Discovering Future Nobel Prize-Winners

For almost 25 years the Society for the Promotion of African, Asian and Latin American Literature has been campaigning as a mediator between the literary works of "Third World" countries and German-speaking publishers and readers. A portrait by Nadja Encke

photo: litprom
Peter Ripken, the society's director

​​The tools it employs in the society's campaign include a programme of grants for translations, a magazine and various advisory and promotional activities.

"It's our job to discover future Nobel prize-winners," says Peter Ripken, the society's director with a laugh. That's only meant as a joke of course, he adds. And yet, there is a grain of truth in what he says for the list of writers that were discovered by the society for the German-speaking public, and later went on to win important literary prizes, is now quite long.

In 1985, for example, the society started its grants for translations programme with the Egyptian Nagib Machfus, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988.

The Moroccan Tahar Ben Jelloun, who was recommended for translation by the society in 1986, received the renowned Prix Goncourt in 1987. The Algerian Assia Djebar, another of the Society's "protégés", was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in the year 2000.

Greater interest in southern culture

The society was founded in 1980 by publishers, translators and members of the Evangelical Church in Germany. At the time, black Africa was the focus of the Frankfurt Book Fair and once again clearly demonstrated how underdeveloped the German book market was with regard to literature from the southern hemisphere.

In the end, there were three good reasons for founding a society to promote this literature, remembers Peter Ripken. First, the Frankfurt Book Fair expressed the need for a competent partner to give it advice on selecting "Third World" literature.

Second, translators had until then repeatedly come away from publishers with their noses bloodied if they suggested a book by a totally unknown author. There was no neutral body to give background information and assessments on southern authors and their works.

The third reason came from the Evangelical Church, which called upon the north to show a greater interest in southern culture.

Removing prejudices

"Dialogue through Literature" is the society's motto because literature opens the door to unknown worlds; it gives readers an opportunity to learn about foreign cultures and societies as well as an insight into other ways of thinking.

Literature can help overcome prejudices and stereotyped views, and break down the mistrust and rejection shown towards foreigners.

The society is involved in a wide variety of activities. Since 1983, it has published LiteraturNachrichten, a quarterly magazine providing information on literature outside Europe with reviews, interviews, portraits of the authors and extracts.

In 1984, it set up a programme of grants for translations, which is funded by the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swiss cultural foundation Pro Helvetia and provides subsidies for around 20 translations per year.

In 1985, it founded the Book Club with a Difference, which in cooperation with publishers regularly provides its members with a selection of new publications.

Wide range of advisory and promotional activities

The society also provides publishing houses with a steady stream of information on literary developments and trends in the three continents it supports, and recommends interesting works for translation.

In cooperation with bookshops, it organizes readings and reading tours. Once a year, in conjunction with the Evangelical Academy, it holds an international conference in Iserlohn on a specific country and its authors.

And at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the society is the organizer of the International Centre, a forum for literary meetings and debates.

Broaden your horizons

When does the society start to get involved in a region? "When we notice adverse developments or deficits in the way it is being perceived," replies Peter Ripken.

The Caribbean is one such region, for example. The society began its work with Africa – and has maintained its involvement with this continent until the present day. Peter Ripken knows that our heads are still full of subtle and obvious prejudices that have to be combated.

At the end of the 1990s, the society took on this task with various campaigns not only for the adult reading public ("Afrikanissimo") but also for children ("Guck mal übern Tellerrand" (Broaden Your Horizons) and their teachers, who were provided with appropriate teaching materials.

One of the society's members of staff is now focusing her attention on training teachers because of the many gaps that were discovered in their knowledge.

The most recent main topic of interest is the Arabic world, which – at the society's suggestion - also was the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

Nadja Encke

Translation from German: Mary Boyd

© Goethe Institute 2004

Society for the Promotion of African, Asian and Latin American Literature