At long last, the longlist for the K and L prize for short fiction is out. A cash award of $1,000 will be awarded to an African writer whose work shows creativity and talent. The judges will consider short stories between 1,000 and 2,000 words, about or inspired by a historical event on the continent.
Congratulations to the following authors for making the longlist.
- 1996 by Zenas Ubere
- ABACHA FOREVER by Isaac Ayodeji
- COLOURED TEARS by Blessing Ikang
- CROSSOVER by Tega Oghenechovwen
- OŚU by Obioma Obinna Kelechi
- THE TRAITOR’S HEARING by Daniel Alaka
- THE MANY-FACED GOD by Melody Anthony
- WOMEN’S MEETING by Great Opara
- APARTHEID NOT, A PART HEARD NOT by Timi Bankole Jeremiah
- THREE BEASTS AND ONE PREY by Anyanwu Mathias
- I AM NOT EVEN IGBO by Stephanie Chizoba Odili
- SILENT DESTRUCTION by Mary Udoh
- WHEN SULLEN FACES GNAW AT YOU by Okechi Okeke
- OF A LIFETIME by Joseph Olamide Babalola
- MYSTERY DISEASE OF YAMBUKU by Desmond Efe
- VIRUS by Anselm Ekenedirichukwu
- MANSA MUSA AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE by Dennis Mugaa
- GOLIATH KILLED HIMSELF by Precious Nkem Ogbuenyi
- SHEHU’S WARDROBE by Ibemere Vivian
- RIGASA’S MAFRICA by Anthonia Chidimma
- OGU UMUNWANYI: THE STORY OF NNEDI by Esther Chioma Ezeigbo
- INCIDENT by Temitayo Jaiyeola
- THE REAL STORY by Omireh Chiamaka
- NINETEEN SEVENTY by Ayodeji Falaye
- WOMEN WHO WENT TO WAR by Frances Ogamba
- DYING MANY TIMES BEFORE OUR DEATHS by Ekemini Pius
- TEARS OF THE SUN by Kelechi Obasi
- IT’S OUR HALOWEEN by Jessica Ojuigo Chinonye
- LE JOOLA by Rotimi Robert
- BURYING MEMORIES by Mbanefo Chibuike
- THE HONEY BEE by Sisca Julius
- THE SECRET LIVES OF WATER BODIES by Mazpa Ejikem
- EVIL CHILDREN by Arowolo Ayokanmi Daniel
- TEARS OF A BIAFRAN CHILD by Chidiebere Enyia G.
- THE YELLOW SUNSET by Adebimpe Olorunfemi
These intriguing stories will be published in the K and L forthcoming anthology, Histories of Yesterday, edited my Myles Ojabo and Uchechukwu Umezurike. A shortlist is likely to be announced by mid-June, and the winner, in July.
The judges for this year’s competition are Zana Bell and Uchechukwu Umezurike.
Zana Bell grew up in Zimbabwe. She is an award-winning author of six internationally-published novels. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the Auckland University of Technology and teaches at NorthTec.
Uchechukwu Umezurike is a PhD student and a Vanier Scholar at the English and Film Studies department in the University of Alberta. His poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and children’s literature have appeared in print and online anthologies.
The K & L Prize is sponsored by New Zealand-based Nigerian novelist Myles Ojabo.