Area of EngagementMĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Prize for Orature
Weaving words, preserving legacies
The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Prize for Orature is a beacon of cultural preservation, dedicated to honoring the dynamic oral traditions that have long served as the cornerstone of Africana storytelling. This prestigious prize is more than an award; it is a movement—a revival and celebration of the voices that shape, sustain, and transform the global African experience.
Inspired by the towering legacy of Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, the prize seeks to propel orature into the contemporary landscape, positioning it as a crucial medium of knowledge transmission, resistance, and identity formation.
Annual prize for excellence in orature
This flagship prize will recognize and reward outstanding orature practitioners—poets, griots, storytellers, spoken-word artists, and traditional custodians of oral knowledge—whose work embodies the depth and vibrancy of Africana narratives in two categories:
- Best Traditional Oral Performance (e.g., praise poetry, storytelling, folklore narration)
- Best Contemporary Orature Work (e.g., spoken-word poetry, digital storytelling)
The prize will not only honor recipients with financial rewards and international recognition but also provide platforms for global exposure through performance, publications, media features, and inclusion in a digital repository that will curate and preserves Africana oral traditions.
Orature Festival & Symposium
The awards ceremony and selection of the Grand Prize will be held during a festival and symposium that brings together orature practitioners, scholars, and audiences to engage with African oral traditions.
This event will feature live performances, academic discussions, panel talks, and interactive workshops.
Why the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Prize for Orature matters
Unlike other literary prizes that focus solely on written works, this prize uniquely elevates orature as an indispensable form of knowledge production, cultural expression, and historical preservation. By offering a multi-dimensional approach—including recognition, financial support, global networking, and digital archiving—the prize redefines storytelling beyond the written word, ensuring that oral traditions are preserved and celebrated in modern contexts.
Elevating oral traditions into the future
The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Prize for Orature is a transformative initiative that enriches the literary and cultural landscape by recognizing orature as both an ancient and contemporary art form. As a powerful medium of resistance, identity, and education, orature is a vital thread in the tapestry of African storytelling.
Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation cements its role as a steward of cultural preservation and literary excellence, ensuring that Africa’s oral traditions continue to inspire, educate, and shape the world for generations to come.
More details of this award will be announced in due time.
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