Nigerian writer Ekenedilichukwu Alita has won the 2026 Afritondo Short Story Prize for his story ‘Ozoemekwanam’.
Alita’s winning entry was selected from 760 submissions across more than 40 countries, this year themed around Transition.
The prize, which celebrates outstanding short fiction by writers of African and Black heritage, was judged by short story writer and poet Pete Kalu, writer Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, and novelist and academic Fayssal Bensalah.
He takes home $1,000 as the winner. The four other shortlisted writers, Joe Lyimo, Lynette Sifiso, Owen Habel Lwanda, and Joe Ruzvidzo, each receive $100.
All 15 longlisted writers will have their stories published in Afritondo’s global anthology.
Congratulations, Ekenedilichukwu Alita!
