Short Story Day Africa Prize 2021 shortlist announced.

The shortlist for the Short Story Day Africa Prize 2021 has been announced today, Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

Short Story Day Africa recognises short story writers across the continent while also helping to increase their skills sets with workshops. Their Short Story Africa Day Prize has been won by Adam El Shalakany (2018), Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (2017), Sibongile Fisher (2016), Cat Hellisen (2015), Diane Awerbuck (2014), and Okwiri Oduor (2013).

The theme for 2021 is “Disruption” and the resulting anthology that comes from the longlisted entries, Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa, will be edited by Rachel Zadok, the founder of Short Story Day Africa and author of Sister-Sister and Gem Squash Tokoloshe.

The longlist for the award was announced on October 8, 2020 before the shortlist was revealed today. Just like in October, our friends at the Johannesburg Review of Books had the exclusive on this story. Those still in the running are;

• Static – Alithanayn Abdulkareem (Nigeria)
• Dɔrə’s Song – Victor Forna (Sierra Leone)
• The Fish Tank Crab – Genna Gardini (South Africa)
• Shelter – Mbozi Haimbe (Zambia)
• Before We Die Unwritten – Innocent Ilo (Nigeria)
• Laatlammer – Julia Louw (South Africa)
• Five Years Next Sunday – Idza Luhumyo (Kenya)
• When the Levees Break – Edwin Okolo (Nigeria)

All these are in the running for the prize money of US$800 (about R13,500) for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.  The three will be announced on June, 21, 2021. Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa, will be launched globally on September 7, 2021, in partnership with Catalyst Press.