Caine Prize for African Writing
けいんしょう
Annual literary award presented to English-language short stories by writers of African origin. Established in 2000, winner's prize is £10,000.
Short story awardAfrican literatureEnglish literature
- Established
- 2000
- Organizer
- The Caine Prize for African Writing (registered charity)
- Category
- General Fiction and Popular Fiction
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around February
- Announcement Period
- around September
- Status
- Active
Description
The Caine Prize for African Writing is a literary award presented annually to short stories written in English by African writers. Established in the UK in 2000 and named after the late Sir Michael Harris Caine, the winner's prize is £10,000. Winners are announced in July each year, and shortlisted candidates are invited to a series of events such as readings and signings. From 2020–2022, it was operated as the 'AKO Caine Prize' with funding from the AKO Foundation. The award conducts workshops and other activities to promote African literature and nurture next-generation writers.
Prize
- Main Prize
- £10,000 cash prize to the winner (opportunities for publicity, event participation, etc.)
- Cash Prize
- 10,000 GBP
- Shortlisted candidates are invited to events such as readings, signings, and media exposure
- Invitation to writers' workshops held each year
- International attention and expanded publishing opportunities from winning (PR support)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submission and acceptance | Caine Prize administration and selection committee (judges selected each year) | — | After the submission deadline, initial screening is conducted by the administration (refer to official website entry guidelines for details) |
| Shortlist selection | Selection committee (appointed each year) | — | A shortlist of several candidates (usually around 5) is announced, and candidates are invited upon announcement |
| Final selection and winner announcement | Final judging panel | — | Winners are announced at a dinner etc. held in July each year. Previously in Oxford, recently at SOAS (London), with plans from 2024 to recentralize announcements on the African continent |
Submission and acceptance
Judges
Caine Prize administration and selection committee (judges selected each year)
Announcement
After the submission deadline, initial screening is conducted by the administration (refer to official website entry guidelines for details)
Shortlist selection
Judges
Selection committee (appointed each year)
Announcement
A shortlist of several candidates (usually around 5) is announced, and candidates are invited upon announcement
Final selection and winner announcement
Judges
Final judging panel
Announcement
Winners are announced at a dinner etc. held in July each year. Previously in Oxford, recently at SOAS (London), with plans from 2024 to recentralize announcements on the African continent
Criteria
- Must be a short story written in English (prior publication may be required; check official guidelines)
- Author must be of African origin (no requirement to reside in Africa)
- High literary value (prose style, narrative, structure)
- Originality (proper indication of sources and quotes)
Application Tips
Dos
- 英語でオリジナルの短編を書き、作品の声と構成に注意する
- 応募要項（出版要件や提出フォーマット）を公式サイトで事前に確認して厳守する
- 作品の独創性と文章表現（語り口、登場人物描写、テーマの深さ）を磨く
- ショートリストに残った場合のイベント参加に備え、朗読やプレゼンの準備をする
Don''ts
- 出典・参照を正しく明示せずに他者の素材を流用しない（2019年の事例を参照）
- 安直なステレオタイプに頼った描写を行わない
- 応募要項に反する言語やフォーマットで提出しない
From Judges
- 審査は作品の独創性と文章の力量を重視する（声、語りの一貫性、リスクテイクを評価）
- 文化的なステレオタイプに頼らず、誠実で深みのある視点を持つこと
- 出典や資料は明確にし、著作権や引用規則に注意する
Related Awards
- Booker Prize (connections with related organizations and support networks)
- Commonwealth Short Story Prize
- Other Africa-related literary awards and festivals (regional writers' workshops, etc.)