Swedish Academy

Tanzanian writer Abdulrazak Gurnah has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

The Swedish Academy said the award was in recognition of his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism."

Born in Zanzibar and based in England, Gurnah is a professor at the University of Kent. His novel "Paradise" was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1994.

Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk and Austrian writer Peter Handke won the 2018 and 2019 Nobel Prizes for literature on Oct. 10 after a year's hiatus in awarding the prize due to sex abuse allegations that rocked the secretive Swedish Academy, which selects the laureates.

Swedish scholar Sara Danius stepped down Feb. 26 from the academy that awards the Nobel literature prize, almost a year after she quit as its permanent secretary amid a sex scandal unveiled by the #MeToo movement.

(CNN) - This year's Nobel Prize in Literature has been postponed in the wake of a sexual and financial scandal that has engulfed the Swedish Academy, the cultural institution responsible for awarding the prestigious prize.

Bob Dylan has completed his Nobel course requirements. The Swedish Academy announced on June 5 that it has received the mandatory lecture from the 2016 literature winner, enabling Dylan to collect 8 million Swedish kronor ($922,000) in prize money. 

After months of uncertainty and controversy, Bob Dylan finally accepted the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature at a jovial, champagne-laced ceremony on April 1, the Swedish Academy announced.

The American singer was awarded the prize in October but failed to travel to pick up the award, or deliver the lecture that is required to receive the 8m kroner ($900,000;£727,000) prize.

The academy said it would meet Dylan, 75, in private in the Swedish capital, where he is giving two concerts.

He will not lecture in person but is expected to send a taped version.

Though Bob Dylan will not be attending the Nobel prize award ceremony in Stockholm due to “pre-exisiting engagements,” he is sending musician and singer Patti Smith in his stead.

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1941. The balladeer, artist and actor who took his stage name from the poet Dylan Thomas – had long been tipped as a potential prize recipient.

Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for 2016, announced Reuters.

The Swedish academy awarded the prize to the singer for "the creation of a new poetic language in the American song tradition."

With this prize, the 75-year old rock musician has been officially recognised as a poet.