2019 Booker Prize Joint Winner Bernardine Evaristo’s 1998 Dublin Visit

The BBC 10 o’clock evening news was on. “Bernardine Evaristo has been jointly awarded the Booker Prize (with Margaret Atwood)”, I was awoken from my half-sleep on the couch to be given this exciting news.

My first reaction was to rush to the bookshelf to grab the copy of Lara which I knew was there somewhere.

Back in November 1998, Bernardine was one of the writers invited to participate in the Literature programme of the Africa Festival, which was held in association with the Irish Writers Centre. 

The theme for that year was Identity, with the discussions focused on the many ways in which ‘Identity’ can be manifested. 

Irish-Nigerian poet and playwright, Gabriel Gbadamosi (Limerick mother and Nigerian father), author of the play No Blacks, No Irish, was another invited writer.

Article on Bernardine Evaristo prior to her Dublin visit 

Twenty-one years on, we here in Dublin recall Bernardine Evaristo’s visit with fondness and are delighted to celebrate with her this Booker Prize win.

Special mention of the role of poet and writer Peter Sirr, who was director of the Irish Writers Centre, the co-presenter of the Africa Festival’s Literature Programme.

We look forward to seeing Bernadine back in Ireland soon.