Mulher Forte awards to recognize writers
Ayoung Motswana woman, Paula Otukile hosted the Mulher Forte African Literature Awards at the University of Botswana recently. In an interview, Otukile said Mulher Forte was a Portuguese phrase simply meaning a strong woman. The Mulher Forte African Literature Awards (Pty) Ltd company was registered on September 8, 2020 and its aim is to give recognition to literature in Africa. The company will create literature awards competition annually and interactive literature webinars, workshops and debates.
“I was inspired by the love of African narrative and saw the need in the book industry market to create a platform that can give literature recognition. African writers from all over the continent are eligible to partake in these awards.
The rise of self publishing reduced the quality of books and let to a rise of more authors. Hence in Africa people write but do not gain anything out of it. Mulher forte was created to help reduce the rise of bogus publishers who scam people of their money online, so many young Africans can easily search reputable publishers from Mulher Forte African literature page on Facebook and publish,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, South Sudan, Zambia, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola Swaziland, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, are part of the competition. Otukile, however, explained that they intended to extend the invite to more African countries especially the francophone in the third annual awards. The awards are said to be strictly for only African writers as well poets and those
in the publishing industry because the aim was to unite Africa and improve the quality of performance and writing.
This year, Otukile pointed out that they did not find sponsors locally. She said they pitched at the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture in Gaborone but were advised to apply at her home village, Mahalapye even though she already moved to Gaborone. She, however, did not let that demoralise her, but she knocked on other doors. Botswana National Library Services liked the project but there is delay in coming up with a working plan for the two. Writers Pen in Kenya, Read Us Africa Book Club in Uganda, Bothata Kennedy Silase Foundation in Lesotho offered different sponsorships.
Furthermore, Otukile explained that the awards will benefit Botswana writers by giving them international exposure. She added that they already have poets from Botswana sharing the international platform and network growing, as some were now editors in Kenya for reputable papers only through the awards initiative. The Mulher Forte African Literature Awards project brings a fresh breath to Botswana education. Otukle said if the Ministry of Education could partner with them, or support local authors involved in their awards as all the time after awards, they could create book collaborations with the winners and bring diverse flare and cultural exchanges on the region hence broaden minds of learners.
“The challenge I experience is lack of mobilisation or financial support. To network and do anything it needs resources. Taking money from my personal pocket takes away from my family; this is not my Africa, this is our land. Everyone must help to improve education, writing and the creative arts in Africa. But the powers that be do not support arts fully. It is like arts and literature are simply a hobby in our continent. The sponsorship of the awards will enrich the quality of awards,” she said.
“The advice I have for the aspiring writers is, market yourself well, take your time to write, seek best editors and proof readers and do not despair. Due to this project I did gender based campaigns across Africa and locally since 2020, and I won Best International Gender Based Violence activist in Monrovia, December 31, 2021. Another award was Best International Woman of the Year Award 2021. I won it in November 30 last year in Delta State, Nigeria. My book, Thato wishes to be a butterfly, on Gender-Based Violence and sexual abuse awareness won Global AfriCAN Authors honoree awards July 2021 in South Africa,” she said. There was no prize money but certificates and free publishing services, and advertising for winners. Publishing cost P3,000-P15,000 with advertising and e-books included. Entrance fee was P150 and dress code was African attire.