Key facts
- Diana Evans won the Jhalak prose prize for her book 'I Want to Talk to You'.
- The Jhalak prizes are awarded to writers of colour living in the UK and Ireland.
- Fidan Meikle received the children's and young adult prize for 'My Name is Samim'.
- Maggie Harris won the poetry prize for 'I Sing to the Greenhearts'.
- Each winner receives a £1,000 award.
Diana Evans has been awarded the 10th Jhalak prose prize for her nonfiction work, 'I Want to Talk to You'. The collection delves into subjects ranging from literary figures like Jean Rhys and Toni Morrison to contemporary issues such as lockdowns and the British monarchy. Guardian reviewer Alex Clark described the book as "a pleasure and an invigoration."
The Jhalak prizes, which are open to writers of colour residing in the UK and Ireland, also recognized Fidan Meikle for 'My Name is Samim' in the children's and young adult category, and Maggie Harris for her poetry collection 'I Sing to the Greenhearts'. Each award carries a £1,000 prize.
Judges praised Evans's book as the "unanimous" choice for the prose award. Writer and judge Ami Rao noted its confidence, while fellow judge Catherine Johnson highlighted the author's ability to engage readers in discussions about creativity, motherhood, grief, and music. Evans is also known for her novels, including '26a' and 'Ordinary People'.
'My Name is Samim' tells the story of a 13-year-old Afghan refugee's journey to the UK, with judge Lanisha Butterfield advocating for its inclusion in school curricula. Maggie Harris's poetry collection uses Guyana's greenheart tree as a motif to explore themes of home, blending Patois and English to examine colonial history and the Black British present.