African Writers Awards 2024 winners announced.

The African Writers Awards, African Teen Writers Awards, and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature winners were announced in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

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 2023 winners were Marial Awendit, Chantelle Chiwetalu, Adedokun Ibrahim, and Divine Okpe.

The shortlists for 2024 were announced on September 23 before the winners were made public at the African Writers Conference 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda. The winners were;

African Writers Awards for Short Stories (US$500)

• When Love Exits, Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare (Ghana)

The Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry

Jury: Funminiyi Akinrinade (Nigeria), Autricia Njang (Cameroon), Joy Rita (Kenya), Chipo Chama (Zambia), Patricia P. Ejang (Uganda), and Chidiebere Udeokechukwu (Nigeria)

• 1^st – ⁠At Vlekete Market, Eniola Abdulroqueeb Arowolo (Nigeria) ($100)
• ⁠2^nd – For Sale, African Drums Designed by Robots, Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana) ($50)

African Teen Writers Awards

Jury: Corona Cermak (Tanzania), Patricia Peace Ejang (Uganda), Tamunomieibi Enoch (Nigeria) and Adedokun Ibrahim Anwar (Nigeria).

Prose (US$100)

• Five Things Mother Did Not Prepare Me For, Sumaiyah Muhammad (Nigeria)

Poetry (US$100)

• Right to Peace, Adrian Nyarko-Boateng (Ghana)

Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature 2024

Jury: Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho), and Namse Udosen (Nigeria).

• 1^st – A Close Call – Honored, Absentia by Grace Thuo (Kenya) (US$200)
• 2^nd – Bee: One Another’s Keeper, Cynthia Anje Nkweti (Cameroon) (US$150)
• 3^rd – Nandera the Brave, A Tale of Triumph by Laura Petite (Tanzania) (US$100)

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