Redemption Song and Other Stories: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2018

The leading African literary award, known as the African Booker, named after the Booker Prize founder, Michael Caine. Now entering its nineteenth year, the Caine Prize for African Writing is Africa’s leading literary prize, and is awarded to a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. This collection brings together twelve short stories–the five 2018 shortlisted stories, along with others written at the 2018 Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop that took place in Rwanda. The collection showcases young writers who go on to publish successful novels, for instance: Leila Aboulela, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Brian Chikwava and Helon Habila. The collection also includes the following twelve stories written at the workshop: No Ordinary Soirée by Paula Akugizibwe – Tie Kidi by Awuor Onyango – Calling the Clouds Home by Heran T. Abate – America by Caroline Numuhire – All Things Bright and Beautiful by Troy Onyango – Departure by Nsah Mala – Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila – Ngozi by Bongani Sibanda – The Weaving of Death by Lucky Grace Isingizwe – Redemption Song by Arinze Ifeakandu – Spaceman by Bongani Kona – Grief is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open by Eloghosa Osunde. Now entering its nineteenth year, the Caine Prize for African Writing is Africa’s leading literary prize, and is awarded to a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. This collection brings together twelve short stories–the five 2018 shortlisted stories, along with others written at the 2018 Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop that took place in Rwanda. The collection showcases young writers who go on to publish successful novels, for instance: Leila Aboulela, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Brian Chikwava and Helon Habila. The collection also includes the following twelve stories written at the workshop: No Ordinary Soirée by Paula Akugizibwe – Tie Kidi by Awuor Onyango – Calling the Clouds Home by Heran T. Abate – America by Caroline Numuhire – All Things Bright and Beautiful by Troy Onyango – Departure by Nsah Mala – Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila – Ngozi by Bongani Sibanda – The Weaving of Death by Lucky Grace Isingizwe – Redemption Song by Arinze Ifeakandu – Spaceman by Bongani Kona – Grief is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open by Eloghosa Osunde The prize was launched in 2000 to encourage and highlight the richness and diversity of African writing by bringing it to a wider audience internationally. The focus on the short story reflects the contemporary development of the African storytelling tradition.