The Caine Prize for African Writing
<p>Since its inception in 2000, <strong><a href="http://www.caineprize.com/" target="_blank">The Caine Prize for African Writing</a> </strong>has been instrumental in ushering into the literary world emerging new voices from the continent. Nicknamed the ‘African Booker’, the £10,000 prize recognises excellence in short story writing. Previous recipients of the prestigious award include such luminaries as Sudan’s <strong>Leila Aboulela</strong> (2000) and Kenyan <strong>Binyavanga Wainaina</strong> (2002).</p><p>This year’s shortlist, announced in May, has been drawn up from 122 entries from 14 African countries. <strong>Bernardine Evaristo</strong>, the chair of the judging panel, described the five shortlisted stories as "truly diverse fiction from a truly diverse continent.” He added:</p><p></p><blockquote>“This shortlist shows the range of African fiction beyond the more stereotypical narratives. These stories have an originality and facility with language that made them stand out. We’ve chosen a bravely provocative homosexual story set in Malawi; a Nigerian soldier fighting in the Burma Campaign of WW2; a hardboiled noir tale involving a disembodied leg; a drunk young Kenyan who outwits his irate employers; and the tension between Senegalese siblings over migration and family responsibility.”</blockquote><p>Read the 2012 shorlisted stories: <strong>Rotimi Babatunde</strong>'s <a href="http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2012_Babatunde.pdf" target="_blank">"Bombay Republic,"</a> <strong>Billy Kahora</strong>'s <a href="http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2012_Kahora.pdf" target="_blank">"Urban Zoning,"</a> <strong>Stanley Kenani</strong>'s <a href="http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2012_Kenani.pdf" target="_blank">"Love On Trial,"</a> <strong>Melissa Tandiwe Myambo</strong>'s <a href="http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2012_Myambo.pdf" target="_blank">"La Salle de Départ,"</a> and <strong>Constance Myburgh</strong>'s <a href="http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2012_Myburgh.pdf" target="_blank">"Hunter Emmanuel."</a> The winner will be announced on the 2<sup>nd</sup> of July.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p>
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