Golden Baobab Prize is to inspire African writers to create enthralling African stories that will inspire the imaginations of generations of African children. It is important to note that the organisers have made some crucial changes to the 2013 Prize in order to better our mission.
This year, Golden Baobab will award three prizes:
- The Picture Book Prize awards $1,000 to the best story written for readers ages 6-8: Submissions must be stories between 700 and 2,000 words and intended for readers from ages 6-8 years old. Entrants may be any age and must be a citizen of an African country (a copy of a passport or comparable document will be required of winners). There is no restriction on race or geographical location. Entrants may enter up to five stories.
- The Early Chapter Book Prize awards $1,000 to the best story written for readers ages 9-11: Submissions must be stories between 5,000 and 10,000 words and intended for readers from ages 9-11 years old. Entrants may be any age and must be a citizen of an African country (a copy of a passport or comparable document will be required of winners). There is no restriction on race or geographical location. Entrants may enter up to five stories.
- The Rising Writer Prize awards $1,000 to the most promising young writer below the age of 18: This prize is awarded annually to a young African author under the age of 18 who demonstrates the talent and drive to become the next great African author for children. Entrants must submit a Rising Writer Personal Profile and an unpublished story that meets the Early Chapter Book Prize requirements (5,000 – 10,000 words intended for readers from ages 9-11 years).
This year’s prize packages include a publishing deal and opportunities to attend exclusive Golden Baobab writers’ workshops.
Other rules and regulations can be found on their website. Please note that the Golden Baobab Prize is open to African citizens of all ages. Deadline for submission is July 14, 2013. Entrants are highly encouraged to submit their stories early.