The prestigious AKO Caine Prize for African Writing has officially opened submissions for the 2024 edition. The renowned literary award, organised by the registered charity, aims to showcase and celebrate African writing, fostering a broader audience for the continent’s literary talents.
The prize not only administers a substantial £10,000 cash reward for the winner but also recognises the accomplishments of four shortlisted writers with a £500 cash prize each. The shortlisted writers will have the opportunity to participate in a series of public events in London, further connecting readers with African writers.
To be eligible for consideration, submitted stories must have been published between April 1, 2019, and March 25, 2024, and fall within the word count range of 3,000 to 10,000 words. The entry process is exclusive to publishers, encompassing those of physical and digital books, literary journals, magazines and arts-oriented websites.
2023 Shortlisted Writers: (From left) Yvonne Kusiima (Uganda), Tlotlo Tsamaase (Botswana), Mame Bougouma Diene & Woppa Diallo (Senegal), Yejide Kilanko (Nigeria), Ekemini Pius (Nigeria)Photo: caineprize.com
Writers, aged 18 or older, can only be submitted by publishers and self-published or unpublished short stories are not eligible. The competition encourages multiple submissions from publishers, provided they do not submit more than one story by the same author.
Genres ineligible for entry include novels, children’s stories, factual writing, academic essays, plays, poetry, autobiography/biography, and any non-fictional work. Publishers are required to specify the author’s nationality and the word count of each submitted story in the entry.
Submissions must be made via email to submissions@caineprize.com, either as a PDF attachment or through a link if the story is published online. Publishers are required to include a ‘publisher’s letter’ with each submission, providing essential details such as the writer’s name, story title, word count, writer’s nationality, and the publication date.
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2024 and interested parties are urged to include “The Caine Prize for African Writing Entry for 2024” in the subject line of their email.
The Caine Prize for African Writing goes beyond a mere award; it actively engages in supporting emerging writers across the continent. Through workshops held annually in different African countries, the prize helps writers enter the mainstream publishing world. The stories crafted during these workshops, alongside the shortlisted works, are compiled in the annual Caine Prize Anthology by Cassava Republic Press in the UK and various publishers in African countries.
