The Caine Prize for African Writing has concluded its landmark 25th-anniversary celebrations in Zimbabwe, centring on NoViolet Bulawayo’s historic Best of Caine award win, per afrocritik.com.
The three-day programme, held across Harare and Bulawayo, served as a homecoming for the acclaimed author. Her 2011 winning story, “Hitting Budapest,” was selected last year as the most outstanding piece in the Prize’s quarter-century history. Under the leadership of Chair Ellah Wakatama OBE FRSL, the events reflected on the Prize’s legacy of platforming African voices globally.
A Literary Homecoming
The festivities commenced in Bulawayo at the Mayor’s Parlour, where Bulawayo and Wakatama were received by Mayor Senator David Coltart. This was followed by a public reading at Mzilikazi Library, where the author was presented with a commemorative photographic work by local artist Elliot Moyo.
In Harare, the celebrations continued with a reception featuring a live performance by singer-songwriter Raven Duchess. Reading from “Hitting Budapest,” Bulawayo discussed the “universal humanity” that anchors her work and the necessity of Zimbabwean stories reaching international audiences across various media.
The anniversary concluded with an intimate writers’ workshop at the Friendship Bench Hub in Harare. Hosted by Wakatama, Bulawayo and author Petina Gappah, the session provided practical guidance on craft and publication pathways for emerging Zimbabwean writers.
Wakatama emphasised that the Prize’s mission extends beyond mere recognition.
“Our responsibility is to actively invest in the development and visibility of African writers,” she noted, highlighting the Prize’s sustained commitment to the continent’s literary ecosystem.
The programme was supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Meikles Foundation, marking a significant convergence of the Prize’s storied past and its future ambitions.
