SAFAL KISWAHILI AWARDS for African literature 2024 announced
DAR ES SALAAM: SAFAL Kiswahili Prize for African Literature has announced a list of shortlisted entries for the 2024 competition. The Award is sponsored by Safal Group through ALAF-Tanzania and Mabati Rolling Mills-Kenya.
Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature was established by Dr Lizzy Attree and Dr Mukoma Wa Ngugi in 2014 to recognise writing in African languages and encourage translation from, among and into African languages.
The Chairperson of 2024 Award judges, Dr Salma Hamad, of the Open University of Tanzania said: “The number of entries was overwhelming, but we were well entertained because we read creatively written and crafted manuscripts and learned that there is a huge treasure of Kiswahili literary talents. If developed, Kiswahili literature will not go bankrupt.”
On his part, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Award, Abdilatif Abdalla, added: “It is very gratifying to see that since the Award was launched in 2015, this prize continues attracting many participants from various countries. The level of the quality of entries competing also is increasing every year, thereby enriching Kiswahili literature.
Other judges who joined Dr Hamad in reading and selecting the winners of the 2024 competition were Prof Richard Wafula from Kenyatta University, Kenya and Dr Caesar Jjingo from Makerere University, Uganda. A total number of 210 manuscripts were read by a panel of judges.
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The following are the names of authors and the manuscripts that were shortlisted:
NOVELS
Nderemo za Mtaa – Joel Hamisi (Tanzania)
Kitanzi cha Mauti – Mayassa Abdallah Chembea (Tanzania)
Nyaraka za Wafu – Ali Othman Masoud (Tanzania).
POETRY
Waadhi – Mohamed Hamid Haji (Tanzania)
Bure Ghali – Bashiru Abdallah (Tanzania)
Laana ya Uovu – Mohamed Idrisa (Tanzania)
The judges also selected a collection of short stories, Mungu Hadanganywi na Hadithi Hadithi Nyingine – Edwin Omindo (Kenya).
Hawa Bayumi, the ALAF External Affairs Manager said shortlisted winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Dar es Salaam on July 3, 2025.
She said prizes totalling 15,000 US dollars will be awarded for the best unpublished manuscripts. The categories are novels, poetry, biographies, plays and graphic novels. The prizes will be distributed as follows:
First Prize (Novel) – $5,000
First Prize (Poetry) – $5,000
Second Prize (in any category) – $2,500
In addition to the prizes, the best manuscripts will be published as books by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, Tanzania. Best poetry manuscripts will be translated into English and published by Africa Poetry Book Fund.
