Two African writers have been longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, an honor that celebrates outstanding debut novels: Zambian novelist Iris Mwanza for The Lions’ Den and Senegalese American novelist Mai Sennaar for The Dream in Gold.
The Lions’ Den is a gripping legal thriller set in 1990s Zambia. The novel follows a rookie lawyer who fights for justice for a queer dancer, exposing the legal structures behind homophobia while celebrating the power of allyship. Mwanza’s own background as a lawyer, with training in both Zambia and the U.S., is a source of inspiration in her storytelling. She is currently the Deputy Director of the Gender Equality Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Mai Sennaar’s The Dream in Gold is a moving, deeply sensory tale about music, the immigrant experience, and connection. It tells the story of an African-American woman and a Senegalese man who bond over music and navigate their complicated pasts. Sennaar, who resides in both Dakar and Baltimore, is a Tisch School of the Arts graduate and a playwright and filmmaker.
The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize was launched in 2006, though it has evolved through various names. It is a publisher-led prize where publishers nominate works written in English and published in the U.S. for the first time. The longlist is selected by a diverse group of readers known as The Common Readers, which includes librarians, staff members, and individuals within the center’s networks.
The shortlist will be announced in September by a jury of esteemed writers. In December, all five shortlisted authors will participate in the First Novel Fête Event, where they will read from their works.
The Prize has a history of recognizing African authors, with previous shortlists featuring notable writers such as Ghana’s Taiye Selasi for Ghana Must Go and Yaa Gyasi for Homegoing as well as Nigeria’s Chigozie Obioma for The Fishermen and Akwaeke Emezi for Freshwater. In 2022, Egypt’s Noor Naga won the prize.
The Center for Fiction, based in New York City, is an organization dedicated to celebrating American literary culture with a focus on fiction. It serves as a hub for readers, writers, and literary enthusiasts who share a passion for storytelling.
Congrats to Mwanza and Sennaar! We are rooting for them and hope they make it to the shortlist.
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