The Malawi Writers Union team has announced a new short story prize, open for submissions until May 31, 2025.

This year’s theme is “Mental Health and AI” which “interrogates the intersections of mental health and artificial intelligence, challenging writers to imagine futures, unravel ethical dilemmas, and reflect on human resilience in a digital age.”

The prize is open to Malawian writers based on the continent or in the diaspora for the Secondary School Student Category and in the General Category for all other Malawian writers.

The shortlist, selected based on literary merit, originality, and relevance to the theme, will be made public in June before the winners are announced at a ceremony in July.

The first prize for secondary school students will be 350,000 Malawian Kwacha (K) and in the general category, K1,000,000. The top 10 shortlisted stories, including the three winners, will be published in an anthology.

The prize was initiated by the Malawi Writers’ Union President Shadreck Chikoti. The jury includes:

Stanley Onjezani Kenani (chair) (Malawi) – a celebrated writer, poet, and former MAWU president who has been shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing twice and was listed among the Africa 39 writers who are likely to influence African letters in the future. His dual career in literature and finance (UN/ACCA) brings a unique perspective to the judging process.

Renee Akitelek Mboya (Kenya) – A writer, curator, and filmmaker, Mboya’s work merges storytelling with research, exploring personal and collective narratives. Based in Dakar and Nairobi, she collaborates with the Wali Chafu Collective, pushing creative boundaries.

Stephen Embleton (South Africa) – A Speculative fiction author and editor, Embleton’s works (Soul Searching, Bones & Runes) and contributions to African futurism (Sauuti Collective, AfroSFv3) position at the forefront of innovative storytelling.

See the full submission details below: