For those looking for powerful African literature, the Caine Prize is the perfect guide.
The Caine Prize for African Literature, now in its 13th year, is awarded annually to a short story published in English by an African writer. A number of writers have gained international recognition as a result of winning, including Helon Habila (Waiting for an Angel, 2004), Leila Aboulela (The Translator, 2006), and Brian Chikwava (Harare North, 2009).
Each year, five stories are shortlisted, and the winning story garners £10,000 (roughly US$15,700). This year’s winner, Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria), wrote about the life and times of a Nigerian soldier who fought in Burma in “Bombay’s Republic.”
Others on the short list include “Urban Zoning,” by Billy Kahora (Kenya); “Love on Trial,” by Stanley Kenani (Malawi); “La Salle de Departe,” by Melissa Tandiwe Myambo (Zimbabwe); and “Emmanuel Hunter,” by Constance Myburgh (South Africa).
These authors, as well as five others handpicked by the judges, were invited to the annual Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop. The resulting anthology, African Violet, showcases the five shortlisted stories as well as others created by workshop participants. Copies of African Violet can be ordered online.
Interested in more? Here’s a short roundup of books by former Caine Prize winners:
Lyrics Alley
Lyrics Alley (Grove Press), by Leila Aboulela (2000 winner): Set in 1950s Sudan, Lyrics Alley tells the story of the Abuzeid family: Mahmoud, the patriarch; Mahmoud’s two wives, locked in their rivalry; and Mahmoud’s son, destined to take over the family business until his accident. Aboulela provides an engaging exploration of the tensions between tradition and modernity during Sudan’s transition from British rule to independence.
One Day I Will Write About This Place
One Day I Will Write About This Place (Graywolf), by Binyavanga Wainaina (2002 winner): In this memoir, Wainaina stays true to his 2005 article “How to Write About Africa” by giving an honest representation of the continent through the “places” he has been: Kenya, his country; Uganda, where his mother was born; and South Africa, where he attended university. In this engaging memoir about Wainaina’s schooling, sibling rivalry and politics, we see his Africa.
Voice of America
Voice of America (Granta), by E. C. Osondu (2009 Winner): Set in both Nigeria and the United States, Voice of America is Osondu’s debut collection of 18 short stories (including “Waiting,” which won the Caine Prize). The stories of children in refugee camps, of the immigrant experience in America and of street life in Lagos show the happiness and sorrow that people face.
