M-Net Literary Awards

えむねっとぶんがくしょう

Multilingual literary award organized by South Africa's M-Net from 1991 to 2013.

EnglishAfrikaansNguni (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swati)SeSotho (Sotho, Pedi, Tswana)TshiVendaSeTsongaFilmDebutLifetime Achievement

Established: 1991
Organizer: M-Net (Electronic Media Network)
Category: Film, Video, and Broadcasting
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Newcomer
Frequency: 1 per year
Announcement Period: around October
Status: Ended

Description

The M-Net Literary Awards is a multilingual literary prize established in 1991 by South African TV station M-Net and awarded until 2013. Initially centered on English and Afrikaans, in the fourth year, indigenous African language categories were added, expanding to six language categories (English, Afrikaans, Nguni, SeSotho, TshiVenda, SeTsonga). In 2005, a Film Award was introduced to evaluate adaptation potential, along with special categories such as Debut Award and Lifetime Achievement Award. Judging emphasized not only literary value but also "strong narrative" and "accessibility to a wide readership," and in the 1990s, it was one of the highest prize money literary awards in South Africa. The prize was traditionally R30,000 but raised to R50,000 from 2011, and went into indefinite suspension after the 2013 ceremony.

Prize

Main Prize: Prize money is awarded to winners in each language category. R50,000 since 2011 (previously R30,000). Special categories such as Film Award, Debut Award, Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cash Prize: 50,000 ZAR

Film Award (evaluating adaptation potential)
Debut Award (targeting first works)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Publicity opportunities for winning works and attention from judges

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Submission / Nomination	For each language category, a selection panel appointed by M-Net handles submissions	Unknown	Initial screening after submission deadline (details vary by year)
Shortlist (final candidates)	Judges for each category create a shortlist	Unknown (varies by year)	Shortlist may be published in media
Final judging / Winner selection (final selection)	Selection committee (panel) conducts final judging for each category	Unknown	Winners announced at ceremony (e.g., Cape Town, Johannesburg events)

Submission / Nomination

Judges For each language category, a selection panel appointed by M-Net handles submissions

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Initial screening after submission deadline (details vary by year)

Shortlist (final candidates)

Judges Judges for each category create a shortlist

Pass Rate Unknown (varies by year)

Announcement Shortlist may be published in media

Final judging / Winner selection (final selection)

Judges Selection committee (panel) conducts final judging for each category

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Winners announced at ceremony (e.g., Cape Town, Johannesburg events)

Criteria

Literary value (style, depth of theme)
Strong narrative (narrative content)
Accessibility to wide readership
Genre suitability (short stories, novels, etc., depending on year/category)
Adaptation potential (Film Award)

Application Tips

Dos

Prepare texts with clear narrative and high readability
Strictly follow submission requirements (format, word count, submission method)
For indigenous language submissions, clearly indicate cultural background and expressions
Apply appropriately to relevant categories such as Film Award or Debut Award

Don''ts

Avoid overly obscure expressions that alienate readers
Do not ignore submission rules (incomplete formats or copyright-violating submissions)
Do not disguise with excessive staging or irrelevant information unrelated to judges' intentions

From Judges

Emphasize strong narrative and accessibility to a wide readership
Write respecting the unique expressions and cultural backgrounds of each language
For Film Award submissions, demonstrate visual potential (elements suitable for adaptation)