In a celebration of literary excellence, Canadians Christina Sharpe and M. NourbeSe Philip have emerged as distinguished recipients of the 2024 Windham-Campbell Prize. The announcement, made alongside six other global awardees, marks a momentous occasion in the realm of literature.

Established in 2013 under the auspices of Yale University, the Windham-Campbell Prize stands as a beacon of recognition for writers across fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. Each year, the identities of nominees remain shrouded in secrecy, adding an element of intrigue to the selection process. With a substantial cash prize of $175,000 US ($236,698 Cdn), the award aims to bolster the recipients’ ongoing literary pursuits.

Christina Sharpe, a luminary in the domain of nonfiction, clinched the honor in her category. Hailing from Toronto, Sharpe’s scholarly endeavors are anchored at York University, where she holds the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Black Studies in the Humanities.

Her seminal work, “In the Wake: On Blackness and Being,” garnered critical acclaim, earning a spot among the Guardian’s best books of 2016 and clinching a finalist position for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award in nonfiction. With her latest offering, “Ordinary Notes,” Sharpe delves into the intricate tapestry of Black life, weaving a narrative that traverses time and memory through a collection of 248 poignant notes.

Drawing inspiration from her mother, Ida Wright Sharpe, Sharpe illuminates the myriad facets of Black identity, earning further accolades including the Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction and recognition as a finalist for the National Book Awards for Nonfiction.

m. nourbeSe philip, a luminary in the realm of poetry, emerged triumphant in her category. Born in Tobago and presently residing in Toronto, philip’s illustrious career has been punctuated by a string of accolades, including the 2021 Canada Council for the Arts’ lifetime achievement award and the Molson Prize. Her magnum opus, “Zong!,” serves as a poignant retelling of the tragic events surrounding the forced drowning of enslaved Africans aboard the infamous slave ship Zong in 1781. Delving into the intersection of law and poetry, philip’s work excavates the legal archives of Gregson v. Gilbert, offering a visceral portrayal of a harrowing chapter in history that demands remembrance.

Joining the ranks of these Canadian laureates is Jen Hadfield, a British poet and visual artist with strong familial ties to Canada. Recognized for her poetic prowess, Hadfield’s oeuvre, including “Almanacs” and “Nigh-No-Place,” has garnered widespread acclaim, culminating in her being awarded the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize in 2008.

The 2024 Windham-Campbell Prize also recognizes the literary contributions of Irish writer Deidre Madden, American writers Kathryn Scanlan and Hanif Abdurraqib, as well as Christopher Chen and Sonya Kelly from Ireland, across various genres.

This latest triumph adds Sharpe, philip, and Hadfield to the esteemed roster of Canadian luminaries who have previously been honored with the Windham-Campbell Prize, further solidifying Canada’s position as a powerhouse in the global literary landscape.