Sadly the Prix Orange du Livre en Afrique (The Orange Book Prize in Africa) has been discontinued by the prize’s main funder, the Orange Foundation after 6 years of sponsoring the prize.

The foundation will be pivoting its focus from promoting African literature to bettering education in schools throughout Africa. The Prix Orange du Livre en Afrique has been a large promoter of African literature in its short life, and many feel shocked and saddened by its ending, which came quickly due to the Orange Foundation’s sudden pulling of their support. The members of the prize jury and local committees that selected the work to be included in the prize weren’t aware of its sudden departure.

The Prix Orange brought together communities of readers all throughout Africa. These readers were directly involved in the pre-selection of books that were included in the decision of the prize winner, such as last years winner Dibakana Mankessi, won with his story, Le Psychanalyste de Brazzaville, a story about the beginning of Congo’s independence, following a young man and his journey through a country just emerging from colonization. Prix Orange du Livre en Afrique gave writers like Dibakana Mankessi the chance to promote their work in ways that would have been impossible on their own. It’s important for African writers to have as many platforms as possible to showcase their work. Now, an important platform is lost to African writers.

It’s disappointing to hear that Prix Orange du Livre en Afrique, but hopefully another platform for African writers will emerge in its absence.