Two Kenyan authors up for Kwani award

By MUTHINI STEPHEN smuthini@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, June 21   2013 at  16:28

Two Kenyan Writers have been short-listed for the Kwani Manuscript Prize 2013.

Stanley Gazemba and Timothy Kiprop Kimutai have been selected out of 30 African writers based in different parts of the world.

Their manuscripts Ghetto boy and The Water Spirits were part of 280 qualifying submissions from several African countries.

Wide range of style

"The judges of the Kwani? Manuscript prizes 2013 have carefully worked through a long list of 30. These showed a wide range of style, subjects and regional concerns.

"The judges were primarily looking for works that show promise in terms of the writing itself as well as the breadth and depth of vision brought to bear by the authors.

"The final shortlist of seven entries reflects the overall consensus of the judges and summarizes their individual interests," chairman of Judges Jamal Mahjoub said.

Kwani Manuscript project is a new literally prize for unpublished fiction from African writers. The top three manuscripts will be announced on Monday July 1 and will be awarded Sh525,000 ($6000).

Publish manuscripts

In addition, Kwani Trust plans to publish three to five of the shortlisted manuscripts by April 2014.

“In reviewing the shortlisted stories, I’m blown away by the potential these manuscripts hold, the different styles, concerns and voices that they bring to new contemporary African literature, and further add to Kwani’s fiction list.

We can’t wait to bring them out as novels in the region and partner with publishing houses across the continent to make them available across Africa,” Kwani Trust Managing Editor Billy Kahora said.

Other short-listed candidates include Ayobami Adebayo(Nigeria), Ayesha Harruma (Ghana/US),Toni Kan (Nigeria), Jennifer Nansubuga (Uganda/UK) and Saah Milimono (Liberia).

Launched in 2012

Judges include Ellah Wakatama Allfrey (Granta magazine), Prof Simon Gikandi (African scholar), Dr Mbugua wa Mungai (Kenyatta University), Irene Staunton (Zimbabwe Weaver Press) and Helon Habila (Nigerian writer).

The Kwani? Manuscript Project was launched in April 2012 and called for the submission of unpublished novel manuscripts from African writers across the continent and in the diaspora.