Bashir Tofa Wins Karaye Literary Award

SPEECH DELIVERED BY CHIEF DANJUMA A. RANDONG, HEAD PUBLIC RELATIONS, FEDERAL JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, ABUJA, ON BEHALF OF HAJIYA BILKISU ABDULMALIK BASHIR, FOUNDER AND FINANCIER OF THE ENGINEER MOHAMMED BASHIR KARAYE PRIZE FOR HAUSA WRITING ON THE OCCASION OF THE 28TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS (ANA) HELD IN MINNA, NIGER STATE, FROM THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, TO NOVEMBER 1, 2009.

Let me begin by conveying the apology of my boss, Hajiya Bilkisu Bashir, founder of the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize for Hausa Writing on whose behalf I am here today to address you. She would have loved to be here with you physically to savour these beautiful moments in the midst of you all. Unfortunately, she could not make it as a result of official work. I wish to convey her regards to all of you. I can assure you that she is here with us in spirit.

Next, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to address you. It is really a great honour to be in the midst of writers.

Before proceeding to announce the winners of the 2009 edition of the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize in Hausa for Hausa Writing, I would once again like to convey the Hajiya’s apology for the inability of the Organizing Committee to hold the 3rd Grand Award Ceremony in the month of October, which has become the tradition.

Let me use this opportunity to formally confirm an earlier statement made by ANA Abuja that this year’s edition of the Karaye Award will now take place in Kano. The reason behind this change is to enable greater participation by Hausa writers and readers, most of whom are based in Kano. In addition, Kano is the home state of the man after whom the Karaye Prize is named. He also lived and worked in that city for the greater part of his life. Holding this year’s edition in Kano is also a way of honoring his memory.

Distinguished writers, let me use this opportunity to thank the leadership of ANA and the entire writers’ community for a most wonderful relationship over these past three years. We look forward to a warmer and better relationship that will push Nigerian literature to greater heights. Literature is the mirror through which the society sees itself. It is also a very powerful tool for promoting national integration and unity. I urge all of you to use this beautiful trade to re-brand Nigeria by fighting corruption and other social ills through literary works and to foster better relationship for the good of all of us.

Further, writing in indigenous Nigerian language will keep our language alive and thereby help to preserve our identity as a people of unique culture. I am highly delighted to be associated with ANA, the umbrella body of Nigerian writers’ community who are committed to using their trade to create a better society.

The Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Foundation shall continue to support creative writing and writers in Nigeria as much as. It is in the light of the above that I am happy to announce as follows:

Arrangements have been concluded by the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Foundation to organize workshops for Hausa writers. This is a follow-up to the observations and recommendations of the literary judges of the three editions of the prize. We believe that this workshop for Hausa writers would help improve the quality of Hausa writing. This workshop will take place, God willing, in the near future. Attendants shall include writers who have sent entries for the three previous editions of the prize and others in accordance with the capacity of the Foundation’s little fund. Details of the programme will be published soon by the Karaye Foundation. The proposed workshop is part of the Foundation’s contributions to improving the quality of writing in Hausa language in particular and the development of Nigerian literature in general.

As you are aware, we have added the Drama category this year, and although the entries were low, it is our hope that it will improve in the subsequent editions both in quality and in quantity.

Furthermore, in line with our determination to promote all genres of literature, I am happy to announce that the 2009 edition of the Prize will now feature Hausa poetry. We urge Hausa writers to get their works ready for this competition.

RESULT OF THE 2009 EDITION OF THE ENGINEER MOHAMMED BASHIR KARAYE PRIZE IN HAUSA WRITING.

I will now announce the result of the 2009 edition of the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize for Hausa Writing as submitted by the literary judges and ratified by the EXCO of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Abuja Chapter (the administrators of the prize) beginning with the Prose category.

The second runner-up is ‘Saba Dan Sababi’ by Hafsat M. Abdulwaheed. The first runner-up is ‘Walkiya’ by Mohammed Barista.

The winner is ‘Mu Sha Dariya’ by Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa.

I will now move on to the Drama category. The 2nd runner-up is ‘Sodangi’ by Khalid Imam, the first runner up is ‘Kowa Yayi Da Kyau’ by Kabiru Yusuf Anka. The winner of the maiden edition of the Drama Category of the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize for Hausa Writing is ‘Malam Zalimu’ by Ahmad Gidan Dabino.

May I on behalf of Hajiya Bilkisu Bashir, the founder and financier of this Prize, congratulate the winners and the runners-up. To those of you who did not win, I urge you to keep writing. Thank you immensely for identifying with our cause. Our esteem thanks also goes to the judges for a most meticulous job. We are also grateful to the leadership of ANA Abuja for their cooperation. May God bless all of you.

Finally, the Prize money totaling N600, 000.00 shall be given to the winners at Kano at the Grand Award Ceremony. You are all invited. The particular date and venue shall be announced shortly.

It has been a great pleasure seeing you and being in your company. While looking forward to more fruitful relationship with ANA, I thank you for this wonderful opportunity to address you.