The longlists for the African Writers Awards 2020 were announced on September 28, 2020.
The African Writers Awards were conceived by the African Writers Development Trust to shed a light on some of the best emerging talents in writing on the continent. The winners in the past have been Manu Herbstein, Maryhilda Ibe, Chiamaka Onu-Okpara, and Benson Mugo in 2018 and Eme Ogbu, Temani Nkalolang, Andrea B Matambo, and Priscillar Matara in 2019.
The 2020 edition is judged by Anthony Onugba (Nigeria) who is working with Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Henry Joe Sakala (Zambia), Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Benny Wanjohi (Kenya) and Namse Udosen (Nigeria). The longlist for the writers in Creative Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, and Wakini Kuria Award for Children’s Literature announced by the panel is;
Creative Non-Fiction
- Black and Changed, Aganaba Jesudubami (Nigeria)
- Covik One Nine: A Nigerian Palaver, Ayoola Ibukun (Nigeria)
- Each Little Win, Oladejo Oluyemisi (Nigeria)
- Freelandentity, Akintayo Akinjide (Nigeria)
- Honey, Eziaghighala Chinaza (Nigeria)
- No Role Models, Angoma-Mzini Thulani (South Africa)
- Omwami, Owuor Diana (Kenya)
- Prejudice: Where The Worms Fester, Okparanma Shiloh (Nigeria)
- Requiem for Africa’s Creatively Inept, Mpofu Nathaniel (Zimbabwe)
- Tell Me; How Are Men Made, Nwankwo Ugochukwu (Nigeria)
- The Intelligent Thief, Nwabueze Vincent (Nigeria)
- The Nigerian Hierarchy of Misfortune, Eboseremen Bartholomew (Nigeria)
- The Task of an African Narrator, Okombo Dismas (Kenya)
- Travelling While African: A Day at The Nairobi Giraffe Centre, Oroni Tendera (Kenya)
- Who Stole the Chicken, Agenorwot Mercy (Uganda)
Drama
- A Journey in a Circle, Winifred Olúbùnmi Òdúnóku (Nigeria)
- Animal City, Simiyu Kefa (Kenya)
- Eniobasin (He Who the King Buries), Adepoju Isaiah (Nigeria)
- Fate of Fatherland, Babalola Mathew (Nigeria)
- In Our Transcending Cycle?, Chemka Ester (Tanzania)
- Jare, Lawrence Abasiama (Nigeria)
- Lost Destiny, Ukaorji Ogbonna (Nigeria)
- Mungaka, Patience Ghogho Kisob (Cameroon)
- Odessey of The Kankafo, Adinoyi Abdulbasit (Nigeria)
- Of Friends and Foes, Obuya Dancan (Kenya)
- Run Cor COVID, Adepegba Kehinde (Nigeria)
- Sanctuary, Oru Ade Joseph (Cameroon)
- The Testament of Black Jesus, Nyoni Philani (Zimbabwe)
- True Spots, Ojoro Irene Melissa (Kenya)
- Who Knows Amanda?, Asoloko Gloria Akayi (Nigeria)
Poetry
- African Beauty (Haiku), Musyoka Susan (Kenya)
- Black Pride (Haiku), Emesowum Chidozie (Nigeria)
- Blank Identity (Blank Verse), Afara Muyiwa (Nigeria)
- Effectual Dose (Senryu), Fatokun Ibukun (Nigeria)
- Evolution to Revolution (Pantoum), Paul Shunom (Nigeria)
- Her Afric Identity Is Lectic (Blank Verse), Babajide Michael (Nigeria)
- Her Hair, Her Braids (Blank Verse), Semir-Nyuiy Terry Kimah (Cameroon)
- Manyatta (Blank Verse), Kilibwa Isaac (Kenya)
- Odd Order (Pantoum), Nkalolang Temani (Botswana)
- Ode to The Black People (Blank Verse), Okunola Peace (Nigeria)
- Ode to The Blackbird (Haiku), Duru Nneka Joyce (Nigeria)
- Old and Gold (Pantoum), Gaygay James (Liberia)
- The African Passport (Blank Verse), Olaleye Emmanuel (Nigeria)
- The Vestiges of War (Pantoum), Popoola Samuel (Nigeria)
- Who I Am (Pantoum), Ogedengbe Tolulope Impact (Nigeria)
Wakini Kuria Award for Children’s Literature
- Daudi’s Magical Drum, Muhwezi Simpson (Uganda)
- Dear Ije: The Different Sides, Ugwuezema, Lovelyn Amarachi (Nigeria)
- Hessy and The Lost Tooth, Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho)
- How Must a Boy Feel, Audrey Obuobisa Darko (Ghana)
- Kusalwa the Daydreamer, Linda Mwenda (Zambia)
- Mbi and Her Cow, Paul Ugbede (Nigeria)
- Scared Little Boy, Madeha Ezekial Malecela (Tanzania)
- Sophie What Do You Say?, Blessing Aliyu Tarfa (Nigeria)
- The Great Drought, Blessing Amatemeso (Nigeria)
- The Great Escape, Iwu Chibueze (Nigeria)
- The Magic Book, Oketunde Judith Oluwatomi (Nigeria)
- The Two Sisters, Leonard Maero W. (Kenya)
- Tiems Tragedy, Adodo Ruth Enoguehi (Nigeria)
- Tortoise Goes to School, Steve Ogah – (Nigeria)
- Wakini’s New Home, Nettabella Rachael Simiyu (Kenya)
The shortlist will be revealed on October 19 before the winner is announced.
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