LE CLUB DES FEMMES MARIÉES, the French translation of Zambian author Mubanga Kalimamukwento’s novel, The Shipikisha Club, has been selected for the 2027 edition of the Grand Prix des Lectrices ELLE.
The novel, originally published in English as The Shipikisha Club, was published in French by Éditions de l’Aube on September 4, 2026. The French edition was translated by Benoîte Dauvergne.
Set in Kabwe, Zambia, the novel follows Sali, a working mother of three in Kabwe, Zambia, who stands trial for the murder of her husband, Kasunga. While prosecutors claim she shot him after a heated argument, the story traces back 14 years to Sali’s struggle with societal expectations, an affair with a wealthy married man, and the chain of events that led her to marry Kasunga. Over time, Sali navigates infidelity, financial hardship, and postpartum depression in silence—until one day she finally speaks her mind, with devastating consequences.
Told through the perspectives of Sali, her teenage daughter Ntashé, and her mother Peggy, The Shipikisha Club explores themes of gender politics, marriage, and agency in Zambia. It is described as a powerful read for fans of Peace Adzo Medie, Abi Daré, and Tayari P. Jones.
Author of the acclaimed novel The Mourning Bird (Jacana, 2019), Mubanga Kalimamukwento has continued to expand her range with works like Unmarked Graves (Tusculum University Press, 2022) and the poetry collection Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies (Wayfarer Books, 2025). Her stories and essays have appeared in literary journals such as addaa, Kweli, Overland, Contemporary Verse 2, and Isele Magazine, as well as in visual media platforms like Netflix.
Beyond her writing, Kalimamukwento is the founder of Ubwali Literary Magazine, co-founder of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop, and a mentor with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop.
The Grand Prix des Lectrices ELLE is a French literary prize established in 1970 by ELLE magazine. Each year, the magazine’s editorial team selects books for consideration, which are then read and evaluated by a jury of 120 women readers. The prize currently recognises works in fiction, non-fiction and crime fiction, with the jurors reading and scoring the selected books before choosing the winners.
Congratulations, Mubanga Kalimamukwento!
