The Man Booker International Prize 2007 (Exclusive Eye witness report and pictures)

Jul

2007

Man Booker International Prize

The Man Booker International Prize presentation took place in Oxford on Thursday the 28th of June, and the prize was awarded to Chinua Achebe. The award and ceremony comes at a time when Oxfordshire is celebrating 1000 years of history.

Reception drinks were served at The Bodleian Library, followed by a presentation at the Sheldonian. Christ Church Custodians then walked the specially invited guests (over 250) through the streets of Oxford to Christ Church. Christ Church Cathedral Choir sung as guests entered the quad and a Banquet Dinner was then served.

The Man Booker International Prize 2007 came to Christ Church on Thursday 28th June, following the awards ceremony itself in the Sheldonian theatre and reception drinks served at The Bodleian Library. Christ Church Custodians then walked the guests (over 250) through the streets of Oxford to Christ Church.

Guests were welcomed by the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, director Dr Stephen Darlington. Christ Church Cathedral Choir sang on the Hall stairs (see photo), The Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, gave an address of welcome and over 250 guests enjoyed head chef Roland Depit's fine dinner of Smoked Salmon Bavarois, English Lamb and Summer Pudding. Christ Church itself was 'dressed overall' with flags flying, flambard beacons in Tom Quad and lavish and inventive lighting (medieval style torch flames in strategic points along the Quad) by 'gobos' and 'birdies'!

The prize, already regarded in only its second year as having 'achieved the status of an authentic world award' was won by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, who is best known for his first novel, Things Fall Apart, written in 1958, and Anthills of the Savannah, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1987. It was announced that Chinua Achebe had won the prize on 13 June. The prize differs from the annual Man Booker Prize for Fiction in that it highlights one writer's continued creativity, development and overall contribution to fiction on the world stage. Both prizes strive to recognise and reward the finest fiction.

Chinua Achebe, unable to attend, was represented at the awards ceremony and celebratory banquet in Christ Church by his son, Dr Chidi Achebe, daughter-in-law Dr Maureen (Mimi) Achebe and grandson Chinua Achebe Jnr. Professsor Chinua Achebe, nevertheless, addressed the awards panel and assembled guests by video link.

About Christ Church

Christ Church is a unique institution, one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and, at the same time, the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford.

Many distinguished people have studied there (including John Taverner, Philip Sidney, John Locke, Robert Hooke, John Wesley, Robert Peel, William Gladstone, Frederick Lindemann, William Walton, W.H. Auden, Hugh Trevor Roper, Jan Morris, David Dimbleby, Rowan Williams, Richard Curtis and Howard Goodall)

Christ Church is world renown for its world famous Choir; scholarly collections of books and art; and beautiful surroundings and residential conferences and summer schools.

Christ Church College and Cathedral, Oxford University

The Great Hall, Christ Church Cathedral Oxford University, Venue of the Dinner for the Man Booker International Award

Christ Church and Quad Venue of the 2007 Man Booker International Prize Ceremony

Your Comments

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Robot

# 1 | 04.07.2007 13:14

	The Man Booker International Prize presentation took place in Oxford on Thursday the 28th of June, a...Read the full article.

Mikky jaga Mikky jaga is offline

# 2 | 04.07.2007 15:11

	Looking at those structures alone, makes my heart bleed at our lack of maintenance culture in Naija. Those buildings must have been there for ages, yet, well maintained and kept as legacy for future generations. When shall we stop the build and destry culture in our country. I can hazard a guess that in the next 30 years, somebody will find Aso Rock too outdated for Nigeria's President, we then have to demolish and rebuild new one. May God help Nigeria. It is a pity Prof could not attend the ceremony in person. I wish him longer life and more rewarding inputs to better our country.

akuluouno akuluouno is offline

# 3 | 04.07.2007 15:43

	MJ, I still beg u my bros, we do not have a country but an elite made upof charlatans, public nuisance and mischiefmakers.:twisted::twisted: BTW a pple gets the leaders the deserve.:D:D:D

katampe katampe is offline

# 4 | 04.07.2007 22:15

	I equally find the setting and the structures extraordinarily appealing. The plush green lawns are well kept, ornamentally well laid out, while adorning the historic buildings. The Victorian architecture is a powerful statement of the story of an era, its state of culture, thinking and technology. It's usefulness for public functions, of cultural and historic significance makes it worthwhile to preserve these type of buildings, especially the public ones, so that events such as "Man Booker International Prize presentation" can take place. At least we know it is a celebration of a heritage , i.e . the English language . So what better place to celebrate, than using the touchstones of history, an era where the English language went through changes as it encountered the cultural influences of colonised peoples. Nevertheless, it is an irony that the British that killed the local languages, hence the culture of colonised , make every effort to celebrate and preserve their heritage while we the colonised continue to further reject and obliterate our past in our architecture. I guess the insight on the need to preserve our own history is lost on a lot of us, afterall our languages are not just called vernacular, but our colonial mentality has adapted us to struggle to outdo each other in the knowledge of the white man's language. If we have never seen the need to preserve our language, asking for the preservation of the structures/ buildings that represent our history might be asking for too much.

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