Monica Arac de Nyeko (born 1979) is a Ugandan writer of short fiction, poetry, and essays, living in Nairobi, Kenya.Monica Arac de Nyeko, african-writing.com. Retrieved 5 May 2014. In 2007, she became the first Ugandan to win the Caine Prize for African Writing,2007 winner: MONICA ARAC DE NYEKO, caineprize.com. Retrieved 5 May 2014. .Michelle Pauli (10 July 2007), "Love story wins 'African Booker, The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2014. with her story "Jambula Tree". She had previously been shortlisted for the prize in 2004 for "Strange Fruit", a story about child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda.Interview with Monica Arac de Nyeko , Pambazuka, 26 February 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2014. She is a member of FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association and the chief editor of T:AP Voices. She taught literature and English at St. Mary's College Kisubi, before proceeding to pursue a master's degree in Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Groningen. Her personal essay "In the Stars" won first prize in the Women's World, Women in War Zones essay writing competition. She has been published in Memories of Sun, The Nation, IS magazine, Poetry International and several other publications.Monica Arac De Nyeko – Caine Prize 2007 , kenyanpoet.com, 16 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2014. She was one of the writers chosen as part of the Africa39 project unveiled by Rainbow, Hay Festival and Bloomsbury Publishing at the London Book Fair 2014,Busby, Margaret (April 10, 2014), "Africa39: How we chose the writers for Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014", The Guardian. featuring a list of 39 of Sub-Saharan Africa's most promising writers under the age of 40.Africa39 "list of artists". April 8,2014 hayfestival.com. Retrieved 9 April 2014.Farrington, Joshua (8 April 2014), "Africa39 list of promising writers revealed", The Bookseller. Retrieved 8 August 2024."Chimamanda, Tope Folarin, Stanley Kenani, others make Africa 39 list", CityVoice, 10 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014. ., Lesleigh, 9 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.Monica ARAC DE NYEKO, hayfestival.com. Retrieved 5 May 2014.Africa39 Authors Biographies , hayfestival.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
Early life and education
Arac de Nyeko comes from Kitgum district in northern Uganda. She grew up mostly in Kampala, but attended high school in Gulu, northern Uganda, for some years. She has a degree in education from Makerere University, and a master's degree in Humanitarian Assistance from the University of Groningen in The Netherlands., Time of the Writer, 2006. While at Makerere she was an active member of FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association,"FEMRITE Achievements and Milestones". FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers' Association. Retrieved 22 August 2011. which she has credited for giving her "a place and space to write with a network of support and mentorship—handy when you are starting out."Matthew, Lois (2009), "FEMRITE and Ugandan Women Writers". Belletrista. Retrieved 26 August 2011. She is a contributor to the 2019 anthology New Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby.Odhiambo, Tom (18 January 2020), New Daughters of Africa' is a must read for aspiring young women writers", Daily Nation (Kenya).
Writing In 2007, Arac de Nyeko won the Caine Prize for her short story "Jambula Tree",Taboo' story takes African prize", BBC, 10 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2014. which is about two teenage girls falling in love and facing an unforgiving community as a result. One of Arac de Nyeko's other notable stories is "Strange Fruit", which contains an allusion to the song of the same name, and was shortlisted for the Caine Prize in 2004.Donna Bryson (10 July 2007), "Ugandan Wins African Writing Prize", Washington Post, 10 July 207.
Published works
Essays "Pastor Love", in
Short stories "Jambula Tree", in "Back Home", in "Jambula Tree", in "Jambula Tree", in "Strange Fruit", in "Grasshopper Redness", in "October Sunrise", in "Bride Price for my Daughter", in "Chained", in "Jambula tree" "The Banana Eater" in AGNI online, 2008 "Strange Fruit" in author-me, 2004
References
External links "Ugandan Writers: One on One with Monica Arac de Nyeko, 2007 Caine Prize Winner", AfroLit 2007 interview in the East African Standard. "Ugandans flying Africa’s literary flag" Raymond Mpubani, "Arac de Nyeko, the leader in the women's writing renaissance", Daily Monitor, 20 October 2012 "Monica Arac de Nyeko, The Per Contra Interview by Miriam N. Kotzin" "Meet Monica Arac de Nyeko, 2007 Caine Prize Winner who will be reading at ‘Women of the World: Talking about a Revolution’", AWDF, 28 February 2013 "monica arac de nyeko wins the caine prize", 21 July 2007 "Monica Arac de Nyeko (Uganda)", Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal