Nigerians lead 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing shortlist

Samuel Kolawole, Pemi Aguda, and Uche Okonkwo are the three Nigerians shortlisted for the 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing.

The Caine Prize is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English Language.

Five exceptional stories with different perspectives and narrative styles have been shortlisted for this year’s edition.

The shortlisted stories explore a wide range of themes, from identity and migration to love and loss.

Kolawole was shortlisted for his work in ‘Adjustment of Status‘, Aguda for ‘Breastmilk’, and Okonkwo for her writing in ‘Animals’.

Other shortlisted writers are Ghana’s Tryphena Yeboah for ‘The Dishwashing Women’ and South Africa’s Nadia Davids for ‘Bridling’.

Samuel Kolawole (Nigeria)

Kolawole is a graduate of the MFA in Writing and Publishing at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He earned his PhD in English and Creative Writing from Georgia State University.

He has taught creative writing in Africa, Sweden, and the United States, and currently teaches fiction writing as an assistant professor of English and African Studies at Pennsylvania State University.

Pemi Aguda (Nigeria) 

Aguda is an MFA graduate from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan and the winner of the 2020 Deborah Rogers Foundation Award.

Her work has been published in several publications. The author was also awarded the O. Henry Prize for short fiction in 2022 and 2023.

Uche Okonkwo (Nigeria)

Okonkwo is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a recipient of the George Bennett Fellowship at Phillips Exeter Academy, a Steinbeck Fellowship, and an Elizabeth George Foundation grant.

She is the author of the story collections ‘A Kind of Madness: Tin House’; ‘Narrative Landscape’; and VERVE Books. Okonkwo’s works have been published in several prestigious literary journals.

⭐️ Presenting our 2024 Shortlist ⭐️

For more, visit: https://t.co/UarD3g5Aoq#CainePrize #2024Shortlist pic.twitter.com/qytwJ7nNhS

— The Caine Prize for African Writing (@CainePrize) July 31, 2024

Speaking about this year’s selection, Chika Unigwe, chairperson of the judging panel, said the 2024 shortlist “represents the vibrancy and diversity of African literature today”.

“Each story offers a unique perspective on the human experience, tackling themes from identity and migration to love and loss with remarkable skill and sensitivity,” Unigwe said.

“We are thrilled to showcase these talented writers and their compelling narratives.”

The winner of the 2024 Caine Prize will be announced at an award ceremony scheduled for September 17.