The Nobel prizes were founded by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist who invented the dynamite. In his Will in 1895, Nobel directed that his vast estate be utilised to establish six prizes in different disciplines, including literature. The first prizes were awarded in 1901.
Today, the Nobel prizes are recognised as the most prestigious in the world. The winners not only achieve personal glory; their win also brings considerable national honour to their countries. For instance, Wangari Maathai’s Nobel Peace Prize win in 2004 shone a glorious light on Kenya, a country with a horrific reputation in human rights abuses, corruption and state-sponsored ethnic violence. She was in good company. The likes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are members of that exalted club.
