2017 marks the 18th edition of the Caine Prize for African Writing. With entries closing on January 31st, the race to winning one of Africa’s most prestigious literary prizes is officially on.
We know you guys are itching for information about this years edition of the prize. We were recently notified of a few updates that we’re delighted to share with you.
The judges received 148 eligible submissions from 22 countries.
Caine Prize Director, Dr. Lizzy Attree, is very happy about the diversity and quality of the submissions. Here is what she said in a statement:
We are delighted that the number of countries represented by the authors submitted has remained high and this year, we have received eligible entries from Niger and Swaziland for the first time. Nations with long histories of representation in both our shortlist and previous winners feature again, with a record number of entries from Nigeria, but we are pleased to see an increase in entries from Sudan, as well as Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania.
The jury will be headed by Nii Ayikwei Parkes, author of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-shortlisted Tail of the Blue Bird. He will decide this year’s winner of the biggest literary prize on the continent, alongside Caine Prize alum, Monica Arac de Nyeko; Richard Ortiz, chairman English Department at Georgetown University; Ghazi Gheblawi, Libyan human rights activist and Dr. Ranka Primorac, a distinguished African scholar.
The decision on who makes the much coveted shortlist will be announced in mid-May. Each of the five shortlisted entrants will be awarded $500 while the grand prize winner takes home $10,000
The winner will be announced in London on July 3 during the Caine Prize award dinner hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Mike March 25, 2017 10:40
Thank you so much for the update. While looking forward to the short-listed submissions in May, we would be glad to see published the list of 148 submissions. This will make us know whether our submissions actually got to the Caine Prize destination or to resubmit for subsequent consideration. I hope this does not break any of your rules. Please accept my best regards, Mike. .