Ex Africa semper aliquid novi

July 18, 2014 4:16 AM

Kenya's Okwiri Oduor has won the 2014 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story, "My Father's Head." Many stories by other winners and nominees are available online.

This year's other nominees:

• Diane Awerbuck (South Africa), "Phosphorescence."
• Efemia Chela (Ghana/Zambia), "Chicken."
• Tendai Huchu (Zimbabwe), "The Intervention."
• Billy Kahora (Kenya), "The Gorilla's Apprentice."

Past winners:

• 2013 - Tope Folarin (Nigeria), "Miracle."
• 2012 - Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria), "Bombay's Republic."
• 2011 - NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), "Hitting Budapest."
• 2010 - Olufemi Terry (Sierra Leone), "Stickfighting Days."
• 2009 - E. C. Osondu (Nigeria), "Waiting."
• 2008 - Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa), "Poison." (See also "Read the prize-winning story that sparked a debate about science fiction.")
• 2007 - Monica Arac de Nyeko (Uganda), "Jambula Tree."
• 2006 - Mary Watson (South Africa), "Jungfrau."
• 2005 - Segun Afolabi (Nigeria), "Monday Morning."
• 2004 - Brian Chikwava (Zimbabwe), "Seventh Street Alchemy" (excerpt).
• 2003 - Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (Kenya), "Weight of Whispers."
• 2002 - Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenya), "Discovering Home."
• 2001 - Helon Habila (Nigeria), "Love Poems."
• 2000 - Leila Aboulela (Sudan), "The Museum. (There's also a BBC radio adaptation.)

The Caine Prize website has a complete list of previous nominees and notable works.

posted by Monsieur Caution (6 comments total)

Great post! I guess the Greek saying is true.
posted by clockzero at 4:57 AM on July 18, 2014

My Father's Head is beautiful - clipclopping ahead briskly and then that final sentence, sitting quietly in grief. Thank you for posting all the links, so much to read.
posted by viggorlijah at 6:08 AM on July 18, 2014

Thanks for the post!
posted by travelwithcats at 8:15 AM on July 18, 2014

Or Semper aliquid novi Africam adferre.

This is fantastic. Thanks for posting it.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:49 AM on July 18, 2014

This is wonderful, thank you so much.
posted by jokeefe at 8:17 PM on July 18, 2014

Fabulous story. Thanks - I'm off to read more!
posted by korej at 4:04 PM on July 19, 2014