Congolese author Fiston Mwanza Mujila has been awarded with the 2024 Literaturpreis der Literaturhäuser 2024. Translated to “Prize of the Literature Houses”, this award is worth EUR 20,000 and celebrates authors who help make literature public.
The news was announced on February 6 by the Network of Literature Houses, which includes the literary houses in Basel, Frankfurt, Halle, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Rostock, Salzburg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Wiesbaden and Zurich as well as the Berlin Literary Colloquium and the Göttingen Literary Center. The Literature Houses Prize has been awarded by the Network of Literature Houses since 2003.
Besides being an acclaimed Congolese writer, Fiston Mwanza Mujila teaches African literature at the University of Graz, Austria. Mujila writes in French and is currently living in Austria. His debut novel Tram 83 (2016), he received numerous awards, including the International Literature Prize – House of World Cultures. His most recently published works include Tanz der Teufel and the poetry volume Kasala for my Kaku & other poems.
The Network of Literature Houses remarked that Mujila brings the African city to life within his novels whether when explicating the legendary club Tram 83, or mines where people work under inhumane conditions. Mujila’s work explores chaos, war, dictatorship, and the survival of people. The texts are permeated by rhythm and music, and his stage performances are also sensational where he not only reads his texts but also lives them as he screams, calls, laments, whispers, or sings.
The award ceremony will take place on March 22 at the Leizpig Book Fair. Congrats to Mujila!