Nigerians Top Caine Prize Shortlist

Image source: Caine Prize 2017 website

Five writers - including three Nigerians - have been shortlisted for the annual Caine Prize award given to an African writer. 

BBC Africa Live/Caine Prize 2017 reports:

The stories must be published in English and be between 3,000 and 10,000 words. 

The nominees are: 

• Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) for "Who Will Greet You At Home" 

• Chikodili Emelumadu (Nigeria) for "Bush Baby" 

• Bushra al-Fadil (Sudan) for "The Story of the Girl whose Birds Flew Away" 

• Arinze Ifeakandu (Nigeria) for "God’s Children Are Little Broken Things" 

• Magogodi Makhene (South Africa) for "The Virus" 

Nii Ayikwei Parkes, the chairperson of the judging panel, said:   

There seemed to be a theme of transition in many of the stories. Whether it's an ancient myth brought to life in a contemporary setting, a cyber attack-triggered wave of migration and colonization, an insatiable quest for motherhood, an entertaining surreal ride that hints at unspeakable trauma, or the loss of a parent in the midst of a personal identity crisis, these writers juxtapose future, past and present to ask important questions about the world we live in.

Although they range in tone from the satirical to the surreal, all five stories on this year's shortlist are unrelentingly haunting. It has been a wonderful journey so far and we look forward to selecting a winner.

The winner will be announced on 3 July and awarded US$12,000 (£10,000).