The shortlists for the African Writers Awards, African Teen Writers Awards, and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature were announced on October 1, 2022.
The African Writers Awards were conceived by the African Writers Development Trust to shed a light on some of the best emerging writing talents on the continent. Some previous winners have been Manu Herbstein, Maryhilda Ibe, Chiamaka Onu-Okpara, and Benson Mugo in 2018; Eme Ogbu, Temani Nkalolang, Andrea B Matambo, and Priscillar Matara in 2019; Oladejo Oluyemisi, Asoloko Gloria Akayi, and Duru Nneka Joyce in 2020, and Adedoyin Adetutu, Gordon, B. Away, and Makhago Peter in 2021.
The awards this year are judged by Chief Judge Anthony Onugba alongside Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Gankhanani Moffat Moyo (Zambia), Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Nabilah Usman (Nigeria), Corona Cermak (Tanzania), Tamunomieibi Enoch (Nigeria), Patricia Peace Ejang (Uganda), Comfort Nyati, SDB (Zimbabwe), Temani Nkalolang (Botswana), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho) and Namse Udosen (Nigeria).
The longlist for the African Writers Awards 2022, African Teen Writers Awards 2022, and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature 2022 were announced on September 1 before the shortlist was revealed on Saturday. Those still in the running are;
Creative Nonfiction
- Hills in the Background, George Paul (Tanzania)
- Let my People Go, Britney Muoghalu (Nigeria)
- Number 27, Kendi Karimi (Kenya)
- This Town, Ezimadu Ugorji (Nigeria)
- Tsulisime, Deborah Usidamen (Nigeria)
Drama
- Dusk To Dawn, Gloria Akayi Asoloko (Nigeria)
- Homecoming, Chetachi Igbokwe (Nigeria)
- One Jungle, Multiple Shadows, Oluwatosin Tume (Nigeria)
- The Car Wreck, Jerina Sibanda (Zimbabwe)
- The Women’s War, Tekena Mark (Nigeria)
Poetry
- Of what we said, Akal Mohan (Kenya)
- The slums of Mbayani, Temwani Mgunda (Malawi)
- The victor’s Psalm, Edmund Elume Nanne (Cameroon)
- To etch light on a soul, Joshua Effiong (Nigeria)
- Waiting, Isabel Nowemigisha (Uganda)
Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature
- Beans Can’t be vegetables, Ogbu Eme (Nigeria)
- Grandma’s Needlework, Joshua Robertson (Ghana)
- Siki and the Bicycle, Blessing Amatemeso (Nigeria)
- The Masterpiece, Ogieriakhi Joseph Osariemen (Nigeria)
- We can learn many things, Bardi Osobuanomola Catherine (Nigeria)
African Writers Teens Awards
Short Stories
- Beautiful Zawadi, Destine Barasa (Kenya)
- Mr Bean, Kosiso Chikezie (Nigeria)
- My Adventure, Ngu Cindy Azah (Cameroon)
- My Juicy Life, Testimony Odey (Nigeria)
- The Boy with his Eyes, Kanyamanza Esther (Rwanda)
Poetry
- At the Age of 10, Ilakiza Jackson (Tanzania)
- In Shaa Allah, Fadairo Nabeelah (Nigeria)
- It gets Lonely, Nifemi Emmanuel (Nigeria)
- The River’s Ordeals, Fadairo Tesleem (Nigeria) Wings by Priscilla Arthur (Ghana)
- Wings, Priscilla Arthur (Ghana)
The winners are to be made public at the African Writers Conference in Cameroon.
