John, Folarin, others, in Zambia for Caine Prize Workshop

Two Nigerians, Elnathan John, Tope Folarin, are among writers from 12 African countriesa converging in Zambia for the Caine Prize Workshop. John was shortlisted in 2013 and 2015 for the Caine Prize and Folarin was winner in 2013. They are to spend 13 days to write, read and discuss work in progress and to learn […]

Two Nigerians, Elnathan John, Tope Folarin, are among writers from 12 African countriesa converging in Zambia for the Caine Prize Workshop. John was shortlisted in 2013 and 2015 for the Caine Prize and Folarin was winner in 2013. They are to spend 13 days to write, read and discuss work in progress and to learn from award-winning author Jamal Mahjoub, the writer also known as Parker Bilal, and Ellah Wakatama Allfrey OBE, Caine Prize Deputy Chairperson, literary critic, editor and broadcaster.
Other participants include 2015 Caine Prize winner Namwali Serpell from Zambia, 2011 winner NoViolet Bulawayo from Zimbabwe, Zambia’s Chilufya Chilangwa and Bwanga Kapumpa , 2012 and 2014 shortlistee Billy Kahora, Kenya; 2015 shortlistee Masande Ntshanga, South Africa; Timwa Lipenga, Malawi; and 2014 winner Okwiri Oduor from Kenya.
Mahjoub, who along with Ellah Allfrey will facilitate the workshop this year, said: “The annual workshop allows writers a unique chance to develop their work and to see themselves as part of a literary community. It is always exciting to meet new writers and to help them realise their potential. The workshop is, in my view, one of the most important aspects of the Caine Prize.”
During the workshop, the writers will be expected to write a short story for the 2016 Caine Prize anthology, which will be published in the UK by New Internationalist in the summer, and subsequently by a network of co-publishers. Alongside Interlink in the USA, eight African publishers receive a print-ready PDF to print in their country, they include: Jacana Media (South Africa), Lantern Books (Nigeria), Kwani? (Kenya), Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana), FEMRITE (Uganda), Gadsden Publishers (Zambia), amaBooks (Zimbabwe) and Langaa (Cameroon).
The workshop will incorporate a visit to local schools and a public event.