On Saturday, the 26th of October, the winners of the 2024 African Writers Awards (AWA) were announced.
The AWA comprises the African Teen Writers Awards for poetry and prose, African Writers Awards (Short Stories), Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature, and the maiden edition of the Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry. The winners will receive prize money and well earned certificates to mark their success. They will also be interviewed in the Writers Space Africa Literary Magazine for the January 2025 edition.
Meet the 2024 Award Recipients of the African Writers Awards in their respective categories:
The 3rd African Teen Writers Awards (Poetry) – $100
- Right to Peace by Adrian Nyarko-Boateng (Ghana)
The 3rd African Teen Writers Awards (Prose) – $100
- Five Things Mother did not Prepare Me For by Sumaiyah Muhammad (Nigeria)
The 7th African Writers Awards for Short Stories – $500
- When Love Exits by Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare (Ghana)
The 6th Edition of the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature – $450 in total
- A Close Call – Honored by Absentia by Grace Thuo (Kenya) – 1st place, $200
- Bee: One Another’s Keeper by Cynthia Anjie Nkweti (Cameroon) – 2nd place, $150
- Nandera the Brave – A Tale of Triumph by Laura Pettie (Tanzania) – 3rd place, $100
The 1st Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry – $150 in total
- At Vlekete Market by Eniola Abdulroqueeb Arowolo (Nigeria) – 1st place, $100
- For Sale, African Drums Designed by Robots by Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana) – 2nd place, $50
The Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature was established in 2019 to honour the memory and legacy of Wakini Kuria. Wakini served on the Advisory Board of the African Writers Development Trust and was the Chief Editor of Writers Space Africa (WSA) magazine from 2017 until her passing in 2019. She was also the convener and coordinator of Writers Space Africa – Kenya Chapter. Since the inception of the African Writers Awards, notable writers like Manu Herbstein, Maryhilda Ibe, Chiamaka Onu-Okpara, and Marial Awendit have received accolades.
This year’s winners exemplify the continued excellence in African storytelling across multiple genres, with winners selected from across the African continent.In its aim to celebrate the best-emerging writing talents on the continent, the African Writers Award paves the way in the heart of literature once again!
Congratulations to all winners on this deserved win!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
