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The prize, established under the will of Lillian
Gish, is awarded annually to “a man or woman who
has made an outstanding contribution to the
beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment
and understanding of life”. Lillian Gish and her
sister, Dorothy, were actresses who ruled the
big screen in the first half of the 20th
century. “Though I did not meet the two
sisters”, Chinua said, “I feel that I know them,
and that they knew me in my little corner”.
Achebe was honoured for excelling in his field
of writing and for being a role model for
others. The Managing Director of JPM Morgan
Chase Bank, Lisa Philip, called Achebe one of
the world’s greatest living writers. JP Morgan
Chase Bank is the trustee of the prize.
In his stirring remark to introduce Achebe,
Jamaican novelist Ekwueme Michael Thelwell
exalted Achebe’s humanity. He narrated tales of
Achebe’s demonstration of courage, integrity and
generosity. “Unlike some other prizes, the
recipient of this prize is enhanced by the
prize. He equally enhances the prize”. Said
Thelwell, a visiting professor of African
Studies at Brown University. He noted that
Achebe was joining a distinguished list of past
winners. Past winners of the Gist Prize include
Ingmar Bergman, Bob Dylan, Arthur Miller, Robert
Redford and Peter Seeger.
The $300,000 prize was given to Achebe on the
same elegant Hudson Theatre stage where the
likes of Louis Armstrong, Bob Hope, Elvis
Presley, Ernie Kovacs, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis
Jr., Barbara Streisand and Vincent Price have
performed. As part of the event, Baba Ola Jagun
and The Ancestral Rhythms entertained the
guests. The group which included drummer Kunle
Ade, the son of juju music maestro King Sunny
Ade, gave a thrilling performance that saw
Achebe nodding in appreciation. Using vocals and
talking drums with an interpretative dancer, the
Nigeria born musician recreated an African
atmosphere on the stage. In a near-spiritual
tone, he used chants and praise songs to
celebrate Achebe’s life and achievements.
Earlier in the program, which was attended by a
full house of Achebe’s admirers, African
American poet Sonia Sanchez recited a special
poem for Achebe. She punctuated her recital with
chants about waking up in the morning with
Achebe on her mind. Numerous speakers extolled
Achebe’s prodigious gifts to the literary world.
In a message, the African American novelist and
Nobel laureate Toni Morrison described Achebe’s
works as impressive and influential.
Three of Professor Achebe’s children and their
spouses were present at the event which was also
attended by C.C. Momah, Achebe’s high school and
college friend, Professor Obiora Udechukwu, and
numerous friends, extended family members and
colleagues from Brown University.
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