It is the pleasure of the Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit) to announce the shortlists of the inaugural JAY Lit Awards, an initiative that seeks to recognise excellence and honour the finest voices published in our journal in a calendar year. The award categories are “JAY Lit Prize for Poetry”, “JAY Lit Prize for Fiction”, and “JAY Lit Prize for Non-Fiction”.
As announced earlier in December 2024, entries on the longlists were pulled from JAY Lit’s 2024 issues (Issues 6, 7, and 8) through nominations by tier 3 judges made up of JAY Lit peer reviewers and guest editors—Tobi Ojenike, Aishat Adesanya, Bongiwe T. Maphosa, Anna Samwell, and Nneamaka Onochie, Martha Khoeses and Kaushar Edoo.
The shortlists have now been decided by tier 2 judges made up of JAY Lit category editors—Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (poetry), Deborah Oluniran-Adeniyi (Fiction), and Iruoma Chukwuemeka (Non-Fiction). They are as follows:
JAY Lit Prize for Poetry – 2024 Shortlist
“Four Incantations for the Earth” by Arikewusola Abdul Awal (Issue 7)
“State of Emergency” by Timi Sanni (Issue 7)
“Oil on Canvas (2024)” by Aman Bibi Gray (Issue 7)
“Three Deaths” by Salama Wainaina (Issue 8)
JAY Lit Prize for Fiction – 2024 Shortlist
“RIP Revisited” by Jan Brümmer (Issue 6)
“Mother Theresa” by Ekemini Pius (Issue 7)
“Welcome to Iya Mosun’s Midnight Club” by Chidera Nwume (Issue 8)
JAY Lit Prize for Non-Fiction – 2024 Shortlist
“Ignorance is Brit” by MaryAnn Ifeanacho (Issue 7)
“The Palate” by Frank Njugi (Issue 8)
“Dancing to the Rhythm of a Funeral Song” by Great Opara (Issue 8)
Further Updates on the 2024 JAY Lit Awards
The shortlists have now been forwarded to tier 1 judges S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema (Poetry), Makena Onjerika (Fiction), and Mubanga Kalimamukwento (Non-Fiction). These judges will choose the final winners who will be announced on 28th December 2024.
All shortlistees are automatic winners of the 2024 “JAY Lit Editor’s Choice Commendation”, as selected by the respective judges in their individual categories. Overall winners will share from a modest pool of prize money. All shortlistees will receive books and other rewards.
For support and enquiries, please email JAY Lit Managing Editor, Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim at ibrahim.ibrahim@jaylit.com
Congratulations to all shortlistees!
