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Aristotle said we are what we repeatedly do. For over ten years, Jonathan Mbuna has written over 60 radio plays and twenty short stories which have in turn moulded him into a writer worth winning even the Malawi Writers Union’s (Mawu) fourth most prestigious award, the Peer Gynt Literary Awards.
In an interview soon after receiving the award on Wednesday this week, Mbuna who holds a Masters in Public Administration, was overwhelmed with happiness.
“I’m humbled and lost for words,” was all Mbuna, who pocketed K75,000 ($694) for his manuscript The meeting Point could say.
But he thought the issues he raised in his winning manuscript were realistic issues affecting contemporary people.
Runner-up for the award was Emily Mkamanga. A freelance writer who also frequently contributes to My Turn column in The Nation, she was equally excited at scooping second position for her book, Fool’s Justice.
“I am very pleased, speechless and dumbfounded,” said Mzuzu-based Mkamanga who pocketed K40,000.
Third place went to accountant Thumbiko Shumba who carted home K25,000, while four others received K5,000 consolation prices. Over 40 people entered the competition and chief judge Prince Shonga, admitted it was difficult to come up with the winner. Two other judges were Edward Chitsulo and Reverend Stewart Lane.
“More and more Malawians are taking to writing and the level of maturity is improving,” said Shonga.
The meeting point is a book which describes the lives of three people who meet during a robbery. Their lives take a turning point when a robber tries to rape a man’s wife. When the man can not take it, he is shot by the robber. The man survives but becomes crippled. The wife can not take it and deserts the husband. When the three meet again, the story ends in another tragedy.
The Peer Gynt Award, is given in honour of a Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen. Peer Gynt is the protagonist in his drama series titled Peer Gynt which he wrote over a century ago.
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