Grand Prix of Literary Associations

Grand Prix of Literary Associations (GPLA)
Awarded forInternational Awards for Authors and Literary Associations. Open to three Languages : English, Spanish and French
CountryCameroon
Presented byGPLA Team
First awarded2013

The Grand Prix of Literary Associations (GPLA) were launched in 2013 in Cameroon,[1] in partnership with Brasseries du Cameroun and sponsorship by Castel Beer.[2]

The GPLA are defined as bilingual English-and-French literary prizes, some being awarded on the proposals of literary associations, especially in the Research and Belles-Lettres categories.[3]

The contest is open worldwide, both to authors and to literary associations that propose their works to the Jury. In the 2016 edition (GPLA 2016), more than one hundred works were submitted to the Jury by the endorsement of 69 associations from diverse countries across the world.[4] The shortlist was made up of nine works, three of them being from Cameroon, two from Nigeria, and four respectively from France / Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Chad.[5]

Since the launch of the 2017 edition, books written in Spanish are also eligible to compete,[6] alongside those in French and English that were formerly exclusively allowed. Among the 124 works registered for the pre-selections of the GPLA 2017, 16 books came from Spanish-speaking countries, and one of them was eventually awarded in the Research category.[7]

The prize also welcomes books written in African languages. In the 2018 edition, a work written in Kikongo made the shortlist.[8]

  1. ^ "The GPLA is a bilingual English-and- French literary contest based on an original concept: Works are proposed to the Jury only by literary associations. Launched in 2013, the Grand Prix of Literary Associations is about to conclude its fourth edition." Source: Bella Naija
  2. ^ The logo of Castel Beer is always displayed on GPLA posters. Ex: Bamenda Online[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "GPLA is a literary contest open both to authors and associations devoted to literary activities. The works must be proposed to the Jury by literary clubs and associations." Source: Bagusmutendi Archived April 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Cheickna Dabou, "Cote d'Ivoire: Grands Prix des associations littéraires (GPAL 2016) – "Si je n'ose..." en compétition", Fraternité Matin (Ivorian official newspaper, August 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Mutations (Cameroonian Newspaper, in its edition of February 7, 2017); also see Bamenda Online[permanent dead link], or Bella Naija
  6. ^ El Conquistador Cervantes à la conquête des Grands prix des associations littéraires (El Conquistador Cervantes assaulting the GPLA): AGORAVOX
  7. ^ Source: Mutations (Cameroonian Newspaper of September 11, 2017; see other details on Bella Naija.
  8. ^ Source: Bamenda Online Archived May 1, 2019, at the Wayback Machine