Deadline: January 31, 2020
Applications are invited for the Caine Prize for African Writing 2020. 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.
In addition to administering the Prize, they work to connect readers with African writers through a series of public events, as well as helping emerging writers in Africa to enter the world of mainstream publishing through the annual Caine Prize writers’ workshop which takes place in a different African country each year.
Prizes
- Winning and shortlisted authors will be invited to participate in writers’ workshops in Africa, London and elsewhere as resources permit;
- There is a cash prize of £10,000 for the winning author and a travel award for each of the shortlisted candidates (up to five in all). The shortlisted candidates will also receive a Prize of £500;
- The winner is also invited to go to three literature festivals in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.
Eligibility
- Open to African writers
- Every work entered must have been published. Unpublished work is not eligible for the Caine Prize
- Submissions should be made by publishers only
- Only fictional work is eligible
- Only one story per author will be considered in any one year
- Submissions should specify which African country the author comes from and the word count
- They require 6 copies of the work in its originally published version
- If the work is published in a book or journal, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book / journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology we would like if possible to receive six copies of the book / journal itself
- If the work is published online, they would like to receive six photocopies
- Works not eligible for entry include stories for children, factual writing, plays, biography, works shorter than 3000 words and unpublished work.
Application
There is no application form. To apply please send six original published copies of the work for consideration to the Caine Prize office including a letter from the publisher.
If the work is published in a book or journal, they would like to receive at least one copy of the book/journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology they would like if possible to receive six copies of the book/journal itself. If published in a magazine or journal they will accept one original copy plus five photocopies, but would prefer six original copies. If the work is published online, they would like to receive six printed copies.
Address and post the eligible submission to:
The Caine Prize for African Writing
51 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RU
For more information, visit Caine Prize.
