Have you seen the 2019 Caine Prize shortlist? You should. It features writers from Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroun and Ethopia. I can’t wait to read their stories and learn more about the art of writing short stories.
Anyway, the winner will receive a cash award of £10,000. As you already know, this prize is awarded annually to an African writer whose short story is judged the best.. Every writer on the shortlist will be awarded £500.
This year is a special one for the prize. The Caine Prize for African Writing is in its 20th year. It is worth noting also that the Prize has evolved and improved over the years in spite of all the challenges and criticism it has faced.
Here’s a breakdown of the shortlist (To read any of the stories, click on the titles):
- Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (Nigeria) for ‘All Our Lives’, published in ID: New Short Fiction From Africa (2018). All Our Lives won the 2017 SSDA (Identity ID-themed) contest.
- Meron Hadero (Ethiopia) was shortlisted for her short story ‘The Wall’, published in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Issue 52 (2018)
- Cherrie Kandie (Kenya) for ‘Sew My Mouth’, published in ID: New Short Fiction From Africa (2018)
- Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) was shortlisted for ‘Skinned. Skinned was ublished in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Issue 53 (2018)
- Ngwah-Mbo Nana Nkweti (Cameroon) for ‘It Takes A Village Some Say’, published in The Baffler (2017)
The winner of the 2019 Caine Prize for African Writing will be announced at an award ceremony and dinner at SOAS in the University of London, on Monday, 8 July 2018.
Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist.