Three Nigerian writers make 2018 Caine Prize shortlist

Three Nigerians have been shortlisted for the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing. The shortlist announced today, showcases a diversity of themes and a wealth of literary talent.

The five-writer shortlist was unveiled by this year’s Chair of judges, award-winning Ethiopian-American author, Dinaw Mengestu.

The shortlisted writers for the 2018 Caine Prize are:

Nonyelum Ekwempu (Nigeria) for ‘American Dream’, published in Red Rock Review (2016) and republished in The Anthem(2016).Read ‘American Dream’Stacy Hardy (South Africa) for ‘Involution’, published inMigrations: New Short Fiction from Africa, by New Internationalist (2017).Read ‘Involution’Olufunke Ogundimu (Nigeria) for ‘The Armed Letter Writers’, published in The African Literary Hustle (2017).Read ‘The Armed Letter Writers’Makena Onjerika (Kenya) for ‘Fanta Blackcurrant’, published inWasafiri (2017).Read ‘Fanta Blackcurrant’Wole Talabi (Nigeria) for ‘Wednesday’s Story’, published inLightspeed Magazine (2016).Read ‘Wednesday’s Story’

The winner of the £10,000 prize will be announced at an award ceremony and dinner in the Beveridge Hall at Senate House, SOAS, on Monday 2 July 2018 – in partnership with the Centre for African Studies. Each shortlisted writer will also receive £500.

The shortlisted stories will be published in June in New Internationalist’s 2018 Caine Prize anthology, Redemption Song, and through co-publishers in 16 African countries who receive a print-ready PDF free of charge.