the situation restricts us to arrange on that day. Sadly, as we have been observing the recent surge of the pandemic and also as some of our artists are being infected with COVID-19 - we have decided to broadcast this year’s festivity through a special collaborative programme with Bangladesh Television (BTV) as last year."
“The programme will broadcast from 7 am to 8 am, and it will be showcasing a compilation of some of the new and previous performances of Chhayanaut artists, and this year we are featuring performances focusing on the Golden Jubilee of our glorious Independence. Aside from BTV, Chhayanaut will also broadcast the programme on its YouTube Channel Chhayanaut Digital - Platform," she added.
Also read: Chhayanaut cancels Pahela Baishakh festivities at Ramna, goes back to virtual celebration with BTV
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will broadcast a live webinar and cultural programme on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel from 11 pm onwards, which is scheduled to be joined by former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent thespian Asaduzzaman Noor as its chief guest.
BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky will preside over the virtual event, which will also be joined by prominent eductator and writer prof Syed Manzoorul Islam as the speaker and renowned cultural personalities including Nazrul Sangeet maestro Khairul Anam Shakil, folk singer Akramul Islam, Rabindra Sangeet singer Lily Islam, performing students from the Govt Music College and more.
Liberation War Museum (LWM) will also broadcast a virtual programme on its official Facebook page at 11 am.
Also read: Pahela Baishakh celebrated without outdoor programmes
Wrishiz Shilpi Goshthi will arrange an online programme on Facebook as well. It will be broadcast at 9 am on Pahela Baishakh, according to legendary folk icon Fakir Alamgir, President of the cultural group.
Earlier, the government restricted all sorts of outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh and asked to organize virtual events for online celebrations. Therefore, all the major outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh are called off for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This year, April 14 also marks the first day of Ramadan in Bangladesh and some other Muslim countries in the world.
Best Online Book Selling Websites in Bangladesh
Who doesn’t love to buy books from book fairs or even from a bookstore? But, due to multifarious responsibilities of family and career in hectic urban life many of us cannot manage time. Heavy traffic jam is another barrier for city residents to visit bookstores physically. If you are a booklover, no one can stop you from buying books in alternative ways. Buying books online is the only alternative way to avoid buying from a bookfair or bookstore. Therefore, we have listed the best online book-selling websites in Bangladesh.
Top eCommerce Book Sites in Bangladesh
Rokomari
Rokomari is the pioneer of online bookselling in Bangladesh. Established in 2012, Rokomari has become a leading online book-selling store. They have the largest collection of books from home and abroad.
You can buy books within a few clicks from your computer or from the phone. They have mobile apps for both Android and iOS.
The ordering process is very simple. You can just select your book, provide your delivery address, then select the payment methods. Rokomari offers cash on delivery as well as online payment. Once you confirm your order, they will send the books to your doorsteps within a few days with a delivery charge of Tk. 30 or even the next day if you select express delivery for 100 taka.
You may also return the books you bought within three days if you don’t like them. Rokomari has a wide category of books such as fiction to nonfiction, religion to history, children to adult, local to international, and so on. Some books also come in ebook format. However, you can also send books as a gift to your friends or family or the dearest ones.
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Daraz
Although Daraz is an e-commerce website popular for everyday lifestyle products, they have a notable collection of books. Currently, Daraz has more than 60,000 books from local and online publishers. It offers books from history, literature, fiction, nonfiction, religion, science, and more.
However, Daraz sells 100% genuine books. Therefore, you may not find the pirated books. The ordering process requires you to select the books first, then they will ask you the address you intend to send, and they confirm the order. You will get your books delivered within 3-10 days with the 7-day return policy.
The payment method is online via digital wallets or credit/ debit cards, and cash on delivery is also available.
Read more: How to Make Money with Amazon Kindle Publishing: A Step by Step Guide
BoiBazar.com
BoiBazar has a vast online book inventory. They claimed to have millions of brand-new books as well as out-of-print old books. Usually, BoiBazar offers books from thousands of booksellers across the country.
