etisalat2016shortlist

Etisalat Prize for African Literature is the only award designed to celebrate debut African fiction.

In the few years since it’sestablished, the prize has become a literary institution of considerable influence in Africa and the globe.

After a longlist of 9 names—six South Africans and three Nigerians—the shortlist is finally out. It was announced yesterday via the Etisalat Prize official twitter handle @etisalatreads and on the website.

Now we know which three of the nine authors are up for the final round of the competition.

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And After Many Days (Kachifo Limited, Nigeria):
  • a family drama set in the mid ’90s in Port Harcourt. When a boy suddenly goes missing, his family’s attempt to cope with the loss opens up a chest of dark secrets.

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The Seed Thief  (Umuzi Publishers, South Africa):

  • L’Ange’s novel chronicles journey of a South African botanist who travels to Brazil to find a sought-after, cancer-curing plant. Somewhere in the series of adventures, she finds love and a sense of place.

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Mr & Mrs Doctor (Coffee House Press, USA):

  • The novel tells the story of a Nigerian college-dropout named Job who scrapes by in Nebraska but lies to his family in Nigeria that he is a medical doctor. The novel explores the elaborate universe of lies and fantasies he sets up to keep up this facade.

The winner of the prize will be announced in the coming weeks at an award ceremony held in Lagos. The winner takes home 15,000 pounds, in addition to a fully-funded fellowship at the University of East Anglia.

Congrats to Jacqui L’Ange, Jowhor Ile, and Julie Iromuanya. We wish them the best in the final round.