Nigerian writer Haliru Ali Musa has been announced as the winner of the 2024 Alexander Nderitu Prize for World Literature, making him the first Nigerian to receive the award since its inception.
His short story, “The Pregnant Ghost”, was selected from a total of 72 submissions from around the world.
The literary prize, founded by Kenyan author and critic Alexander Nderitu, recognizes outstanding unpublished short fiction. The 2024 edition was themed around “Peace” and drew entries from writers in countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, the United States, Sri Lanka, and Poland.
Musa’s winning story stood out for its narrative structure and literary depth. As part of the award, he will receive a cash prize of Kshs 100,000 (USD $770), a year-long online marketing campaign, and the option of agent representation by an Asian literary agency. His story has been published by The African Griot Review (Kenya) which would later be published by The Asian Journal of Literature (Sri Lanka).
A writer who believes, almost stubbornly, in the power of stories to unsettle the mind. To Haliru Ali Musa, a story isn’t worth telling unless it stirs something deep, something uncomfortable. He gravitates towards themes of unrequited love, betrayal, and grief – those intangible threads that bind and unravel human connections. His work often blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction. His words have found a home in Farafina and Akpata Magazine, among other places.
Congratulations Haliru Ali Musa!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
