Alumnus Omar Musa (BA (Hons) '06) was named in the Miles Franklin Literary Award Longlist for his debut novel 'Here Come the Dogs' which was published in August 2014. Omar was one of three debut novelists from the 10 authors named on the Longlist for the $60,000 prize.
Omar is a Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet from Queanbeyan. He is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam. He has released three hip hop albums, two poetry books (including Parang), appeared on ABC's Q&A and received a standing ovation at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House. He is currently working on a play, 'Bonegatherer'.
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is regarded as Australia's most prestigious literature prize and was established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Miles Franklin. First awarded in 1957, the prize is awarded each year to the novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.
