The shortlisted writers are Ruby Excel, Mali Kambandu, and Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza.
By Hope Ibiale
The annual Island Prize organisers have released the writers shortlisted for its 2024 edition. These writers include Ghanaian writer, Ruby Excel, Zambian writer, Mali Kambandu, and Zimbabwean writer, Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza. The writers were shortlisted for their works Lyrics to the Colour Red, When the Shadow Calls, and Freelance, respectively.
The literary prize winner will receive £500, while two runners-up will walk away with £200, and all three manuscripts will be considered for publication and mentorship from the Holland House and The Island Prize judges.
The Island Prize is a literary prize that has been curated with the primary aim of helping African writers break into the UK publishing scene. This prize is open to unpublished debut novelists from all African countries or the diaspora. It was founded in honour of South African author Karen Jennings‘ Booker-longlisted novel, An Island.
This year’s judges include Karen Jennings (author and founder of The Island Prize), Sudanese writer and winner of the Island Prize 2023, Reem Gaafar (author), and Wasafiri’s editor and publishing director, Sana Goyal, Ugandan writer, Hilda J. Twongyeirwe, Hamza Koudri, and Obinna Udenwe.