The 2021 African Writers Awards Shortlist

by | Sep 6, 2021 | Gist Corner

The 2021 shortlist for the African Writers Awards have been announced. The awards are organized by the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), in partnership with Writers Space Africa Foundation, and Writers Space Africa. Its aim is to support and encourage emerging writers from different African countries.

 This year’s awards are given in four different categories: Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Drama, and Children’s Literature.

Below are the lists of shortlisted writers who were selected by the panel of judges made up of Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Gankhanani Moffat Moyo (Zambia), Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Nabilah Usman (Nigeria), Comfort Nyati, SDB (Zimbabwe), Temani Nkalolang (Botswana), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho) and Namse Udosen (Nigeria).

Creative Non-Fiction

  1. Adetutu by Adedoyin Adetutu (Nigeria)
  2. Cultural Partnership for a Common African Future by Saliha Haddad (Algeria)
  3. Is This Legacy by Oluchi B. Kolanisi (South Africa)
  4. Long Live the Comrade by Peter Zowa (Zimbabwe)
  5. What Our Tales Entail by Jesse Bitrus Danjuma (Nigeria)
  6. Whispers of the African Sun by Enoch Akinlabi (Nigeria)

Drama

  1. A Country Called Africa by Dancan Ouma Obuya (Kenya)
  2. Eating With Chopsticks by Gordon, B. Away (Kenya)
  3. Fostered from a Thought by Irene Melissa Ojoro (Kenya)
  4. Right in the Middle by Akinkunle Johnson (Nigeria)
  5. The Twist by Bernard Diesuk Lucas (Nigeria)
  6. Zige by Ebinabo Fortune Robert (Nigeria)

Poetry

  1. All You See, All You Don’t See Poem by Joseph Olamide Babalola (Nigeria)
  2. In the grave of the brave by Clara Wanjira Kariuki (Kenya)
  3. Mother Africa is like a Highway in a Metropolitan City by Basethile Ngcubo (South Africa)
  4. Not in the Tears of Yesteryear by Raphael Edookue Bariweremeloo (Nigeria)
  5. The Dining Table by Overcomer Ibiaduradara Ibiteye (Nigeria)
  6. The Doomed House by Jamin Clement Manyasa (Kenya)

Wakini Kuria Award for Children’s Literature

  1. Akaa and the Mango Tree by Chipalo Salimu (Zambia)
  2. Kodjo Braves a Hi by Temidayo Odutokun (Nigeria)
  3. Tea time with Tito by Stephanie Chizoba Odili (Nigeria)
  4. The Enchanted Pen by Nathaniel Z Mpofu (Zimbabwe)
  5. The Millionaire Orphan by Makhago Peter (Uganda)
  6. What Does it Mean to be Kind Anyway by Kendi Karimi (Kenya)

For this edition, the organizers noted that for the “Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature, there will be three winners. The first-place winner will receive a certificate along with $150. The second place will receive $100 while the third place will receive $75. For the African Writers Awards, there will be only one winner per award category. Each winner will receive a certificate and $100.”

The winners will be announced on the 9th of October during the 4th African Writers Conference (AWC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Visit here for   more information.