According to the organizers, this prize is awarded to persons or institutions whose work serves the ideals of the Enlightenment by overcoming ideological barriers and promoting reason and tolerance towards dissenters.
The award ceremony which takes place today, Sunday the 15th of September at the State Theater of Kassel in Germany - a day that happens to be Adichie’s birthday - is being given to her not only for her undeniable literary prowess, but also for her equality and justice advocacy.
The “Prism of Reason” award was founded in 1990 by citizens of the city of Kassel and the region. So far, the prize has been awarded 28 times.
The first prize-winner (in 1991) was the then German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher; he was honoured for his services to the opening of the Iron Curtain. Other awardees include Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei; Indian scientist and documenta 13 participant Vandana Shiva; Somali-born Dutch-American activist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Israeli diplomat, peace activist and publicist Avi Primor; and Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya.
This year, in the 29th year of the award, the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Kassel Citizens’ Prize have selected Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the 2019 winner of the “Prism of Reason”. This makes her the first Nigerian to receive this remarkable prize.
A statement made by the Kassel Board president Bernd Leifeld said “Combative but not fanatical, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie…points out ways to overcome outdated patterns which are deeply anchored in education and society”. He added that “Kassel citizens honour her with their Prize "The Prism of Reason 2019" because she believes in the social, political and economic equality of all people”.
The prize consists of a certificate, a sculpture designed by the Kassel art professor and documenta artist Karl Oskar Blase with a prism (symbolising the analytical glass of the Enlightenment), and a cash prize of 10,000 EURO. The prize and the award ceremony are financed exclusively by membership fees and donations from citizens of the city and region of Kassel.
It’s proving to be quite the birthday weekend for Adichie already. First with the announcement on Friday the 13th of September that HBO Max, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, is creating a straight-to-series order for the television adaptation of Adichie's most recent novel "Americanah". The 10-episode series will star Academy Award®️ winner Lupita Nyong’o, with the pilot being written by screenwriter and actor Danai Gurira (who starred in the movie "Black Panther")- and will be co-produced by Lupita Nyong’o and Brad Pitt's production company Plan B.
Adichie has also been trending non-stop on social media since Friday when a Twitter group of fans of the writer (@Chimamanda_Army) went viral to announce a competition to celebrate her birthday. Tagged #10ThingsAboutChimamanda, participants are encouraged to list 10 things about Adichie to stand the chance of winning fan-donated prizes, such as 10 collections of Chimamanda's books, 10 pairs of movie tickets to watch a film of their choice at any Filmhouse cinema location; and 10 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablets.
According to the fans, the competition kicked off fully at 12am midnight Nigerian time/GMT (the start of her birthday, Sunday September 15th) and will run until 5pm Nigerian time/GMT of the same day. For those who want to join in, more details on the competition can be found on the fan page on Twitter: @Chimamanda_Army.
The award ceremony which takes place today, Sunday the 15th of September at the State Theater of Kassel in Germany - a day that happens to be Adichie’s birthday - is being given to her not only for her undeniable literary prowess, but also for her equality and justice advocacy.
The “Prism of Reason” award was founded in 1990 by citizens of the city of Kassel and the region. So far, the prize has been awarded 28 times.
The first prize-winner (in 1991) was the then German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher; he was honoured for his services to the opening of the Iron Curtain. Other awardees include Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei; Indian scientist and documenta 13 participant Vandana Shiva; Somali-born Dutch-American activist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Israeli diplomat, peace activist and publicist Avi Primor; and Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya.
This year, in the 29th year of the award, the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Kassel Citizens’ Prize have selected Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the 2019 winner of the “Prism of Reason”. This makes her the first Nigerian to receive this remarkable prize.
A statement made by the Kassel Board president Bernd Leifeld said “Combative but not fanatical, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie…points out ways to overcome outdated patterns which are deeply anchored in education and society”. He added that “Kassel citizens honour her with their Prize "The Prism of Reason 2019" because she believes in the social, political and economic equality of all people”.
The prize consists of a certificate, a sculpture designed by the Kassel art professor and documenta artist Karl Oskar Blase with a prism (symbolising the analytical glass of the Enlightenment), and a cash prize of 10,000 EURO. The prize and the award ceremony are financed exclusively by membership fees and donations from citizens of the city and region of Kassel.
It’s proving to be quite the birthday weekend for Adichie already. First with the announcement on Friday the 13th of September that HBO Max, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, is creating a straight-to-series order for the television adaptation of Adichie's most recent novel "Americanah". The 10-episode series will star Academy Award®️ winner Lupita Nyong’o, with the pilot being written by screenwriter and actor Danai Gurira (who starred in the movie "Black Panther")- and will be co-produced by Lupita Nyong’o and Brad Pitt's production company Plan B.
Adichie has also been trending non-stop on social media since Friday when a Twitter group of fans of the writer (@Chimamanda_Army) went viral to announce a competition to celebrate her birthday. Tagged #10ThingsAboutChimamanda, participants are encouraged to list 10 things about Adichie to stand the chance of winning fan-donated prizes, such as 10 collections of Chimamanda's books, 10 pairs of movie tickets to watch a film of their choice at any Filmhouse cinema location; and 10 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablets.
According to the fans, the competition kicked off fully at 12am midnight Nigerian time/GMT (the start of her birthday, Sunday September 15th) and will run until 5pm Nigerian time/GMT of the same day. For those who want to join in, more details on the competition can be found on the fan page on Twitter: @Chimamanda_Army.
I thank God everyday for Chimamanda. The kind of role model I want for my daughters. She dines with presidents, queens and princes. I am so afraid of this 'sex sells' generation. Sex selling is the only career that depreciates with experience. Years of experience doesn't count as a positive. God help our girls
ReplyDeleteVariety is the spice of life madam “dine with the presidents” God could have given everyone the same brain and create us equally but he chose not to do so. Stop acting all miss goody two shoes and judge no human.
DeleteStop using "judge no human" to justify wrong choices.
DeleteOriginal slay queen
DeleteUseful to humanity
Relevant to the end if time if she maintains consistency
This woman is so beautiful with brain. I can't stop loving her. She has done very well globally. So proud of her and all she represent.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to her. She looks so much like Mo Abudu in this picture.
ReplyDeleteI love you chimanda to the moon and back. Congrats
ReplyDeleteWell done
ReplyDeleteOh how I love this woman!
ReplyDeleteThus woman here inspired me to name my beautiful daughter Chimamanda. Very intellingent.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of person I choose to emulate. Her life is inspiring abeg..
ReplyDeleteAnd yet the comment section is so scanty!! Shows the kind of stuff we actually love as a nation. I love her work too and her personality ❤️❤️❤️
DeleteMy dear everyone has different interests. That's why variety is the spice of life.
DeleteStella, did you get a chance to go to the ceremony?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Chimamanda as you receive your award and Happy Birthday to you.
ReplyDeleteChimamanda, an amazing woman, you are an inspiration
ReplyDelete