The longlist for the Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa 2024 was made public on Friday, February 23, 2024.
The Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa is a prize from Holland House Books (UK), Karavan Press (SA) as well as Booker Prize longlistee Karen Jennings. It is aimed at giving writers from Africa (or the diaspora) a chance to showcase their work to a wider audience, with the possibility of feedback, mentoring, meeting with a potential agent, and publication (both in the UK and South Africa). It was first won by Reem Gaafar.
The jury for 2024 comprises prize founder Karen Jennings, previous winner Reem Gaafar, and Wasafiri’s Editor and Publishing Director Sana Goyal. They have announced the longlist which features the following stories;
- In Vain, Joao Canoquena (Angola)
- Lyrics to the Colour Red, Ruby Excel (Ghana)
- Landlord of the Evil Forest, Chidinma Iwuoha (Nigeria)
- Before the Rapine, Kebba S. Juwara (Gambia)
- When The Shadows Call, Mali Kambandu (Zambia)
- Freelance, Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza (Zimbabwe)
- The Village Bus, Phelelani Makhanya (South Africa)
- Outside Where the Rain Falls, Wayne Samuel (Nigeria)
- Marionette, Reda Soliman (Egypt)
- What it Means to Outlive a Daughter, Chioniso Tsikisayi (Zimbabwe)
The shortlist will be made public in early May and the winner to be announced soon thereafter.
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