The shortlists for the University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English 2023 were made public on August 8, 2023.
The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing in English, also known as the UJ Prize, was instituted in 2006. It comprises of a main prize and a debut prize, given annually for “the best original creative work in English published in the previous calendar year”. They are judged by a panel of four members of the Department of English at the University of Johannesburg, two academics from other universities and one member of the media or publishing industry. The prizes are not linked to a specific genre. Some of the previous winners have been Nthikeng Mohlele and Mohale Mashigo; Gabeba Baderoon and Mphuthumi Ntabeni. In 2021, the awards went to Jacob Dlamini, Jamil F Khan and Rešoketšwe Manenzhe while last year Mandla Langa, A’Eysha Kassiem and Lisa-Anne Julien got the honours.
For 2023, the shortlists in the two categories have been announced and they are;
University of Johannesburg Main Prize
- An Angel’s Demise, Sue Nyathi
- Greyheart (poetry), Lesego Rampolokeng
- How To Be A Revolutionary, CA Davids
University of Johannesburg Debut Prize shortlist
- Boy On The Run (Memoir), Welcome Mandla Lishivha
- The Other Me (Novel), Joy Watson
- Things My Mother Left Me, Pulane Mpondo
Reactions
I should be working, but I keep prancing around with excitement at the news of being shortlisted for the UJ debut Prize alongside Pulane & Joy. I met them & other great authors on the book festival runs & they have become my ‘author friends’. Look at us, author friends ☺️🙌🏿✨
Welcome Mandla Lishivha
The winners will be announced later in the year.
Leave a Reply