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AKO Caine Prize for African Writing readies for week showcasing its shortlisted talent
Writers shortlisted for the 2022 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing are gearing up for a host of events organised by the prize to showcase their talent, kicking off on 13th July.
The prize’s self-styled literary week, held in collaboration with SOAS University, the National Centre for Writing, the University of East Anglia, the Africa Centre and the Victoria and Albert Museum, will see the shortlisted authors participate in a number of events leading up to the awards ceremony on 18th July.
The five shortlisted authors are Nigerian writer Joshua Chizoma for Collector of Memories, Nana-Ama Danquah from Ghana for When a Man Loves a Woman, Hannah Giorgis of Ethiopia for A Double-Edged Inheritance, Kenyan writer Idza Luhumyo for Five Years Next Sunday and Billie McTernan for The Labadi Sunshine Bar.
On 13th July, the writers will be in conversation with Dr Ida Hadjivayanis in a virtual event, hosted by SOAS University. It will include readings from the shortlisted stories, as well as insights from the writers into the creative process behind their stories.
The second event of the tour takes place in Norwich at the National Centre for Writing on 14th July and will take the form of a discussion with author Ayobami Adebayo about craft, culture, characterisation and other essential elements of the African short story.
An event follows at the V&A on 15th July at 7pm. Celebrating the AKO Caine Prize award season coinciding with the recently launched Africa Fashion exhibition, the shortlisted writers will engage in a dialogue between fashion and literature with poet and trustee of New Writing North, Naana Orléans-Amissah. The conversation will look back at the past 70 years of Africa’s fashion history and explore the parallels, departures and variety in story-shaping from Africa’s designers and writers.
On 16th July, readers are invited to a book club discussion with the Candid Book Club at the Africa Centre. The Candid Book Club collective will sit down with the writers and readers to unpick the shortlisted stories and illuminate the African short storytelling traditions and genre narratives of today.
The winner of the 23rd AKO Caine Prize for African Writing will be announced in a ceremony at the V&A on 18th July.
