35 Writers Longlisted For The Inaugural Edition of the K & L Prize For Literature

At long last, the longlist for the K and L prize for short fiction is out. A cash award of $1,000 will be awarded to an African writer whose work shows creativity and talent. The judges will consider short stories between 1,000 and 2,000 words,  about or inspired by a historical event on the continent.

Congratulations to the following authors for making the longlist.

1. 1996 by Zenas Ubere
2. ABACHA FOREVER by Isaac Ayodeji
3. COLOURED TEARS by Blessing Ikang
4. CROSSOVER by Tega Oghenechovwen
5. OŚU by Obioma Obinna Kelechi
6. THE TRAITOR’S HEARING by Daniel Alaka
7. THE MANY-FACED GOD by Melody Anthony
8. WOMEN’S MEETING by Great Opara
9. APARTHEID NOT, A PART HEARD NOT by Timi Bankole Jeremiah
10. THREE BEASTS AND ONE PREY by Anyanwu Mathias
11. I AM NOT EVEN IGBO by Stephanie Chizoba Odili
12. SILENT DESTRUCTION by Mary Udoh
13. WHEN SULLEN FACES GNAW AT YOU by Okechi Okeke
14. OF A LIFETIME by Joseph Olamide Babalola
15. MYSTERY DISEASE OF YAMBUKU by Desmond Efe
16. VIRUS by Anselm Ekenedirichukwu
17. MANSA MUSA AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE by Dennis Mugaa
18. GOLIATH KILLED HIMSELF by Precious Nkem Ogbuenyi
19. SHEHU’S WARDROBE by Ibemere Vivian
20. RIGASA’S MAFRICA by Anthonia Chidimma
21. OGU UMUNWANYI: THE STORY OF NNEDI by Esther Chioma Ezeigbo
22. INCIDENT by Temitayo Jaiyeola
23. THE REAL STORY by Omireh Chiamaka
24. NINETEEN SEVENTY by Ayodeji Falaye
25. WOMEN WHO WENT TO WAR by Frances Ogamba
26. DYING MANY TIMES BEFORE OUR DEATHS by Ekemini Pius
27. TEARS OF THE SUN by Kelechi Obasi
28. IT’S OUR HALOWEEN by Jessica Ojuigo Chinonye
29. LE JOOLA by Rotimi Robert
30. BURYING MEMORIES by Mbanefo Chibuike
31. THE HONEY BEE by Sisca Julius
32. THE SECRET LIVES OF WATER BODIES by Mazpa Ejikem
33. EVIL CHILDREN by Arowolo Ayokanmi Daniel
34. TEARS OF A BIAFRAN CHILD by Chidiebere Enyia G.
35. THE YELLOW SUNSET by Adebimpe Olorunfemi

These intriguing stories will be published in the K and L forthcoming anthology, Histories of Yesterday, edited my Myles Ojabo and Uchechukwu Umezurike. A shortlist is likely to be announced by mid-June, and the winner, in July.

The judges for this year’s competition are Zana Bell and Uchechukwu Umezurike.

Zana Bell grew up in Zimbabwe. She is an award-winning author of six internationally-published novels. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the Auckland University of Technology and teaches at NorthTec.

Uchechukwu Umezurike is a PhD student and a Vanier Scholar at the English and Film Studies department in the University of Alberta. His poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and children’s literature have appeared in print and online anthologies.

The K & L Prize is sponsored by New Zealand-based Nigerian novelist Myles Ojabo.