Writivism Prize 2023 shortlists announced

The shortlists for the Writivism Prize 2023 in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry were announced on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Writivism, the project of writing as activism, was started by Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire, Naseemah Mohamed, and Kyomuhendo A Ateenyi at the Centre for African Cultural Excellence in Kampala, Uganda in 2012. They conducted several activities such as an annual literary festival, literary prizes for both fiction (starting in 2013) and nonfiction (starting in 2016), published anthologies, gave mentorship to young writers, and loads more.

Writivism Prizes have been won by Resoketswe Manenzhe and Frances Ogamba (2019), Chisanga Mukuka and Mbogo Ireri (2018), Charles King and Munachim Amah (2017), Yvette Tetteh and Acan Innocent Immaculate (2016), Pemi Aguda (2015), Saaleha Idrees Bamjee (2014), and Anthea Paelo (2013).

After a hiatus, the initiative as promised has returned with the announcement of this year’s shortlists for in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Those in the running for the Writivism Prizes selected from over 500 entries by the jury with the chair Sumayya Lee alongside category judges are;

Poetry

Jury: Ber Anena and Yaa Asantewa

• A History That Once Was and Still Is, Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto
• Dear Virgin Mary, Chiwenite Onyekwelu
• Scientific Inquiry on I, Obasiota Maryhilda Ibe
• The Evening News, Damilola Omotoyinbo
• sometimes a constellation is your lover and 1000 others, Kwame Boateng

Nonfiction (Essays)

Jury: Paula Akugizibwe and Tiffany Kagure Mugo

• If You’re Gay and Waiting to be Sent Out the Line, Ekpenyong K. Collins
• Lilies, Tamani Tatiana Sale
• Sandals are Mountain Shoes, Denyse Agahozo
• The Covenant of Fate, Mlamli Tyulu
• Sticking the Landing, K. W. Ugwuede

Fiction

Jury: Rešoketšwe Manenzhe and Juliana Lamy

• A Thought and A Word, Gabrielle Emem Harry
• Ahuoyyiza’s Monologue, Hussani Abdulrahim
• Comments temporarily disabled, Davina Kawuma
• Your Face is a Covering, Sanni Omodolapo
• Dele’s Fairies, Ella Ngwakwe

The winners in each category, to be announced at a later date, will take home $1000 (USD) while shortlisted writers will each walk away with $50(USD).

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