caineprize

The Caine Prize for African Writing is a literature prize awarded to an African writer of a short story published in English. The prize was launched in 2000 to encourage and highlight the richness and diversity of African writing by bringing it to a wider audience internationally. The focus on the short story reflects the contemporary development of the African story-telling tradition.’

Eligibility

• Unpublished work is not eligible for the Caine Prize.
• Submissions should be made by publishers only.
• Only fictional work is eligible.
• Only one story per author will be considered in any one year.
• Submissions should specify which African country the author comes from and the word count.
• We require 6 copies of the work in its originally published version.
• If the work is published in a book or journal, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book / journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology we would like if possible to receive six copies of the book / journal itself.
• If the work is published online, we would like to receive six photocopies.

Benefits:

• Winning and short-listed authors will be invited to participate in writers’ workshops in Africa, London and elsewhere as resources permit.
• There is a cash prize of £10,000 for the winning author and a travel award for each of the short-listed candidates (up to five in all)
• . The shortlisted candidates will also receive a Prize of £500.
• The winner is also invited to go to three literature festivals in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

How to Apply:

There is no application form. To apply please send six original published copies of the work for consideration to the Caine Prize office including a letter from the publisher.

• If the work is published in a book or journal, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book / journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology we would like if possible to receive six copies of the book / journal itself.
• If published in a magazine or journal we will accept one original copy plus five photocopies, but would prefer six original copies.
• If the work is published online, we would like to receive six printed copies.
• Address and post the eligible submission to:

The Caine Prize for African Writing
51 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RU