Meshack Asare facts for kids
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Meshack Asare (born in 1945) is a well-known author of children's books from Africa. He was born in Ghana and now lives in Degenfeld, Germany.
In 2014, he was chosen as a finalist for a very important international award called the 2015 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature. He won the award on October 24, 2014. This made him the first African person to ever receive this prize. His book The Brassman's Secret was a key book that helped him win. The award celebrates all of his amazing work as a writer.
Contents
About Meshack Asare
Early Life and Education
Meshack Asare was born on September 18, 1945, in Nyankumasi, Ghana. He was the second of six children. His mother, Agatha Adoma Afram, was a trader. His father, Joseph K. Asare, worked as an accountant.
Meshack Asare studied Fine Arts at the College of Art in Kumasi. After finishing his studies, he became a teacher in Ghana. He taught from 1967 to 1979.
Starting His Writing Career
While he was teaching, Meshack Asare began to write and illustrate books for children. One of his early books was Tawia Goes to Sea. This book was translated into many languages.
Tawia Goes to Sea also won the Ghana National Book Award. UNESCO, a big international organization, even called it the "Best picture book from Africa."
Award-Winning Books
After a ten-year break from publishing, Asare released a new book in 1981. This book was The Brassman's Secret. It was translated into many languages around the world.
In 1982, The Brassman's Secret won the Noma Award. This award recognized it as the best book published in Africa that year. Many more successes followed for Asare. In 1984, his book Cat in Search of a Friend won the Austrian National Prize. It also received a special award called the BIB Golden Plaque in 1995.
Exploring Cultures Through Stories
Meshack Asare also studied for a master's degree in Social Anthropology. This field is about studying human societies and cultures. He earned his degree at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.
Since 1993, he has lived in London. However, he often travels around Africa. He does this to learn about different African cultures. He then uses these experiences to create wonderful stories in his books. His book Sosu's Call won the 1999 UNESCO First Prize. This award is for children's books that help teach tolerance and understanding.
