Olive Schreiner Prize Explained

The Olive Schreiner Prize
Awarded For:Novice drama, prose, or poetry in English
Presenter:English Academy of Southern Africa
Eligibility:Southern Africa
Established:1961

The Olive Schreiner Prize has been awarded annually since 1961 to emerging writers in the field of drama, prose, or poetry.[1] It is named after Olive Schreiner, the South African author and activist. It rewards promising novice work, by writers who are not yet regarded as "established" in the genre.[2] It rotates annually among the genres of drama, prose, and poetry. The prize for each genre is therefore triennial, and is open to work published in the three years since it was last awarded.

The Prize was established in 1961 by the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (SAAWK), and was transferred to the English Academy of Southern Africa in 1972.[3] The Prize was previously sponsored by Shell South Africa, and later by FNB,[4] and under SAAWK was open only to works published in South Africa or Rhodesia by a writer from one of those countries. It is now open to works published in southern African countries by citizens of southern African countries generally. It is not highly remunerated – by 1987, it was worth only R500,[5] and in 2010 was worth R5 000 – but is considered prestigious.[6]

As of 2018, the Prize could not be awarded to the same writer more than twice. To date, this disqualifies only two writers: Rustum Kozain, who has won the poetry prize twice, and Zakes Mda, who has won for both drama and prose.

Prizewinners

Winners of the Olive Schreiner Prize (1961–2019)!Year!Form!Winner!!Ref.
2022PoetryJacques CoetzeeAn Illuminated Darkness[7]
2020DramaNadia DavidsWhat Remains: A Play in One Act
2019PoetryAllan Kolski HorwitzThe Colours of Our Flag
2018ProseBronwyn Law-ViljoenThe Printmaker
Elleke BoehmerThe Shouting in the Dark
2017DramaNeil CoppenTin Bucket Drum
2016PoetryNo award
2015ProseImran GardaThe Thunder that Roars[8] [9] [10]
Jill NudelmanInheriting the Earth
2014DramaPhillip M. DikotlaSkierlik
2013PoetryRustum KozainGroundwork[11]
2012ProsePeter DunseithThe Bird of Heaven[12]
2011DramaNicholas SpagnolettiLondon Road[13]
Mike van GraanIago's Last Dance
2010PoetryFinuala DowlingNotes from the Dementia Ward[14]
2009ProseMichael Cawood GreenFor The Sake of Silence[15]
2008DramaNo award[16]
2007PoetryRustum KozainThis Carting Life[17]
2006ProseJane TaylorOf Wild Dogs[18] [19]
Russel BrownleeGarden of the Plagues
2005DramaJohn KaniNothing but the Truth
2004PoetryIsobel DixonWeather Eye
2003ProseHugh LewinBandiet out of Jail
2002DramaXoli NormanHallelujah!
2001PoetryMzi MaholaWhen Rains Come
2000ProseAntjie KrogCountry of My Skull
1999DramaMoira LovellBedtime Stories
1998PoetryDan WylieThe Road Out
1997ProseZakes MdaWays of Dying
1996DramaZakes MdaThe Nun's Romantic Story
1995PoetryAllan JamesMorning Near Genadendal
1994ProseDeena PadayacheeWhat's Love Got to Do with It?
1993DramaNo award
1992PoetryTatamkulu AfrikaNine Lives
1991ProseIvan VladislavicMissing Persons
1990DramaNorman CoombeA Snake in the Garden
1989PoetryKelwyn SoleBlood of Our Silence
1988ProseJohn ConynghamThe Arrowing of the Cane
1987DramaNo award
1986PoetryLionel AbrahamsJournal of a New Man
1985ProseMenan du PlessisA State of Fear
1984DramaJunction Avenue Theatre CompanyRandlords and Rotgut[20]
1983PoetryChris MannNew Shades
1982ProseRose ZwiAnother Year In Africa
1981DramaNo award
1980PoetryPatrick CullinanToday Is Not Different[21]
Chris van WykIt Is Time to Go Home
1979ProseAhmed EssopThe Hajji And Other Stories
1978DramaJohn CundillRedundant & Waiting
1977PoetryRobert GreigTalking Bull
1976ProseSheila RobertsOutside Life's Feast
1975DramaDouglas LivingstoneA Rhino For the Boardroom
1974PoetryOswald MtshaliThe Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
1973ProseSheila FugardThe Castaway
1972DramaNo award
1971PoetryElias PaterIn Praise of Night
1970ProseNo award
1969DramaNo award
1968PoetrySydney CloutsOne Life
1967ProseM. F. C. RoebuckNyitso
1966DramaNo award
1965PoetryNo award
1964ProseAnna M. Louw20 Days That Autumn
1963DramaH. W. D. MansonThe Noose-Knot Ballad
1962ProseNo award
1961PoetryF. D. SinclairHis work

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Awards and Prizes. 2020-07-16. English Academy of Southern Africa. 12 May 2020 . en-ZA.
  2. Web site: Mulgrew. Nick. 2018-08-20. Enter The 2018 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose. 2021-11-23. PEN South Africa. en-US.
  3. Web site: Akademiepryse 1909–. dead. 2021-11-23. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. https://web.archive.org/web/20141019093712/http://www.akademie.co.za/articles/13/akademiepryse-1909-. 19 October 2014.
  4. 1998-12-01. Proceedings of the English Academy of Southern Africa. English Academy Review. 15. 1. 349–360. 10.1080/10131759885310181. 1013-1752.
  5. Book: Frankel, Norman. The Grants Register 1985–1987. 2016-01-08. Springer. 978-1-349-06829-6. 295. en.
  6. Web site: 2003-10-24. Hugh Lewin awarded Olive Schreiner Prize. 2021-11-23. The Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  7. Web site: 2022-11-18 . uHlanga . 2024-12-03 . uHlanga . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2016-05-25. Literary awards: 'Tis the season to toast the best of local authors. 2021-11-23. The Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  9. Web site: 2016-05-20. Jill Nudelman and Imran Garda win 2015 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  10. News: 2016-05-23. Imran Garda's novel The Thunder That Roars wins the 2015 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose. Sunday Times Books. 2021-11-23.
  11. Web site: 2014-04-04. Rustum Kozain Wins Second Olive Schreiner Prize for Groundwork. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  12. Web site: 2013-10-02. Peter Dunseith and Lauren van Vuuren Receive 2013 English Academy Olive Schreiner and Thomas Pringle Awards. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  13. Web site: 2012. Literary awards 2011/2012 update. 2021-11-23. Western Cape Government.
  14. Web site: 2010-11-17. Finuala Dowling and Michiel Heyns Win the English Academy's Olive Schreiner and Thomas Pringle Prizes. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  15. Web site: 2010-04-21. Michael Cawood Green Wins the Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose, for For the Sake of Silence. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  16. Web site: 2008-10-20. David Medalie Wins the 2008 Pringle Prize for Short Fiction. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  17. Web site: 2008-01-23. Rustum Kozain Wins the Olive Schreiner Prize. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  18. Web site: 2007-01-08. Brownlee, Taylor Share Olive Schreiner Prize. 2021-11-23. Sunday Times Books. en.
  19. Web site: Loker. Byron. 2007-01-04. Russel Brownlee, Jane Taylor win Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose. 2021-11-23. iBhuku.
  20. Web site: 2011-11-08. At the Junction. 2021-11-23. Wits University Press. en-US.
  21. Web site: 2014-10-10. Obituary: The warmth and laughter of Chris van Wyk. 2021-11-23. Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.

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