Abdulrazak Gurnah: “As if there isn’t enough to go around”

“A kind of miserliness,” is how Abdulrazak Gurnah describes the attitude of some in Europe to refugees. After all, he says, “Europeans streaming out into the world is nothing new” and he suggests those seeking succour also be seen as “talented, energetic people, who have something to give.” In this brief conversation with Adam Smith, recorded just after he had heard the news, his surprise at receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature is evident. “I was just thinking ‘I wonder who’ll get it’”, says Gurnah: “I thought it was a prank, I really did.”

[@utamakurautamakura7435]

A beautiful, beautiful, courtly, caring soul and lyrical writer. So well deserved. Icon of African oceanic imaginaries.

[@snickaren111]

Humble man! Congrats to Abdulrazak. Always extra special and interesting when the prize goes to an author outside of the western hemisphere! Any suggestion which book to start with?

[@johnsailorsgoat]

I just read that his novel Paradise was the deciding factor in him winning the award.

[@ralmcg]

@@johnsailorsgoat I bought "Paradise". Just waiting to receive it.

[@fugufiish6498]

Start with "Battle Tendency"

[@freak_3]

Abdulrazak Gurnah is a great writer and deserves the award. He is right about refugees, they are not bad people and we have to welcome them to give them a better life. After all, they would have done the same thing for us.

[@nathanngumi8467]

Congratulations to Abdulrazak Gurnah, he has made Africa proud!

[@indiaburke9457]

Mr Gurnah's statement on refugees reflects the words of the poem " Give me your tired , your poor, your huddled masses , yearning to breath free..." written at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

[@naziruimam]

Congratulations to Mr. Abdulrazak Gurnah and Africa. It's a great win 🏆

[@abhisheksoni9609]

Congratulations Sir Gurnah for this great prize

[@santusunuovoraye6886]

Congratulations to an African writer.🔥💯.. we are proud of you Sir

[@niyasmvr7670]

I have an urge to read his books without delay, that is my current dream😊😊

[@mkude]

We Tanzanian Proud of you brother

[@khansir7864]

Congratulations Dear sir

[@parthasarathidas8202]

Mind-blowing surprise and that's life changing...

[@rehaman557]

Congratulations from India 💐

[@user-ig3el1qo9x]

Congratulations Gurnah💚

[@filhanislamictv8712]

Mashallah happy for you

[@BabangidaIbrahimBabura]

A. Gumah, you are indeed very special. This moment made me to know you and I said congrats. I'll definitely find sometimes to read some your literary works.

[@que_93]

This is very inspiring! And the way he remained so calm and humble explains how rich and diverse his experiences are. Congratulation to him, and also my most sincere respect.

[@apradhakrishna8573]

Beautiful interview. I haven't read any writings of Nobel laureate, Abdulrazak Gurnah, inspired to read on listening the interaction. Congratulations

[@vikramrajsingh4033]

Indeed! A remarkable voyage I would like to explore through his books.
Congratulations...!!!❤🌸🌻

[@yanetevenstar]

I love his book, Gravel Heart. Such a heartbreaking story😢

[@williamjayaraj2244]

Congratulations Dr . Abdulrazak.

[@shachannel100]

Congratulations. Literature speaks. And many thanks to the Nobel prize committee for literature for recognizing his works. I have not read any of his works at the moment but I am itching to do so very soon.

[@sangramsingh341]

GREAT LITERATURE MAN

[@NourLababidi]

Congratulations to #NobelPrize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah

[@vijayamishra5419]

Congratulations sir, indeed world need to work more about refuge crisis..

[@naghamosman7147]

Wow! Congratulations

[@alexiszorba69]

Congratulations to Abdulrazak Gurnah! I’m looking forward to read some of his books.
PS I hope that, maybe next year, the Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare will be awarded by this prestigious literary prize. His work really deserves it.

[@sadmanvlog365]

Congratulations sir ❤

[@Mysomaliland]

Congratulation. Lot of love from Somaliland

[@harrietsarahnewton9402]

What joy, and how great, so many congratulations.

[@lordarduin1490]

Didn´t know him before the prize, what an insteresting man! Congratulations!

[@puk4763]

Congrats to him! Love reading myself, but had never heard of him!

[@mayanksahu4684]

So great...........yet so humble

[@bhabatushmitra60]

Congratulations 💐

[@zuhrahorvat8802]

Congratulations!

[@seemamarmath3988]

This is awesome.

[@FauziAlmaliky]

Amazing ! OMG

[@muhammadsami9743]

Congratulations !!!

[@neershanaruka6399]

Congratulations sir ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love from india 🇮🇳

[@beermatessays5360]

Awesome shout by the Nobel Committee this time - I was born in 1990, this is the first black, African writer to get the prize in my lifetime.

[@hippopole9657]

Already Africans one Nigerian and South Africa received such Noble prizes .

[@shahinurshimul9286]

I am so much glad for this right person.

