The shortlists for the Jhalak Prize 2022 in the adult as well as the Children and YA (Young Adult) categories were announced today, April 19, 2022. These are the writers of African descent who made the lists.
The Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year by a Writer of Colour is an annual literary prize awarded to British or British-resident BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) writers. The Jhalak Prize was created by writers Sunny Singh and Nikesh Shukla as well as Media Diversified in 2016. Previous winners have been Jacob Ross, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Guy Gunaratne, Johny Pitts, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, and Patrice Lawrence.
The organisers of the prize announced the longlist of books in the running in the two categories on March 15 before today’s shortlist revelation. The following writers of African descent made the cut;
Adult
Judging panel: award-winning author Mary Jean Chan (chair); writer, poet, and essayist Chimene Suleyman; novelist, editor, and publisher of the online literary journal, The Colverstone Review Stephen Thompson. The shortlistees;
- Things I Have Withheld, Kei Miller (Canongate Books)
Children’s and Young Adult (YA)
Judging panel: award-winning children’s and YA author Sufiya Ahmed (Chair); producer, editor and writer, poet, broadcaster, and novelist Nii Ayikwei Parkes; award-winning writer Patrice Lawrence. The shortlistees;
- Ace of Spades, Faridah Àbíkí-Íyímídé (Usborne)
- We’re Going to Find the Monster, Malorie Blackman & Dapo Adeola (Puffin)
- The Musical Truth: A Musical History of Modern Black Britain in 28 Songs, Jeffrey Boakye, illustrated Ngadi Smart, (Faber & Faber)
The winners in the two categories will be revealed on May 26.
