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Winners and Shortlist

Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa 2007/8

WINNERS

We are delighted to announce the Winners of the fourth biennial Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa. We congratulate the winners below and look forward to launching their published stories later this year.

Senior Category Award (US$ 5,000.00):
A teenage story for young people between 13 and 17 
E Eights
by Jayne Bauling (South Africa)

Junior Category Award (US$5,000.00):
A story for children between 8 and 12 years
Long Juju Man
by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (Nigeria)

New Children’s Writer Award (US$3,000.00):
A story in either Category by a previously unpublished writer
Kwansa and the Bandit Crabs
by Ekow Kwegyir Bentum (Ghana)

There was an enthusiastic response to this latest competition with approximately 400 entries from sixteen countries across the continent, around 50 percent of which were from previously unpublished writers.

This year’s panel of judges,  comprising  the acclaimed writers Meshack Asare, Jack Mapanje, Helen Oyeyemi and Chair Jamila Gavin commented:

“It was a great pleasure and privilege to read such a creative diversity of stories – the competition this year, especially within the shortlisted entries, was extremely tough, and gave rise to considerable debate between us. We congratulate the winners on their original and imaginative writing, and we acknowledge the contribution of all those who distinguished themselves in this competition.”


SHORTLIST

We are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2007 Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa:

JUNIOR

Long Juju Man 
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (Nigeria)

Mmele and the Magic Bones
Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana)

Kwansa and the Bandit Crabs*
Ekow Kwegyir Bentum (Ghana)

In Black and White*
Edith Kunihira (Uganda)


 SENIOR

Monday evening,  Thursday afternoon
Jenny Robson (South Africa)

E Eights
Jayne Bauling (South Africa)

A Walk among Strangers*
 Hanif Mohammed Nigeria

Hotwire
Jay Heale (South Africa)

*eligible for new Writer Award

A comment from the judges: 
"We saw some really outstanding entries, and the range of stories was as varied as ever. Those who didn't quite make it to the shortlist  should also be encouraged, since the purpose of this competition is to foster and develop good writing  for children and young people across the continent, and their work shows talent and potential." 

Jamila Gavin (Chair), Meshack Asare, Helen Oyeyemi,
Jack Mapanje

*********************************

Previous winners and shortlist:

First time writers from Ghana and Nigeria and a midwife from Uganda have triumphed as winners of the 2005/06 Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa.

An independent judging panel, chaired by award-winning children’s author, Meshack Asare, had the difficult task of choosing the three winners.

‘We were all impressed by the high quality of writing shown this year and there was some lively debate between us about a number of very worthwhile entries. Finally though, we reached agreement on the winners, and we congratulate them all. We hope and trust that the Prize will continue to give a real boost to new writing for young people in Africa.’

The Winners are:
JUNIOR AWARD - For an original, unpublished story in English for children between the ages of 8 and 12.
The Saint in Brown Sandals
Elizabeth Irene Baitie (Ghana)


SENIOR AWARD - For an original, unpublished story in English for children between the ages of 13 and 17.
Voice of a Dream
Glaydah Namukasa (Uganda)


NEW CHILDREN’S WRITER AWARD -For an original story in either category by a previously unpublished writer.
The House that Kojo Built
Ngozi Ifeyinwa Razak-Soyebi (Nigeria)

To see the Judges’ comments please visit the Press Office

The official Shortlist was:

JUNIOR AWARD
Taki’s Ship of the Desert
Christian Coetzee (South Africa)

The House that Kojo Built *
Ngozi Ifeyinwa Razak-Soyebi (Nigeria)

The Saint in Brown Sandals *
Elizabeth Irene Baitie (Ghana)

SENIOR AWARD
Pieces of my country *
Nanjala H. Nyabola (Kenya)

The Kidnapping of Dr Kai
Marialena van Tonder (Namibia)

Voice of a Dream
Glaydah Namukasa (Uganda)

* Authors eligible for the most promising New Children’s Writer Award

Manuscripts were evaluated by an independent panel of judges which included prominent children’s writers.


Previous winners of the Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa.