Canongate scoops Chikwava's 'exuberant, thought-provoking' second novel

Canongate has scooped Shamiso, an "exuberant, thought-provoking and anticipated" second novel from Caine Prize winner Brian Chikwava, the author of Harare North (Vintage).

Editor-at-large Ellah Wakatama acquired world rights excluding Africa from Emma Shercliff at Laxfield Literary Associates and the book will be published in January 2025.

The book’s synopsis says: "Shamiso, Zimbabwean girl, meets George/Georgie, a gender-fluid Afro-Brit boy. They can’t stand each other at first but eventually fall hopelessly in love, before being traumatised into separate paths by their mutual prejudices.

"Stylistically innovative and effortlessly entertaining, Chikwava weaves a story which is both whimsical and compelling, complex yet accessible. At its heart, this is the story of a relationship, the making of self and of family."

Chikwava, who was also longlisted for the 2010 Orwell Prize for political writing, commented: “I’m very thrilled to be reunited with Ellah and for this little book to find a new home at Canongate. It takes a leap of faith to have faith in a piece of work that doesn’t follow the usual thoroughfares of fiction, and I’m grateful to Canongate and my agent Emma for that.”

Wakatama added: “Commissioning Harare North was an early career highlight for me. Brian Chikwava is the author of my dreams – utterly original in his prose, wickedly incisive and mischievous in equal measure and entirely serious in his exploration of the perils and possibilities of diaspora. I am delighted to be reunited with Brian with this bold and necessary new book.”