On Saturday, the 26th of October, the winners of the 2024 African Writers Awards (AWA) were announced. The AWA comprises of the African Teen Writers Awards for poetry and prose, African Writers Awards (Short Stories), Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature, and the maiden edition of the Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry. The winners will receive the prize money and certificates. They will also be interviewed in the Writers Space Africa Literary Magazine from the January 2024 edition.
The 3rd African Teen Writers Awards (Poetry) – $100
Right to Peace by Adrian Nyarko-Boateng (Ghana)
The 3rd African Teen Writers Awards (Prose) – $100
Five Things Mother did not Prepare Me For by Sumaiyah Muhammad (Nigeria)
The 7th African Writers Awards for Short Stories – $500
When Love Exits by Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare (Ghana)
The 6th Edition of the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature – $450 in total
A Close Call – Honored by Absentia by Grace Thuo (Kenya) – 1st place, $200
Bee: One Another’s Keeper by Cynthia Anjie Nkweti (Cameroon) – 2nd place, $150
Nandera the Brave – A Tale of Triumph by Laura Pettie (Tanzania) – 3rd place, $100
The 1st Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry – $150 in total
At Vlekete Market by Eniola Abdulroqueeb Arowolo (Nigeria) – 1st place, $100
For Sale, African Drums Designed by Robots by Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana) – 2nd place, $50
We would like to extend my gratitude to the esteemed panel of judges who dedicated their time to evaluate all the submissions. These are Corona Cermak (Tanzania), Patricia Peace Ejang (Uganda), Tamunomieibi Enoch (Nigeria), Adedokun Ibrahim Anwar (Nigeria), Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Patrick Nzabonimpa (Rwanda), Verah Omwocha (Kenya), Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho), Namse Udosen (Nigeria), Funminiyi Akinrinade (Nigeria), Autricia Njang (Cameroon), Joy Rita (Kenya), Chipo Chama (Zambia), Patricia P. Ejang (Uganda), and Chidiebere Udeokechukwu (Nigeria). The call for the 2025 edition of the AWA will be announced in the first quarter of 2025. Congratulations once again to the winners.
Warm regards,
Anthony ‘PenBoss’ Onugba,
Chief Judge,
African Writers Awards
Click to see the shortlist of the 2024 African Writers Awards
Click to read the winning entries from the 2023 African Writers Awards