Afreximbank Launches $20,000 Prize for African Publishers
The CANEX Prize stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for African writers and publishers, promising to elevate Africa's literary landscape.
CAIRO, Egypt— The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has unveiled an initiative aimed at fostering literary excellence across the African continent, writes Baboloki Semele.
According to a press release, the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa, a collaboration between the CANEX Book Factory and Narrative Landscape Press Limited, promises to invigorate Africa's literary scene and bolster the continent's creative economy.
The CANEX Book Factory seeks to cultivate a thriving literary culture across Africa and promote a sustainable business ecosystem within the literary sector. Launched by Afreximbank in 2020, CANEX is dedicated to driving development and creating job opportunities through the creative and cultural industries.
The highlight of the CANEX Prize is a $20,000 award for the publisher of the best trade book, encompassing fiction, non-fiction, and poetry intended for a general audience. Additionally, four finalists will each receive $2,000 in prize money.
"We are thrilled to announce the launch of The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa, a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting and celebrating excellence in African publishing," said Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President-Intra African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank.
Renowned writer Chimamanda Adichie highlighted the significance of such initiatives, saying, "Imagine being an African, dreaming about being a writer, surrounded by people who share the same interests. It propels you; it gives you hope."
Books will be judged based on quality of writing, editing, and production, with priority given to those printed and produced in Africa and published in indigenous African languages.
The CANEX Prize stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for African writers and publishers, promising to elevate Africa's literary landscape.