The AKO Caine Prize 2022 for African Writing

The AKO Caine Prize for African Writing aims to bring African writing to a wider audience through our annual literary award. In addition to administering the Prize, we assist emerging writers in Africa to enter the world of mainstream publishing.

Our panel of judges will read, deliberate, and shortlist five stories from the eligible entries. The shortlisted writers will be invited to London to participate in a series of events including:

• Private luncheon with agents, editors, publishers and publicists
• Public readings and panel discussions
• Interviews with press and media institutions, and
• Invitation to the 2023 award ceremony where the winner will be announced.

• Table of Content
• About The Caine Prize
• The AKO Caine Prize
• Aim and Benefits of The AKO Caine Prize
• Requirements for The AKO Caine Prize Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About The Caine Prize

The Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language. The £10,000 prize was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000, and was named in memory of Sir Michael Harris Caine,former Chairman of Booker Group plc. Because of the Caine Prize's connection to the Booker Prize, the award is sometimes called the "African Booker".The prize is currently known as the AKO Caine Prize for African Writing... continue reading

The AKO Caine Prize

Aim and Benefits of The AKO Caine Prize

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of £10,000, and four shortlisted writers will receive £500 each.

Requirements for The AKO Caine Prize Qualification

• The story must have been published in the five years preceding the submissions deadline. For 2023 eligibility, the judges will only consider work published between 1st February 2018 and 25th January 2023.

• Entries must be more than 3,000 words or less than 10,000 words.

• Entries must be submitted by a publisher. This includes publishers of physical and digital books, literary journals, magazines, and literary arts oriented websites.

• Writers must be over 18 years of age at the time of submission

• Self-published and unpublished works are not eligible.

• Publishers are encouraged to submit multiple short stories as long as they do not submit more than one story by the same author.

• Stories may only be entered for consideration for the AKO Caine Prize once. Unfortunately this means that you may not re-submit a story for consideration, even if it was not selected for the shortlist.

• Genres not eligible for entry include: stories for children, factual writing, academnic essays, plays, poetry and autobiography/biography.

• Submissions must specify which African country the author comes from and the short story word count.

• Publishers are required to upload a ‘publisher’s letter’ with each submission. See below for more information:

  • What should the publisher’s letter include? 

    Publishers are required to provide:  

    • Name of the writer(s).

    • Title of the story or stories being submitted.

    • Word count of each submitted story.

    • The qualifying nationality of the writer(s)

    •  The date of publication of the story or stories. 

    • Confirmation of consent from the writer(s) whose stories are being submitted for the Prize.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

If you have any questions or query regarding our eligibility criteria, please email: [email protected] we will be happy to assist!

For more details, visit The Caine Prize website.