It is with great pleasure that we announce the shortlist for the 2024 African Writers Awards. This comprises of the African Teen Writers Awards for poetry and prose, the African Writers Awards (Short Stories), the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature, and the Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry. This shortlist is presented in alphabetical order:

The 3^rd African Teen Writers Awards (Poetry) – The judges for both the Poetry and Prose are: Corona Cermak (Tanzania), Patricia Peace Ejang (Uganda), Tamunomieibi Enoch (Nigeria) and Adedokun Ibrahim Anwar (Nigeria).

1. A Prayer to the Unknown by Azizah Bello (Nigeria)
2. A Right to Peace by Cynthia Maduekwe (Nigeria)
3. A Right to Peace by Saron Redietu (Ethiopia)
4. A Right to Peace: The Desperate Wails of the Forgotten by Fatihah Ogbara (Nigeria)
5. Craving by Emmanuel Koori (Nigeria)
6. Does God Still Loves Me by Ebeneza Vuganzi (Kenya)
7. If Peace Was by Joanne Glorie Godfrey (Tanzania)
8. Right to Peace by Adrian Nyarko-Boateng (Ghana)
9. Should Not All Have Peace by Waris Ntow (Ghana)
10. The Gift Of Peace by Semira Ahmed (Ethiopia)

The 3^rd African Teen Writers Awards (Prose)

1. Five Things Mother Did Not Prepare Me For by Sumaiyah Muhammad (Nigeria)
2. The Gentlest Revolution by Tobiloba Ibitoye (Nigeria)
3. The Old Rag My Mother Squeezed by Fatima Zahara Abdulwahab (Nigeria)
4. The Peace Keeper Journey by Francis Zenom Sati (Nigeria)
5. Three Days Inside Loma Mountain by Hanafi Fathia (Nigeria)
6. Your love unfurled the wrong way by Fortune Eleojo Simeon (Nigeria)

The 7th African Writers Awards for Short Stories – The judges are Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Patrick Nzabonimpa (Rwanda), and Verah Omwocha (Kenya).

1. Blue Revenge by Raj Bijloll (Mauritius)
2. Hushed Stars by John Ebute (Nigeria)
3. Kindred Spirits by Winnie Wekesa (Kenya)
4. Munyentwali by Tammy Quakers (Nigeria)
5. Once Upon a Sad Beginning by Victor Nwachukwu (Nigeria)
6. Once upon a time in Rwanda by Ceelala Lalasi (Philip Arko Ewusi) (Nigeria)
7. The Disgruntled Alumnus by Lino Arop (South Sudan)
8. The Rest is History by Celestine Seyon (Nigeria)
9. The Sacred Beauty by Jared Nyabaro (Kenya)
10. When Love Exits by Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare (Ghana)

The 6th Edition of the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature – The Judges are: Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho), and Namse Udosen (Nigeria).

1. A Close Call – Honored by Absentia by Grace Thuo (Kenya)
2. A Tale of 2 Guardians by Thandiwe Chibale (Zambia)
3. Bee: One Another’s Keeper by Cynthia Anjie Nkweti (Cameroon)
4. Food Fights Not So Far Away by Thandazile Mpofu (Zimbabwe)
5. Nandera the Brave – A Tale of Triumph by Laura Petite (Tanzania)
6. Tapo the Duck by John Karanja (Kenya)
7. The Acorn and the Oak by Samuel Admassu (Ethiopia)
8. The Magical Forest Adventure by Amanuel Abebaw (Ethiopia)
9. Who Stole the King’s Beard? By Rudo Mungoshi (Zimbabwe)

The 1^st Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry – The Judges are: Funminiyi Akinrinade (Nigeria), Autricia Njang (Cameroon), Joy Rita (Kenya), Chipo Chama (Zambia), Patricia P. Ejang (Uganda), and Chidiebere Udeokechukwu (Nigeria)

1. ⁠Alhamdulillahi by Azeez Odunjo (Nigeria)
2. ⁠At Vlekete Market by Eniola Abdulroqueeb Arowolo (Nigeria)
3. ⁠For Sale, African Drums Designed by Robots by Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana)
4. ⁠Gods at the Descent of Spirit by Aderanti Adesoyin (Nigeria)
5. ⁠Home by Michael Agunbiade (Nigeria)
6. ⁠In A Cafeteria, A Cyborg Teaches Me Self-Love by Saheed Sunday (Nigeria)
7. ⁠Let the World Pause a Little by Echezonachi-Maxwell Daniel (Nigeria)
8. ⁠The Haunting by Adedolapo Grillo (Nigeria)
9. ⁠These Poems I Write Now by Mk Kuol (South Sudan)
10. Why Pumpkin Leaves are my Favourite Mboga by Immaculate Halla (Tanzania)

We want to extend our gratitude to the esteemed panel of judges who dedicated their time to evaluating all the submissions. Additionally, we invite you to stay tuned for the announcement of the winners. This will take place at the 2024 African Writers Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, holding from 22^nd to 27^th October 2024.

Warm regards,

Anthony ‘PenBoss’ Onugba,
Chief Judge,
African Writers Awards

Click to read the announcement of the 2024 African Writers Awards
Click to read the winning entries from the 2023 African Writers Awards