Shortlist announced for 2016 Crocodile Prize short story award
06 February 2017
EMMANUEL PENI
The Crocodile Prize 2016 has been a long hard battle with Emmanuel (Manu) Peni – struggling almost alone at the business end of the contest, the majority of the support team having drifted away. Manu has been assisted in fine fashion by Phil Fitzpatrick at Pukpuk Publications, which was able to publish the 200 page anthology at very short notice. Over the next period we’ll be featuring the decisions of the judges about shortlisted contenders for the 2016 awards…..
CONGRATULATIONS to the writers who participated in the 2016 Crocodile Prize. The voluntary committee and its supporters together with the sponsors are excited to announce the winners of the Prize. Thank you everyone for the contributions, the competition and the literary pieces.
Today’s announcement is only for the short story category. The other categories will be announced in coming days. We are in debt to the generous support of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd for their recognition of the need to develop literature in Papua New Guinea.
The short story category attracted 54 entries: 23 from women and 31 from men, Of these, the independent judges have shortlisted five and the winner will be selected by Kumul Petroleum Holdings.
The entries were of very high quality and touched upon many aspects and facets of our lives. Many of the stories sent in, although fiction, resonated with our everyday lives and experiences in PNG.
Violence was a recurring theme and death, illness, sadness, loss, troubles, worry, bleak experiences and disillusionment were not in short supply. The entries painted a vivid if grim mosaic of the current daily narratives of Papua New Guineans.
However, there were also sparks in creative and quite unconventional imaginative pieces that pushed comfort zones, like the lives of people living on and profiting from illicit drugs. There was certain unease that such stories may have told of the experiences of the authors. But at least this created great interest.
The love stories offered depth and colour and a reflection of our PNG cultures, which still need to be a little more progressive in the expression of sex and sexuality. Perhaps there is a readership for stories of explicit romance.
Other stories really put a spotlight on the development status and struggles especially of remote areas or certain domains of governments. Kevin Pondikou, a talented writer, painted some intensely stunning detail in his gripping stories of life as a medical professional in some of the most remote places in the world.
The judges expressed the view that the stories were inspiring and of high quality. It was a difficult task of shortlisting. The Crocodile Prize committee congratulates all people who sent in entries. Every one of them is a writer. The literary landscape has been enhanced by these writers’ contributions.
The shortlist for the short story category of the 2016 Crocodile Prize:
Old man's tears [published in PNG Attitude as Silent Tears] by Alexander Nara
A morning to remember by Alison Kult
The pulse of PNG by Kevin Pondikou
PNG echo by Kevin Pondikou
Thinking of Yehebi [published in PNG Attitude as Today a woman died] by Kevin Pondikou
The committee will announce the winner soon.
I want to thank the Committee and the Sponsors for making the 2016 competition a success.
Congratulations to all our winners.
The winners are:
•Wardley D Barry-Igivisa – Kina Finance, Poetry
•Alison Kult – Kumul Petroleum Limited Holdings, Short Stories
•Theresa Gizoria – Cleland Family, Heritage Writing
•Mary Catherine Tavore – Paga Hill Foundation, Writing for Children
•John Kamasua – PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Essays and Journalism
•Roslyn Tony – Minerals Resources Development Corporations, Women in Writing
•Peter Jokisie – Abt and Associates, Emerging Young Writer
Keep on writing, be yourself and do what you do best.
Posted by: Peter Jokisie | 20 February 2017 at 10:09 AM
I would like to introduce to all Gretel Matawan. Gretel has been truly the source of comfort and strength for me to continue this work. Gretel did all the little and mundane bits and pieces like: gluing cards, getting out letters and emails, answering email and fb enquiries and is really the glue in organising the Prize Giving ceremony. Joycelin Leahy was behind the scenes in making sure entries were filed, numbered and sent of in folders to the judges. Enormous thank you to Joycelin Leahy who pretty much brought this competition to another level by engaging with Judges who have had stints in judging at the Commonwealth and European literature competition levels. Joycelin Built that part of the administrative aspect of our competition. Martyn Namorong, Ruth Moim and Baka Bina for checking up and responding to emails,for asking the critical questions as committee member should and guiding. Without all these people, I would not have been running around. Offcourse, our friends and supporters were right there. Thank you Philip and Keith for the rescue yet again, as parents would do, I suppose. Thank you all.
Posted by: Emmanuel Peni | 08 February 2017 at 09:27 PM
Celebration it is for 54 entries alive and running freely in the global landscape.
Celebration it is for those many more entertaining the idea, though yet to summons sufficient courage.
Cerebration; let the game find fun in the run.
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 06 February 2017 at 11:00 PM
Working alone on a national event such as this contest is a momath task and a big challenge, especially when there is nothing for you for all the effort put into it. Credit goes to Emmanuel Peni. I take my hat off for you. You are the true winner.
Posted by: Arnold Mundua | 06 February 2017 at 05:37 PM
Thank you for the update...Looking forward to the announcement..
God bless
Posted by: Alexander Nara | 06 February 2017 at 03:58 PM
Winning a competition is not as important as taking part in an event.
Writers & contributors should be proud of the one who has won the prize. The winner has won for us. Let's all cheer for we have all done our part.
Posted by: Leo Maso Malala | 06 February 2017 at 12:36 PM