The Caine Prize for African Writing 2019

The Caine Prize for African Writing is a registered charity whose aim is to bring African writing to a wider audience using our annual literary award. In addition to administering the Prize, we work to connect readers with African writers through a series of public events, as well as helping emerging writers in Africa to enter the world of mainstream publishing through the annual Caine Prize writers’ workshop which takes place in a different African country each year.

The stories written at Caine Prize workshops are published annually alongside the Prize's shortlisted stories in the annual Caine Prize Anthology by New Internationalist in the UK and publishers in eight African countries including, Jacana Media (South Africa), Cassava Republic (Nigeria), Kwani? (Kenya), Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana), FEMRITE (Uganda), G adsen Publishers (Zambia), 'amaBooks (Zimbabwe) and Langaa (Cameroon).

It is named after the late Sir Michael Caine, former Chairman of Booker plc, who was Chairman of the 'Africa 95' arts festival in Europe and Africa in 1995 and for nearly 25 years Chairman of the Booker Prize management committee. After his death, friends and colleagues decided to establish a prize of £10,000 to be awarded annually in his memory.

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Benefit:

Cash prize of £10,000 for the winning author and of £500 for the shortlisted candidates ;
A travel award for each of the short-listed candidates (up to five in all);
Winner will be also invited to go to three literature festivals in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria;
Connection with a wider audience;
The stories written at Caine Prize workshops are published annually alongside the Prize’s shortlisted stories in the annual Caine Prize Anthology by New Internationalist in the UK and publishers in eight African countries;

Requirement:

Unpublished work is not eligible for the Caine Prize.
Submissions should be made by publishers only.
Only fictional work is eligible.
Only one story per author will be considered in any one year.
Submissions should specify which African country the author comes from and the word count.
We require 6 copies of the work in its originally published version.
If the work is published in a book or journal, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book / journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology we would like if possible to receive six copies of the book / journal itself.
If the work is published online, we would like to receive six photocopies.

Please note that works which do not conform to the criteria will not be considered for the prize. Please do not waste your own time and postage by sending in material which is unsuitable. Works not eligible for entry include stories for children, factual writing, plays, biography, works shorter than 3000 words and unpublished work. If you are not sure whether your work is eligible, please email us for advice on info@caineprize.com

How to Apply:

There is no application form. To apply please send six original published copies of the work for consideration to the Caine Prize office including a letter from the publisher.
If the work is published in a book or journal, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book / journal and five photocopies; but particularly where several stories are submitted from one anthology we would like if possible to receive six copies of the book / journal itself.
If published in a magazine or journal we will accept one original copy plus five photocopies, but would prefer six original copies.
If the work is published online, we would like to receive six printed copies.
Address and post the eligible submission to:
The Caine Prize for African Writing
51 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RU