Damilola Omotoyinbo, Mlamli Tyulu, and Hussani Abdulrahim are the winners of the Writivism Prize 2023 announced on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Writivism, the project of writing as activism, was started by Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire, Naseemah Mohamed, and Kyomuhendo A Ateenyi at the Centre for African Cultural Excellence in Kampala, Uganda in 2012. They conducted several activities such as an annual literary festival, literary prizes for fiction (starting in 2013) and nonfiction (beginning in 2016), published anthologies, mentored young writers, and loads more.
Writivism Prizes have been won by Resoketswe Manenzhe and Frances Ogamba (2019), Chisanga Mukuka and Mbogo Ireri (2018), Charles King and Munachim Amah (2017), Yvette Tetteh and Acan Innocent Immaculate (2016), Pemi Aguda (2015), Saaleha Idrees Bamjee (2014), and Anthea Paelo (2013).
The initiative as promised returned with shortlists from over 500 entries in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry revealed on February 29. The winners as announced by jury chair Sumayya Lee on Sunday are;
Poetry
Jury: Ber Anena and Yaa Asantewa
- The Evening News, Damilola Omotoyinbo
Damilola tweeted, “I won the Writivisim prize, the poetry category. I am still shocked! A big thanks to the @Writivism for selecting my work.”
Nonfiction (Essays)
Jury: Paula Akugizibwe and Tiffany Kagure Mugo
- The Covenant of Fate, Mlamli Tyulu
Fiction
Jury: Rešoketšwe Manenzhe and Juliana Lamy
- Ahuoyyiza’s Monologue, Hussani Abdulrahim
Hussani Abdulrahim tweeted, “I’ve been speechless. Too excited to even articulate my feelings. Utter gratitude to the judges for finding”Ahuoyizza’s Monologue” worthy of the Writivism Short Story Award. Congratulations to fellow winners. And thank you to everyone involved! ❤️”
The winners in each category take home $1000 (USD) while shortlisted writers will each walk away with $50(USD).
