The daily assortment of astonishing things and other stories

THE LEADING AFRICAN LITERARY AWARD, KNOWN AS THE AFRICAN BOOKER, NAMED AFTER THE BOOKER PRIZE FOUNDER, MICHAEL CAINE. Now entering its seventeenth 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 eighteen short stories—the five 2016 shortlisted stories, along with stories written at the 2016 Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop that took place in Zambia. The collection showcases young writers who went on to publish successful novels, for instance: Leila Aboulela, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Brian Chikwava and Helon Habila. The shortlisted writers include Abdul Adan (Somalia/Kenya), Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria), Tope Folarin (Nigeria), Bongani Kona (Zimbabwe), and Lidudumalingani (South Africa). Twelve other promising writers are also included in the anthology: 2015 Caine Prize winner, Namwali Serpell (Zambia), NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), Chilufya Chilangwa (Zambia), Tope Folarin (Nigeria), Elnathan John (Nigeria), Billy Kahora (Kenya), Bwanga Kapumpa (Zambia), FT Kola (South Africa), Kafula Mwila (Zambia), Masande Ntshanga (South Africa), Timwa Lipenga (Malawi), and Okwiri Oduor (Kenya).