Longlist – 2021 African Writers Awards (AWA) and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature

UPDATE – CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SHORTLIST

I would like to announce, on behalf of the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), Writers Space Africa Foundation, and Writers Space Africa – Tanzania (WSA-Tz), the longlist for both the 2021 African Writers Awards (AWA) and the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature. We received a lot more entries in all genres compared to last year. All entries had in their own way, an emblem of richness and morale. Several blended idealism with realism. Some conveyed creatively the bridge between the past and the future, while others dwelled only in the future. In all, every piece carried with it a spark of excellence, creativity, and awe.

As is our tradition, all entries for the AWA were judged anonymously. Special thanks go to the panel of judges; Nahida Esmail (Tanzania), Gankhanani Moffat Moyo (Zambia), Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Nabilah Usman (Nigeria), Comfort Nyati, SDB (Zimbabwe), Temani Nkalolang (Botswana), Halieo Motanyane (Lesotho) and Namse Udosen (Nigeria).

We are pleased to present the longlist in alphabetical order:

African Writers Awards

Creative Non-Fiction

1. A Future Created by Africa for Africa by Ifem Chiemerie Bonaventure (Nigeria)
2. Adetutu by Adedoyin Adetutu (Nigeria)
3. Cultural Partnership for a Common African Future by Saliha Haddad (Algeria)
4. Is This Legacy by Oluchi B. Kolanisi (South Africa)
5. Long Live the Comrade by Peter Zowa (Zimbabwe)
6. Olugbon Lodge by Aanuoluwapo John Adesina (Nigeria)
7. The Capital of God’s Own State by Blessing O. Nwodo (Nigeria)
8. The Future Is Us by Oreoluwa Elujulo (Nigeria)
9. The Future of Africa by Jenrola David Anuoluwapo (Nigeria)
10. The Journey by Amatemeso Blessing Emmanuel (Nigeria)
11. The Shifting Horizon by Mukalo Lungile Musaluke (Zambia)
12. Today Can Be a Clean-up or Handover by Favour Iruoma Chukwuemeka (Nigeria)
13. What Makes Us African by Lee Ann Visagie (South Africa)
14. What Our Tales Entail by Jesse Bitrus Danjuma (Nigeria)
15. Whispers of the African Sun by Enoch Akinlabi (Nigeria)

Drama

1. A Country Called Africa by Dancan Ouma Obuya (Kenya)
2. Eating With Chopsticks by Gordon, B. Aywa Anjili (Kenya)
3. Fostered from a Thought by Irene Melissa Ojoro (Kenya)
4. Khandasi by Elizabeth Nafula  (Kenya)
5. Right in the Middle by Akinkunle Johnson (Nigeria)
6. Stones on this Side by Chibuenyim Babalola (Nigeria)
7. The Dark Snake by Jonas Zaithwa Chisi (Malawi)
8. The Seventh Child by Omotayo Olaoye (Nigeria)
9. The Twist by Bernard Diesuk Lucas (Nigeria)
10. Zige by Ebinabo Fortune Robert (Nigeria)

Poetry

1. A Bright Morrow Looms by C. M. Okonkwo (Nigeria)
2. All You See, All You Don’t See Poem by Joseph Olamide Babalola (Nigeria)
3. In the grave of the brave by Clara Wanjira Kariuki (Kenya)
4. Mother Africa is like a Highway in a Metropolitan City by Basethile Ngcubo (South Africa)
5. No Other Miracle by Abigail-Tydale Bassey (Nigeria)
6. Ode To Our Birth by Esther Diepiriye (Nigeria)
7. On The Mountain Top by Faniyi Oluwatomiwa Elijah (Nigeria)
8. Pen Pain African by Mthobisi M. Ntjangase (Eswatini)
9. Tell The Child by Orji Peter Oluebube (Nigeria)
10. The Dining Table by Overcomer Ibiaduradara Ibiteye (Nigeria)
11. The Doomed House by Jamin Clement Manyasa (Kenya)
12. Not in the Tears of Yesteryear by Raphael Edookue Bariweremeloo (Nigeria)
13. The Stump Shall Grow Again by Olusola Adeboye (Nigeria)
14. Today, A Star Radiates Hope by Oduogu Victor Nkwachukwu (Nigeria)
15. Ubuntu by Ejang Patricia Peace (Uganda)

Wakini Kuria Award for Children’s Literature

1. Akaa and the Mango Tree by Chipalo Salimu (Zambia)
2. Ali and his Sidekicks by Olakunbi Olatunde (Nigeria)
3. Baba’s Secret by Oluwaseyi Adebola (Nigeria)
4. Gold Material by Nyasili Atetwe (Kenya)
5. How the Ostrich Became a Bird by Charity Modise (Botswana)
6. Ireoluwa’s Thunderstones by Aanuoluwapo Adesina (Nigeria)
7. Kodjo Braves a Hi by Temidayo Odutokun (Nigeria)
8. Tea time with Tito by Stephanie Chizoba Odili (Nigeria)
9. The Enchanted Pen by Nathaniel Z Mpofu (Zimbabwe)
10. The Millionaire Orphan by Makhago Peter (Uganda)
11. The Well of a Dog Owner by Halima Adam (Tanzania)
12. The Wisdom Gourd by Ishola Oyinkansola Hubaidat (Nigeria)
13. Tortoise and the Elephant by Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto (Nigeria)
14. What Does it mean to be Kind Anyway by Kendi Karimi (Kenya)
15. What Happened on Thursday by Ayo Oyeku (Nigeria)

Please note that the shortlist will be released on the 1st of September, 2021 while the winners will be announced during the 4^th African Writers Conference (AWC) on the 9^th of October in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The AWC is supported by the Department of Literature in the University of Dar, Alliance Française of Dar Es Salaam, Feza Schools, Africa in Dialogue, Brittle Paper, Southern Writers Bureau – SWB, Rosebud Editing & Proofreading, Self-Ish, Writers Guild Kenya (WGK), Kalulu Kreativez, The Roaring Writer, Colour Culture Arts, Authorship and Career Network, Nib Hub, SOTRANE Publishers, 23.35 Africa, African Tales and the International African Writers Association (IAWA).

Anthony Onugba,
Chief Judge,
2021 African Writers Awards