Prolific Nigerian-born novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been honoured with the Kassel Citizens’ ”Prism of Reason” award for “her vision of humanistic diversity”.
The award ceremony which happened in Germany coincides with the 42nd birth anniversary of the multiple award-winning writer.
According to a statement issued by the organisers of the event, the 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 Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Kassel Citizens’ Prize selected Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the 2019 winner of the “Prism of Reason” not only for her undeniable literary prowess, but also for her equality and justice advocacy. This makes her the first Nigerian to receive this remarkable prize.
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 2019 award is the 29th in the series.
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Board president Bernd Leifeld said “Combative but not fanatical, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie…points out ways to overcome outdated patterns which are deeply anchored in education and society.
“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,” he added.
source:NSEMGH.COM