Only one Nigerian makes Commonwealth Prize shortlist

Jekwu Anyaegbuna’s short story, Morrison Okoli (1955-2010) earned him a place in the shortlist for the short story category alongside 20 other writers. The University of Ilorin trained accountant lives and works in Lagos. Britain and the India dominate the list. Seven writers from the UK and six from India were shortlisted for both the […]

Jekwu Anyaegbuna’s short story, Morrison Okoli (1955-2010) earned him a place in the shortlist for the short story category alongside 20 other writers. The University of Ilorin trained accountant lives and works in Lagos.

Britain and the India dominate the list. Seven writers from the UK and six from India were shortlisted for both the book prize and the short story prize. While South Africa leads the African charge with five nods.

A regional winner for each prize will be awarded in five regions: Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Commenting on the shortlisted entries, chair of the Commonwealth Book Prize, Margaret Busby said, “Being a prize for first novels, the judges were looking for potential and promise from the entries. We certainly found what we were hoping for with some consummately accomplished writing from some very interesting writers. Lively debate amongst the judges raised comments on wonderful language and confident characterisation and often challenged us to overcome our prejudice on what makes a novel.”

Chair of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, Bernardine Evaristo said, “The high quality and variety of international stories on this shortlist is fantastic. To read them is to be immersed in a wide range of cultures and situations, and to be persuaded by superbly-crafted narrative voices, different ways of seeing and being, suspenseful dilemmas and intensely-rendered emotional experiences.