Two Nigerians, others shortlisted for Caine Literary Prize; winner to emerge tonight

Two Nigerians, Lesley Nneka Arimah and Tope Folarin have been shortlisted for the 2016 Caine Prize for literature alongside other Africans.

The others include Abdul Adan ( Somalia / Kenya ), Bongani Kona ( Zimbabwe ) and Lidudumalingani (South Africa).

The prize is one of Africa’s most respected literary competitions. The winner of the prize will be announced tonight.

Ms. Arimah made the shortlist for her work ‘What it Means When a Man Falls From the Sky’ published in Catapult (Catapult, USA, 2015). The Minneapolis-based writer’s work has featured in The New Yorker, Harper’s and other publications.

Mr. Folarin was shortlisted for his work ‘Genesis’ published in Callaloo — ohns Hopkins University Press, USA, 2014. He won the 2013 edition of the Prize and in 2014, was named in the Africa39 list of the most promising African writers under 39.

His work has also been published in various anthologies and journals. He lives in Washington DC.

Mr. Adan’s ‘The Lifebloom Gift’ got him on the list. His work was published in The Gonjon Pin and Other Stories: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2014 (New Internationalist, United Kingdom, 2014).

Like his Nigerian counterparts, his work has appeared in African magazines Kwani, Jungle Jim, Gambit, Okike, Storytime, SCARF and elsewhere. He was a participant in the 2014 Caine Prize workshop in Zimbabwe, and is a founding member of the Jalada collective.

Mr. Kona was shortlisted for his work: ‘At your Requiem’ published in Incredible Journey: Stories That Move You’ (Burnet Media, South Africa, 2015). A freelance writer and contributing editor of Chimurenga, his writing has appeared in Mail & Guardian, Rolling Stone (South Africa), Sunday Times and other publications and websites. He is equally a Masters degree student in the Creative Writing department at the University of Cape Town.

Lidudumalingani made the list for the piece: ‘Memories we Lost’ published in Incredible Journey: Stories That Move You (Burnet Media, South Africa, 2015).

Lidudumalingani, a writer, filmmaker and photographer was born in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, in a village called Zikhovane. He has published short stories, non-fiction and criticism in various publications. His films have been screened at various film festivals.

The Caine Prize for African Writing is a literature prize awarded to an African writer of a short story published in English.

The prize was launched in 2000 to encourage and highlight the richness and diversity of African writing by bringing it to a wider audience internationally.

The focus on the short story reflects the contemporary development of the African story-telling tradition.

SOURCE: The Caine Prize Website