Afritondo has officially unveiled the longlist for the 2026 Afritondo Short Story Prize. This year’s theme, ‘Transition,’ sparked an extraordinary global response, drawing over 760 submissions from writers across more than 40 countries.
Following a rigorous selection process, the judges have announced the following longlisted writers:
- Caiphus Mmino Mangenela — ‘When Heaven Went Quiet’ (Botswana)
- Ekenedirichukwu Alita — ‘Ozoemekwanam’ (Nigeria)
- Kerlly Telebwe — ‘Return from the Land of the Living’ (Zambia)
- Jeffrey Ehijie — ‘The Shape of Life After Tenderness’ (Nigeria)
- June Ndurumo — ‘Let Them Build’ (Kenya)
- Quinton Manning — ‘The Rust Man’ (South Africa)
- Joseph Ruzvidzo — ‘The Hollow Hill’ (Zimbabwe/Switzerland)
- Owen Habel Lwanda — ‘The Sun of God’ (Kenya)
- Joyness Zacharia Lyimo — ‘Things We Don’t Say at the Border’ (Tanzania/Austria)
- Lynette Sifiso — ‘Between Living and Gone’ (United States/Zimbabwe)
- Baone Peace Moalosi — ‘Between Seasons: On Growth After Growth’ (Botswana)
- Wame Molefhe — ‘You Brought Rain’ (Botswana)
- Stephen Langtry — ‘The Horn’ (South Africa)
- Adesomola Adedayo — ‘Rain’ (Nigeria)
- Mali Kambandu — ‘Not My Mother’s Kitchen’ (Zambia)
The shortlist will be announced in the coming weeks, followed by the eventual winner of the 2026 Afritondo Short Story Prize.
