2021 Nobel Literature Prize Winner Abdulrazak Gurnah on Colonialism & the Power of Language

We speak with Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, which recognized his "uncompromising and compassionate" writing about colonialism and the refugee experience. He is the first Black writer to win the award since Toni Morrison almost 30 years ago and the first Black African writer to win the prize since 1986. Gurnah discusses his work, which explores displacement, migration and "historical moments that create us." His latest novel is titled "Afterlives" and will be published in the United States in August 2022.

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[robertrichard]

What a spartan, humble, and honest man in his discriptions and explainations.

[kathryncasey]

I love the telephone in the background. I am going to have to watch this again. This gentleman probably said things I should hear. That cool old telephone kept calling me back to memory lane.

[Quarter]

I wish they had more time to talk to him.

[LuigiPaiPai]

Are you serious? You have the honor of receiving a Nobel Price of Literature but you only have 10 minutes for him and then you just cut it off abruptly? You're a good media Democracy Now, but if you don't see how mistaken that is there is something wrong with you.
This is internet time, please find interviewers who have time, then make a decent and longer interview and post it on youtube.

[grand.geometrician]

I'd say this is mildly funny. Or not at all... because this Prize defined the XXth Century....

[niccoarcadia]

He writes in English just because it's more comforting to him? I didn't understand his explanation but would say that English is a very descriptive language that gives authors more choices to present to the reader what the author is trying to convey. Older African languages included sounds, posturing, and facial expressions that can not be written down.

[seansmith]

Read Paradise and found it tedious, like this interview. Hard to take this prize seriously since Dylan got it.

[Rubylove]

The irony of feeling honoured to win a Nobel prize for post colonialist writing. bizarre.

[eagleworld]

The first thing most be for democracy is my name. Thy tookie about how?.how most took about his book ? His tink his do.? You all wrong because when you didn't do with democracy you can't took about because you do wrong.and red wrong haven't beat fort. When you farmer a tree with our frothy .you can't have best farming.

[AudioPervert]

speaking about the "power of language" ... these folks are but always yacking away in english... clueless about other languages and what goes on within those... pathetic bureaucracy now serves the institutions as is...

[mountiandogman]

Black writer ? White writers ? Red, brown, albino, ? Alive. Dead . Lol