The winners of the 2021 Young Muslim Writers Awards were announced earlier today in a televised awards ceremony broadcast on Islam Channel, our Official Media Partner. We are delighted to share the names:
Key Stage 1 Poetry
Rainbow of Life – Yusra Drummond
Key Stage 2 Poetry
Hope Part 2 – Zidan Akhtar
Key Stage 3 Poetry
Questions for Humanity – Fatema Zahra Mithwani
Key Stage 4 Poetry
Immigrants Again – Ameerah Kola-Olukotun
Key Stage 1 Short Story
Safiya and Sunbeam – Yusra Drummond
Key Stage 2 Short Story
The Big Meow-stry – Sephora Drummond
Key Stage 3 Short Story
The World is Waking Up – Aleena Rafi
Key Stage 4 Short Story
TSUNAMI – Aisha Ali
Key Stage 3 Journalism
Natural Choices – Muhammed Amin
Key Stage 4 Journalism
Not My Child – Ameerah Kola-Olukotun
Key Stage 3 Play Script
Vi Conviene – Neda Aryan
Key Stage 3 Screenplay
A Test of Faith – Khadija Fombo
Key Stage 4 Screenplay
Vaikeaa and the Imaginaries – Ameerah Kola-Olukotun
WRITER OF THE YEAR 2021
Fatema Zahra Mithwani – Questions for Humanity
Tariq Nasir, Director of Governance at Muslim Hands was the first speaker,
“We’re proud of encouraging girls and boys to become passionate writers and become better communicators. This work wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Islam Channel, the Institute of English Studies, the judges, parents, teachers and of course the writers.”
Molly Rosenberg, Director of The Royal Society of Literature, announced two awards and noted,
“In reading your poems I have seen what writing and literature can do to help us reflect on the worst things in our world as well as imaging better futures… “All of us involved in the Young Muslim Writers Awards as readers + as writers know what words can do to draw us closer together, to share our experiences, and show each other care.”
Multi-award-winning author Patrice Lawrence added,
“Congratulations on finding your creativity when sometimes there are so many other things happening in our world that it’s hard to dig in to our imagination and get those thoughts on paper… I want you to remember that you need to stay true to yourselves and your creativity. Write about the things that matter to you. Don’t forget, your voices really, really matter.”
Screenwriter and Director Raisah Ahmed was a judge in the Screenplay categories and commented,
“These screenplays give us an insight into the issues that we should be looking at. What I really loved about reading these screenplays is to see the diversity of stories that we’re getting, and the creativity that exists within our young people… The film and television industry needs Muslim voices in every way possible, but we absolutely need screenwriters that are writing the stories that tell the world about who we are and the things that matter to us… We have the opportunity now to rewrite stereotypes, to tell our stories, to humanise our communities, and to allow the world to really see the beauty of the world in which we live.”
To present the Journalism awards, we were joined by the CEO of Islam Channel, Mohamed Ali Harrath who commented,
“At Islam Channel we are so proud and so grateful to have been involved with Young Muslim Writers Awards from the inception of the Awards and today we can see it going from strength to strength… We will always be happy and keen to support Muslim Hands in this honourable journey to showcase young Muslims. They are encouraging them to be role models for the rest of the Muslim community… We are all proud of the great work that Muslim Hands is doing, and we are so proud of our young upcoming generations of new writers, new journalists, and new poets.”
Author of Boy, Everywhere – AM Dassu shared words of encouragement to young writers,
“A huge congratulations to all of you who entered the competition. This is an achievement in itself – if you’re not willing to put your work out there, you’ll never be discovered. Competitions like this one are often a great way of gaining confidence… I remember entering lots of competitions. I didn’t win. A lot of the time I wasn’t shortlisted but it was a great of getting practice in improving my writing for an audience. So, well done to all of you who entered.”
Rehan Khan, author of A Tudor Turk, added,
“As a novelist I can tell you stories are out there waiting to be picked from the tree of imagination. All it needs is a curious mind like yours to pluck it and share it with the people around you… As you design and plan your wonderful tales and poetry I would also encourage you to think about the purpose of your literature. What values and virtues are you trying to convey through the power of your words?… The more you have experienced the world – its sounds, its sights, the majesty of its natural environments and the beauty of the creatures God has placed upon it – the richer will be your storytelling. I wish you well with your efforts.”