Scholastica Moraa Declared the Winner of the Kendeka Prize for African Literature 2022

Scholastica Moraa was declared the winner of the Kendeka Prize for African Literature 2022 at a ceremony in Thika, Kenya on September 24, 2022. Adaoro Raji and Beverley Ann Abrahams came second and third respectively.

The Kendeka Prize for African Literature is awarded for the best piece of an unpublished short story either fiction or creative non-fiction. The first edition of the prize founded by Kenyan writer and publisher Andrew Maina was won by Botswana writer Jenny Robson in 2021.

The Judging panel for 2022 is chaired by academic and writer Dr Siphiwo Mahala and includes novelist Bisi Adjapon as well as editor and columnist Faith Oneya. This panel announced the longlist of ten stories from 21 African nations that had entered on September 1 before the shortlist was announced on September 15.

The winners of the awards were announced at a ceremony in Thika on Saturday. They were Scholastica Moraa (Chained), Adaoro Raji (Star Boy) and Beverley Ann Abrahams (Isithunzi) who came in first to third respectively. The three will get the cash prizes of KES 100,000, KES 50,000 and KES 25,000 respectively.

Watch the ceremony in full below;

 

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