African Writers Awards 2023

African Writers Awards 2023 shortlists announced.

The shortlists for the African Writers Awards, African Teen Writers Awards, and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature were announced on Monday, October 2, 2023.

The African Writers Awards were conceived by the African Writers Development Trust to celebrate the best-emerging writing talents on the continent. Some previous winners have been Manu Herbstein, Maryhilda Ibe, Chiamaka Onu-Okpara, and Benson Mugo in 2018; Eme Ogbu, Temani Nkalolang, Andrea B Matambo, and Priscillar Matara in 2019; Oladejo Oluyemisi, Asoloko Gloria Akayi, and Duru Nneka Joyce in 2020, and Adedoyin Adetutu, Gordon, B. Away, and Makhago Peter in 2021. The winners for 2022 were Britney Muoghalu, Gloria Akayi Asoloko, and Temwani Mgunda.

The awards this year are judged by Chief Judge Anthony Onugba alongside Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Testimony Odey (Nigeria) Temwani Mgunda (Malawi) Corona Cermak (Tanzania) Patricia Ejang (Uganda) Comfort Nyati, SDB (Zimbabwe) Mildred Enoch (Nigeria) Ona Zozoni (Botswana), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho) and Namse Peter Udosen (Nigeria).

The longlists were announced on Wednesday, September 6 before the shortlists were revealed on Monday. Those still in the running are;

The African Writers Awards for Poetry 2023

  • Nyachide, Emelda Gwitimah (Zimbabwe)
  • Oracles of Zeros and Ones, Truth Ndubueze (Nigeria)
  • Robo Fantasies, Mufumba Jonathan (Uganda)
  • Scorching, Uduogu Victor (Nigeria)
  • The Nilotic Coddiwomple, Marial Awendit (South Sudan)

Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature 2023

  • Meeme and the singing Calabash, Grace Tendo Katana (Uganda)
  • Ngoni Makes a Difference, Kudzai Mhangwa (Zimbabwe)
  • Tato, Chantelle Chiwetalu (Nigeria)
  • Thandi and the Hair Whisperer, Lindsay Katchika-Jere (Malawi)
  • The Red Boy of Zoe Street, Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare (Ghana)

African Teen Writers Awards (Poetry)

  • Because Life Began on a Dreamers Lips, BELLA OGWUCHE (Nigeria)
  • E-M(AI)L, Theresa Shukrani Mulindwa (Zambia)
  • Home is where blood meets water, Erinola Daranijo (Nigeria)
  • Rhythm, Johanna Ataman (Nigeria)
  • This poem leads back home, Adedokun Ibrahim (Nigeria)

African Teen Writers Awards (Prose)

  • A Flipped Coin, Divine Okpe (Nigeria)
  • African heritage, Joshua Ojo (Nigeria)
  • Alone, Oluwanifemi Fagbolagun (Nigeria)
  • Just when we thought its dawn, Sa’ada Yahaya (Nigeria)
  • Treasure in detention, Fayemi Iyinoluwa (Nigeria)

The winners will be announced at the African Writers Conference in Accra, Ghana from November 1 – 5,  2023.

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