Golden Baobab Prize for literature 2014 longlist out

The longlist for the biggest prize in children literature the Golden Baobab Prize was announced yesterday in Accra Ghana with writers from across the African continent in the running.

The list is full of writers from South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya who are the usual suspects where coverage of African literature is concerned. It looks like the Kenyans will have to represent the East African side of things this time round as there are no Ugandans in the running. Lucky for us as that Jennifer Makumbi was not in the running for the award as she has quickly turned into the Stephen Kiprotich of literature preventing Kenyans winning stuff in their alleged strongholds. Heh.

One of the non usual suspect countries in the list is an entry in the picture book prize category with Egyptian Dina Mousa with her entry The Sunbird and Fatuma. We need more books from other parts of the continent in these prizes.

The full list of those still in the running for the prize include;

Early Chapter Book Prize

Ricky Dankwa Ansong (Ghana) –  Kweku Ananse:The Tale of the Wolf and the Moon

Jayne Bauling (South Africa) – The Saturday Dress

Mamle Wolo (Ghana) – Flying through Water

Mary Okon Ononokpono (Nigeria) – Talulah the Time Traveller

Bontle Senne (South Africa) – The Monster at Midnight

Hillary Molenje Namunyu (Kenya) – Teddy Mapesa and the Missing Cash

Dina Mousa (Egypt) – The Sunbird and Fatuma

Picture Book Prize

Katherine Graham (South Africa) – The Lemon Tree

Aleya Kassam (Kenya) – The Jacaranda Tree

Kwame Aidoo (Ghana) – The Tale of Busy Body Bee

Mandy Collins (South Africa) – There is a Hyena in my Kitchen

Mike Mware (Zimbabwe) – The Big Ball

Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam (Kenya) – Malaika’s Magical Kiosk

Portia Dery (Ghana) – Grandma’s List