Apart from offering books from different categories, they also offer academic books as well as stationery products.
The best thing about BoiBazar is they can even provide you with books from the 15th century. However, it is not firm that you will get those old books, but they try to search them for you. You can order online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Like other online bookselling stores, BoiBazar also offers the same delivery process with the online payment and cash-on-delivery option.
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BookShopBd.com
BookShopBD is an excellent choice for academic books. You can get any kind of academic books from Bangla medial or A levels, from textbooks to question papers, from engineering to medicals.
Anyone can order the book from anywhere in Bangladesh for just 50 taka. Besides the academic books, it offers novels, literature, and other books. They offer one-day delivery inside the cities. The payment method includes bKash and cash on delivery. However, they do not offer credit or debit card payments.
Read more: Benefits of Reading Habit for Mind and Body
BoiBoiBoi
BoiBoiBoi is an online academic bookstore for the English medium students for Cambridge and Edexcel Curriculum. Besides, you can also buy storybooks from their 25000+ book collections.
Nevertheless, BoiBoiBoi offers stationery items for the Chittagong buyers only. The best thing about BoiBoiBoi.com is they offer free delivery for Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, and Sylhet city area for orders over 1000tk. They claim to offer the books at the lowest price.
You can order the book via their website as well as a Facebook page. Cash on delivery and prepayment is available.
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Wafilife
Wafilife offers only Islamic books online. You can buy Holy Quaran, Hadith books, Muslim history, and other related Islamic for children and adults. Besides, the Islamic books Wafilife also sells toys for the kids.
They also offer promotions from time to time, for example. Currently, Wafilife offers free premium bookmarks for orders of Tk. 499+.
The ordering process is simple, like other online bookstores in Bangladesh. You may choose home delivery or pick up from their physical shop. Once your order is done, Wafilife will call you for further confirmation and process the order. Currently, they offer bKash and cash on delivery only.
Read more: Some Popular Bookstore and Reading Cafes in Dhaka
Eboighar.com
Eboighar is another online hub for academic books, especially for the medical, BCS, and IELTS/ Toefl.
Besides, they also sell Islamic books, medical tools, and stationery items. However, they also sell a limited number of fiction and nonfiction and novels too.
Eboighar ships the ordered books in 1-3 business days for just 60 BDT in Dhaka city. They also deliver all over Bangladesh within 2-5 working days for 100 taka. The payment process is cash on delivery and bKash.
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BookHouseBD.com
BookHouseBD started its operation with the aim to provide a wide range of books from Bangladesh and abroad. It offers children books, law, competitive exams, university, medical and other books.
With the 50-taka shipping fee, you can order any kind of book at a discounted price. BookHouseBD doesn’t offer cash on delivery now. Instead, you can pay online via bKash, Rocket, Visa, and MasterCard.
Conclusion
Bangladesh has been becoming digitalized day by day. As a result, people become more used to online shopping, and buying books online is not indifferent. If you wish to experience hassle-free buying books online, you can choose any of the websites we have mentioned above.
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9th Liberation DocFest postponed as covid cases surge
The 9th edition of Liberation DocFest has been postponed because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases around the country.
Organisers of the event, originally scheduled for April 6-10, recently announced the postponement on Facebook.
“Due to Bangladesh Government’s decision to go to nationwide lockdown because of escalation of covid pandemic again, Liberation War Museum, the organiser of Liberation DocFest decided to temporarily postpone the festival,” the post reads.
Also read: ‘Highways of Life’ takes top prize as 8th Liberation DocFest concludes
DocFest is an annual initiative dedicated to the documentary cinema to highlight the struggle for liberation and human rights of people in various parts of the world and its contemporary significance.
A new schedule for the event will be announced soon, the organisers said.
However, the ‘Exposition of Young Film Talent 2021’, a storytelling lab for documentary filmmakers will take place on Wednesday and conclude on April 10, as per its schedule.
