The FINANCIAL -- For the first time in its 7 year history the annual literary award „Saba“ revealed two awardees for the best debut of the year, Diana Amfimiadi and Giorgi Kekelidze. As one of the jury members mentioned during the ceremony this was not surprising because both writers are extremely talented.

Annual Literary Award “Saba” took place at the TBC Bank ’s Maarjanishvili Main Office. This was the 7th ceremony. The jury consisted of 5 members, which after reading more than 150 books during four months evaluated literary process of the year. There were 9 awardees for 8 nominations.

One of the awardees, writer Lasha Bugadze emphasized the importance of „Saba“ award. He humorously noted that writing is less developed than banking in Georgia and he wishes the public was more active concerning reading.

The history of  «Saba » award goes back to 2003, when one of the top banks in Georgia TBC Bank together with the Georgian Pen-club and TV Channel  Rustavi 2  supported the initiative of a new cultural project. It’s aim was to reveal and help new generations of writters. As Mamuka Khazaradze, Chairman of the Supervisors’ Board of TBC Bank says one of the missions of “Saba” is to encourage and nourish the literary passion in public.

“Our strategy implies implementation of such long-term social and cultural projects, which are oriented towards developing different spheres in the long-run, achievement of actual results. This is great responsibility for us and the whole society,” notes Mamuka Khazaradze.

The prize fund by TBC Bank was GEL 36,000. The winners of the first 7 nominations were awarded GEL 4,000 each. Chabua Amirejibi received GEL 8,000 for special contribution to development of Georgian literature.

88 year old Chabua Amirejibi’s most famous novel and one of the best works in modern Georgian literature is Data Tutashkhia, which gained him sensational success.

While Amirejibi was serving time in prison, this substantial novel of over 700 pages, passed the Soviet censors and got published. It is a story of a Georgian outlaw of the imperial Russian period and combines dealings with the fate of an individual and national soul.

After the awarding ceremony, the “Saba” spirit went to lake Lisi, where the guests had a memorable night.

The winners of Saba 2009 in 8 nominations were:

Batu Danelia for the best collection of poems of the year- “MIRABILIS VITA”

Lasha Bugadze for the best play of the year- “Naphthalene” 

Gigi Sulakauri for the best prosaic collection of the year- “Playing with Revolver” 

Teona Dolenjashvili  for the best novel of the year-  “Memphis”

Levan Bregadze for the best literary critic, Essayistic and documentary prose of the year- “Stories About Literature ”

Giorgi Ekizashvili for the best translation of the year- Daniel Pennac “Dog”

Diana Amfimiadi and Giorgi Kekelidze for the best debut of the year-“Chocolate” and “Odes” ;

Award for special contribution to development of Georgian literature- Chabua Amirejibi

Written By Levan Lomtadze

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