On behalf of the jury selection board of the African Writers Awards, I am pleased to announce the selected judges for the 2022 African Writers Awards to be held during the 2022 African Writers Conference in Limbe, Cameroon, in November 2022.
The African Writers Awards is an annual prize that celebrates talented writers in Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction, and Drama. The winners in each of the 3 genres will individually receive $200 and a certificate. We present to you the panel of judges who have been selected based on their contributions towards the growth of the African literary space, integrity, and commitment to excellence.
Gankhanani Moffat Moyo (Zambia)
Gankhanani Moffat Moyo is a writer, poet, cultural expert and literary critic who teaches at the University of Zambia. His research interests include literary theory, the African novel, and modernism. His new-found passion is studies in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and identity.
In 2017, Gankhanani founded Kalulu Kreativez, a hub of African arts and culture which is to house a nationwide cultural and performance centre in Rufunsa district, Zambia.
Sabah Carrim (Mauritius)
Sabah Carrim has authored two novels, Humeirah and Semi-Apes, both set in Mauritius where she was born. Her short stories have been shortlisted and published in various international competitions organised by Commonwealth Writers (Plaine Verte), Goethe Institute South Africa (Tara’s Hair), Odd Voice Out Press (Size of Rice), and recently by the Bristol Short Story Prize (The Evil in Me). One of her non-fiction works (Dismantling Life) was also a semi-finalist in the Gabriele Rico Challenge for Creative Non-fiction and was published in Reed Magazine in 2020.
Sabah’s poetry has been published in Setu: A Bilingual Journal of Literature, Le Mauricien, Jalada Africa, Conestoga Zen, The Bangalore Review, Muse India, and FewerThan500.
Sabah has a PhD in Genocide Studies and is currently a recipient of the W. Morgan and Lou Claire Rose Scholarship in Texas State University for an MFA in Creative Writing in the United States of America.
Comfort Nyati, SDB (Zimbabwe)
Comfort Nyati is a Zimbabwean who belongs to the Salesians of Don Bosco, a Catholic religious order. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Education. He is currently pursuing his M-Phil (Master’s Degree in Philosophy) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi-Kenya. In his MA thesis, he has taken a philosophical enterprise centred on the Hermeneutics of Language. He enjoys reading and writing philosophical articles and poems in his free time on the principal issues surrounding Africa.
Currently, Comfort serves as the poetry editor for the Writers Space Africa monthly magazine. He has reviewed and written a number of articles and poems that featured on several platforms; including the Writes space magazine, Kiliviews, The shallow tales review, Heart Links and World on the Brinks-a poetry anthology published in Nigeria.
Additionally, he has authored a Poetry Anthology titled Seasonal Piety. This is yet to be published. To date, his dream remains; to serve whe(n)re necessity calls.
Nabilah Usman (Nigeria)
Nabilah Usman is a broadcast journalist with a focus on developmental and strategic communication. She was recognised in Opportunity Hub’s 2020 100 Most Influential Young People, an award with an Africa focus. Nabilah is the Programmes Director of African Writers Development Trust (AWDT) and co-editor of Twaweza: A Collection of 24 African Non-Fiction Stories. Outside of her work in Media and the literary community, Nabilah has been an English teacher and is an advocate of Education for All.
Temani Nkalolang (Botswana)
Temani Nkalolang is a Motswana writer who is both a poetry editor and reviewer for Writers Space Africa online literary magazine. In 2018 she worked with Mmakgosi Live, a mental health awareness campaign based in Botswana where she focused mostly on post-natal depression. She has also worked with The Shallow Tales Review magazine as a guest poetry editor for its 31st issue in 2021.
Her works which stretch across poetry, flash fiction and children’s literature have been published extensively in Writers Space Africa online literary magazine and she is the winner of the 2019 African Writers Awards for flash fiction.
Anthony Onugba – Chief Judge
Anthony Onugba (PenBoss) is an author of seven published books. These include Mixed Emotions (2005), Reflections (2010), The Chronicle of Christ (2011), Amanda’s Crime (2015), and Lavender Tales of the Summit (2021). He is a multi-genre writer with works spanning poetry, prose, drama, and children’s literature.
Anthony is the Founder of Writers Space Africa and the African Writers Development Trust, where he is Executive Director. He is the brain behind the annual African Writers Conference and African Writers Awards. While writing, he consults with various Non-Governmental Organizations and facilitates workshops on Conflict Management and Prevention, Leadership, communication, Creative Writing and Film. He has speaking engagements throughout the year at various forums.
Anthony is an animal lover and a star-gazer. He loves to walk in the rain, kiss animals and go mountaineering. His website is www.anthonyonugba.com
We wish the judges and the participants all the best.
Signed,
Baboshiya Asake,
AWA Planning Secretary.
Is there a list of nominees?
We are born creatives and acknowledgement ad well as worthy validation is the vital cog that will contribute to building the African writing space with integrity.
Keep it up AWA!!!