Also read: Liberation DocFest: Enthralling tales from home and beyond
“We had to postpone this year’s Liberation DocFest at the very last moment due to the recent surge of COVID-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. This prompted the trustee members to postpone the festival but the storytelling lab will continue online as per its schedule,” Md Shariful Islam Shaon, Festival Programmer at Liberation Docfest Bangladesh, told UNB.
The workshop and pitching session, in association with Dhaka DocLab, will cater to 10 projects from Bangladeshi documentary filmmakers which were selected for this year’s workshop.
Marking the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, the festival is scheduled to introduce a series of new screening sessions and special ceremonies in a hybrid format, due to the ongoing pandemic.
Also read: 8th Liberation Docfest Bangladesh-2020 begins connecting global minds virtually
A total of 1,900 films from 112 countries have been submitted to the organisers this year. Among them, 110 documentaries will be screened at the festival.
This year is also marking the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Liberation War Museum, which will be observed with the screening of 12 documentaries from the last five decades along with a special exhibition of 25 one-minute short films when the festival will take place in the future.
Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has recommended to stop the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair as the country is seeing a massive jump in daily cases.
It has also proposed to halt all types of social events and shut other recreational centres to curb the spread of coronavirus.
At its meeting, the committee also recommended increasing ICU and Covid-19 ward beds at Dhaka hospitals to deal with the increasing stream of patients.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest-ever daily cases, 59 deaths
It welcomed the 18-point directive issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and emphasised formulating a specific action plan in this regard.
Boi Mela hours curtailed
The surge in coronavirus cases forced the Book Fair management to cut short the daily operational hours.
Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19
Currently, the fair remains open from 3pm to 6:30pm daily.
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded its highest daily coronavirus cases on Thursday when the health authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections in the last 24 hours.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
The infection rate also jumped to 22.94 percent from 19.9 percent on Wednesday.
Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19
The daily operational hours for the ongoing traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been changed due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infection rate across the country and the capital.
The new schedule says that the fair will remain open to the book-lovers from 3 pm to 6:30 pm, three and a half hours a day.
Also read: Bangladesh reports record number of 5,358 new daily Covid cases; 52 deaths
Bangla Academy, organiser of the month-long traditional fiesta, announced this on Wednesday.
The notice was announced via a press release signed by Aparesh Kumar Banerjee, director of the public relations department of Bangla Academy, saying, “In consideration to the recent spike in the Coronavirus infection rate, the schedule of Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been changed from 31 March, 2021. The fair will start at 3pm every day and close by 6.30pm, effective from Wednesday.”
Also read: Book fair gradually gains momentum
Originally, the traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair followed the time schedule of 3 pm to 9 pm in the month of February, and 11am to 9 am on holiday and weekends.
Writers from 4 continents up for International Booker Prize
Chinese writer Can Xue and Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o, both long-favored contenders for the Nobel Prize for literature, are among nominees for the International Booker Prize for fiction.
Can Xue’s “I Live in the Slums” and Ngugi’s “The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi” are among 13 books on the long list for the 50,000 pound ($69,000) prize.
The list announced Tuesday features works from four continents, including “The War of the Poor” by France’s Eric Vuillard, “In Memory of Memory” by Russian writer Maria Stepanova, “The Dangers of Smoking in Bed” by Argentina’s Mariana Enriquez and “Minor Detail” by Palestinian author Adania Shibli.
Writer Lucy Hughes-Hallett, who heads the judging panel, said a theme of many of the books was “migration -- the pain of it, but also the fruitful interconnectedness of the modern world.”
The six finalists are set to be revealed on April 22 and the winner on June 2.
The International Booker Prize is awarded every year to a book of fiction in any language that is translated into English and published in the U.K. or Ireland. It is run alongside the Booker Prize for English-language fiction.
The prize money is split between the book’s author and its translator. Ngugi translated his own novel from his mother tongue, Kikuyu.