2013 Golden Baobab Prizes Longlist Announced

The 2013 Golden Baobab Prize longlist has been announced. The prize, celebrating its 5th year, was set up to inspire the creation of enthralling African children’s stories. Golden Baobab offers three prizes: The Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books, The Golden Baobab Prize for Early Chapter Books and The Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers. The Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books and The Golden Baobab Prize for Early Chapter Books is open to all African citizens. The Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers is open to budding African writers under the age of eighteen years.

According to Nanama B. Acheampong, coordinator of the Golden Baobab Prizes,
Golden Baobab is really excited about this year’s stories and we are looking forward to growing further by publishing a collection of these amazing stories we have received. We are currently looking to partner with corporations that share in our vision to bring these stories to the doorsteps of African children everywhere.
The longlist had the strongest representation from Nigeria and South Africa. Other countries that featured were Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. Philip Begho and Ayibu Makolo, both Nigerian, had two stories each on the longlist. Below is the full longlist:

Longlist for the Picture Book Prize
  1. Carol Gachiengo – Grandma Mimo’s Breakfast (Kenya)
  2. Mandy Collins – Dad Goes to School (South Africa)
  3. Philip Begho – The Princess with the Golden Voice (Nigeria)
  4. Liza Esterhuyse – The Little Hippo (South Africa)
  5. Nneoma Ike-Njoku – Elelenma (Nigeria)
  6. Philip Begho – The Two-Headed Monster (Nigeria)
  7. Regina Malan – The Butterfly Tree (South Africa)
  8. Ansie Nel - Thumisang and Pulane (South Africa)
  9. Ayibu Makolo– The Little Yellow Frog (Nigeria)
  10. Nahida Esmail – Bibo Learns to Speak the Truth (Tanzania)
Longlist for the Early Chapter Book Prize
  1. Fawa Conradie – Kay Cera Cera (South Africa)
  2. Sabina Mutangadura – Seven (Zimbabwe)
  3. Edith-Susan Uchenna – Christmas in Kemah’s Home Town (Nigeria)
  4. Richard Street – Rhino (South Africa)
  5. Sedem Abla Agbolosu - Kwame Gets a Job (Ghana)
  6. Tunji Ajibade – In the End (Nigeria)
  7. Karen Hurt – What’s Going on at 179 Jabulani Street? (South Africa)
  8. Ayibu Makolo – Madam’s Maid (Nigeria)
  9. Derek Lubangakene – Of Ghosts and Grave-Robbers (Uganda)
  10. Olorunfunmi Temitope – Grandma’s Hens (Nigeria)
Longlist for The Rising Writer Prize
  1. Jennifer Sarfo – Songs of Gods (Ghana)
  2. Kanengo Diallo – Pieces of Africa (Tanzania)
  3. Fego Martins Ahia – The Little Secret (Nigeria)
  4. Asantewa Owusu-Darko – The Busting of the Greedy Gangster (Ghana)
  5. Freda Sarfo – Making a Wish (Ghana)
The shortlist will be announced on 30th October and the winners will be announced on 13th November, 2013. Past winners of the Golden Baobab Prizes have included Joy Nwiyi from Nigeria, Jenny Robson from Botswana and South Africa and Rutendo Chabikwa from Zimbabwe who won the 2012 Rising Writer Prize.

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