New Literary Prize Aims to Launch Global Stars
The prize, which focuses on short stories between 3,000 and 5,000 words, aims to boost that concise format.
NAIROBI, Kenya — A new annual literary award launched by a Kenyan author and critic aims to discover talented but obscure writers from around the world by honoring the best unpublished short story, writes Paula Otukile.
The Alexander Nderitu Prize For World Literature, announced on World Book & Copyright Day, will award a $740 cash prize to the winner along with a $740 online promotion sponsored by the IT firm Websoft Interactive.
"There's a lot of literary talent in the world but, as in most disciplines, a few 'celebrity' types usually dominate the headlines and are therefore assumed to be the best," said Alexander Nderitu, the 40-year-old founder of the prize, in an interview.
"Sometimes year on year. Same faces, same names."
Nderitu, a poet, novelist, playwright and critic, said he knows "for a fact that talent can come from anywhere and fame is not necessarily a guarantee of quality”.
“Some of the best books, poems and stage plays are by obscure authors, many of whom are no longer among the living."
The prize, which focuses on short stories between 3,000 and 5,000 words, aims to boost that concise format.
"You don't need hundreds of pages to tell a tale, advance an argument, pull a surprise, deliver a thrill or draw a laugh," Nderitu said, citing admiration for short story masters like O. Henry, Somerset Maugham and Jeffrey Archer.
An international jury of five literary figures will select the winner, to be announced in early 2025 after submissions open May 1 and close May 31.
The jurors are Swedish translator Camilla Bauer, Botswana author and gender activist Dr. Paula O.M. Otukile, Sri Lankan writer Rupasinghe D. Pramudith, Nigerian playwright Henry Akubuiro and Nderitu himself.
"I'm privileged, and a little overwhelmed, to work with a stellar jury for my inaugural award scheme," Nderitu said.
Nderitu has authored 15 books since his first digital novel in 2001, "When the Whirlwind Passes," which he calls "Africa's pioneering digital novel."
His other works include poetry, plays, short stories and novels such as "The Moon Is Made of Green Cheese" and "King Bure Is Dead!"
He has won prizes including the 2017 Business Daily "Top 40 Under 40 Kenya Men" award, the 2021 IHRAF African Human Rights Playwriting Prize and the 2022 Share Africa Climate Fiction Award.
Nderitu founded the African literary sites TheAfricanGriot.com and is an editor for the Asian literary magazines The Asian Review and TheTheatreTimes.com.
"I like the idea of 'world literature,' aided by translation," Nderitu said, quoting part of the PEN International charter that "literature knows no frontiers and must remain common currency among people in spite of political or international upheavals."