[@SaQay41]

Congratulations.. 🌟

[@raifhossain1162]

Many many congratulations✌️

[@lakshminarashiman9901]

💐🌹🍀congratulations sir🌺

[@shmth5899]

Many Congratulations 👏👏👏

[@Ajijul_Biswas]

Congratulations for your award.

[@ruchpat1]

Thank you Nobel Prize for posting this video.

[@rajarshimanna5825]

Grate video
👋👋👋

[@ytcomms3945]

All those young men of fighting age have lots to give.

[@ravindranathhospital1362]

congratulations!

[@sahilmauryaknp]

Congratulations 🎉 abdulrazak gurnah sir 👍

[@benu7930]

Great

[@mushthaqahmed9884]

❤

[@emmanuelolowolagba6411]

Congratulations Abdulrazak Gurnah!!!!!!!

[@prasadnilugal4691]

Congratulations Sir , I really will read books of yours .

[@abeldisla.5488]

Congratulation Mr. Gurnah. 👍💯👏💗📚🔏.

[@rafikamin6617]

Congratulations sir🥰

[@ahamedbasha5191]

congratulations sir

[@russ8156]

🥺🥺🥺💞💞💞

[@muditracks3640]

Gurnah👏🏻❤️

[@SOAOLSRY]

Indeed it deserve it 👍
Congratulation 🎉🎉🎉

[@Atalanta-jj5ir]

👏👏👏Congratulations👏👏👏

[@Aidosh0105]

👍👍👍👍

[@englishguardian3792]

Congratulations to Abdulrazak

[@shadowmt6735]

congrats ! Smart guy!

[@davidkarenju7403]

Congratulations

[@mouzdalifatmohamed7229]

Congratulations Abdourazak Gurnah. 👍

[@ahmedsabir1181]

Good👍

[@simonhsi9862]

Congrat for Gurrmah;s contribiton..

[@mintwabdinbere1183]

Congratulations 🍾🎈🎉🎊 proud an African got it.

[@muutasimrashid135]

nice

[@dimenbarang7595]

Congratulation sir

[@saturno133]

Good choice. Congratulations.

[@sojournern]

Congratulation to Mr. Gurnah. We need literature so much in this time.

[@MrRazorblade999]

Äntligen!!

[@666VeniVidiVici666]

Every grey hair you see on him is dedicated to the hard work, which he truly deserves.
He's a very intelligent, brave man. My hats off to you, Mr Gurnah.

[@ferryfabulous7250]

Hear, hear

[@belugabeluga6109]

For which exact work did he win? I am interested in reading it.

[@samirsamir7177]

Congratulations Prof. AG. 259Zanzibar!

[@osyoso_ilonggo]

I don't understand. LOL Which work of Mr. Gurnah is being credited? His entire work?

[@moocedudotin3795]

Many Congratulations to Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah for your recognition of uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialisim and the fate of the refugees in the gulf between cultures and continents .

[@nsreynolds8561]

There is the exact same attitude towards asylum seekers in the US. There's not enough to go around but there's plenty to go around in my opinion. It's racism and political plays, at least here in the United States. BTW, I live on the Mexican border and I volunteer with an organization called Annunciation House that provides shelter, food, clothing and aids in travel plans for asylum seekers coming into the US from various parts of the world. Right now we are seeing a lot of Haitian asylum seekers but also Venezuelan, Cuban, Central American (this was the predominant group until Trump's administration got into the asylun system and completely eviscerated it), Mexico and we are starting to see some Africans (mainly Angolans in recent weeks). I am really looking forward to reading some of Mr. Gurnah's work. Congratulations to him! Thank you for the interview as well.

[@mrnobility234]

what a great news..........The First TANZANIAN TO WIN NOBEL PRIZE.

[@maryfraser5345]

Great news and finally awarded to a non-European - in addition for being a great persuader!

[@koumei1709]

I think syukuro manabe was also japanese origin right.

[@zy4663]

He sounds too calm like he doesn't really care

[@Lommy9999]

Let him talk to his friends, family and the media which must be trying to call non-stop!

[@binkhalidame2754]

from zanzibar

[@ferryfabulous7250]

Yes, he is an outstanding gentleman 👏

[@radhakrishna1845]

Abdulrazak..... Nature.. Whispers.. People like you
Hear... Have
. Heart💜❤.. For
Mother.. Nature...
Einstein.. General Theory of Relativity... William Shakespeare... After sweet songs of.. Venus..
Mercury... Has something
Please correct me..
William Shakespeare knew
About.. Gravitational fields in his own way...

[@harrietsarahnewton9402]

What a daft time to interview the poor man -- why not give him a day to be happy and tread on the air, rather than start asking him questions on his views, kind of like interviewing a new mother just as she holds her baby -- not the moment Sweden or BBC

[@modigktricks]

Congratulations!

[@sukumarsubramani2065]

Congratulations

[@Bageera63]

Congratulations!

[@marbet2395]

Congratulations