The 2020 K and L prize is now receiving short stories on the theme, Africanfuturism. The prize money is $1,000 (New Zealand dollars) while the deadline is 1st December 2019. You have to be 18 to 25 years old to be eligible and submit a story of about 2000 words in Microsoft word format to id.ojabo@gmail.com with the subject: 2020 K & L Prize.

The term ‘Africanfuturism’ was coined by Nigerian-American author, Nnedi Okorafor. In Africanfuturism there are often depictions of aliens, and sometimes witches. The settings are likely in a recognizable future Africa, with African lineages — which “are not cultural hybrids but rooted in the history and traditions of the continent” with no element or traits drawn from Western culture (or even pop culture)”.

The K and L prize, founded and sponsored by New Zealand based Nigerian writer, Myles Ojabo, awards $1000 (New Zealand) to the best piece of unpublished fiction. The inaugural edition was awarded to South African writer, Sisca Julius, for her story, Honey Bee.

 

Terms for the 2020 edition of the K and L prize

1. You may only submit an entry if you meet the following requirements:

• You are a citizen of an African country.
• You reside in an African country.
• You are  between 18 and 25 years old.

2. Stories are required to be entered by the 1^st of December 2019.
3. Email subject should have the name of short stories, age of applicant and ‘2020 K and L prize’
4. Submissions must be in English and should reflect the them, ‘Afrofuturism’
5. Only one entry per writer is allowed.
6. Stories must not be more than 2000 words.
7. The submission should be in Microsoft Word.
8. Entries should be sent to id.ojabo@gmail.com.
9. Entries must not have been previously published.
10. By submitting an entry entrants agree to the following requirements:

• Only the winner is entitled to have the cash prize of 1000 New Zealand dollars. In the case where there are joint winners, the prize money will be shared.
• All longlisted writers will be required to submit a copy of their birth certificate.
• Longlisted stories would be publicised and published in the K and L Anthology: Black Skin, No Mask.
• Every writer on the longlist will get a free copy of the anthology but will be responsible for postage or shipping cost.
• Writers on the shortlist would be interviewed.
• All finances raised from sales of the anthology would go towards funding and developing the K and L Prize.

11. The decisions of the judges entries are final and not subjected to any appeal.
12. Shortlisted writers are expected to submit their photos and other information necessary for publicising the prize.

 

Judges for the 2020 edition are:

Chigbo Arthur Anyaduba and Dione Joseph.

 

Chigbo Arthur Anyaduba is an assistant professor of English at the University of Winnipeg, Canada. His work focuses broadly on contemporary African literatures. His current research examines representations of mass atrocities and genocides in Africa. Anyaduba is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for his doctoral dissertation at the University of Manitoba, and a J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Fellowship at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for his research on “African” genocides. He is also a senior editor of Saraba Literary Magazine, and his creative writings have appeared on numerous platforms.

 

Dione Joseph is the founder of Black Creatives Aotearoa and co-founder of JK Productions: He Kōrero Ngā Tahi (Telling Our Stories Together). Her commitment to creating, sharing and manifesting opportunities for diverse artists has seen her work as director and dramaturge in theatre for the last decade across New Zealand, Australia and the USA. She has also been active as a writer stage critic, international guest scholar and community advocate. She has an MA in Community and Cultural Development from the Victorian College of the Arts and a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Melbourne.