Writers, publishers and critics trade insults and point accusing fingers at one other as they seek to allocate blame for current sorry state of affairs. It is against this bleak backdrop that Macmillan, the leading supplier of educational books in Africa, launched four Macmillan Writers' Prizes for Africa in January. Born in Cairo of a Sudanese father and an Egyptian mother, Abulela was raised in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and frequently returns for short visits to both Egypt and Sudan. Like the Caine Prize, named after the late Sir Michael Caine, former chairman of the prestigious Booker Prize management committee, the four categories of the Macmillan prize are open to writers hailing from any country in Africa. However, unlike Caine's, Macmillan's is not open to African diaspora hopefuls.
Prizes do bring writers to public notice.
A brighter future, though, may well be beckoning as writers, undeterred by unfavourable conditions, soldier on. I am delighted that we are launching this significant new prize. Picador has a great reputation as a publisher of outstanding international writing and there is some important literature being produced in Africa today which deserves a much wider audience. Other publishers stress the profusion of modern African writing and highlight new trends. Award winning South African judge Beverley Naidoo also praised Macmillan's groundbreaking endeavour.