Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Two Nigerian writers Innocent Chizaram Ilo (When a Woman Renounces Motherhood) and Caleb Ozovehe Ajinomoh (Rites Evasion Manuever) are among five writers shortlisted for this year’s Commonwealth Short Story Prize Africa region.
Other writers are Aba Asibon (The Dawning) Ghana, Alboricah Rathupetsane (The Faraway Things) South Africa and ML Kejera (Fatou vs. the Dictator) The Gambia.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction in English in the regions of Africa, Asia, Canada, and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Each of these winners is then eligible for the global prize.
Selecting the winners for 2020 is a panel chaired by novelist, poet, and publisher Nii Ayikwei Parkes. The others are Mohale Mashigo (Africa), William Phuan (Asia), Heather O’Neill (Canada and Europe), Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw (the Caribbean) and Nic Low (the Pacific). This panel has pronounced the shortlist for the 2020 award.
Chair of the judges Nii Ayikwei Parkes said of the shortlist, ‘Beyond their basic plots, the best stories are elevated by the language in which they are told. In this judging process, the fine language has also undoubtedly been that of my fellow judges, who add nuance, colour, fun and a profound knowledge of trends in their regions to discussions. The result of the time we’ve spent indulging in the submissions to the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is a shortlist of 20 unique stories. These stories, drawn from all over the globe, are as harrowing as they are uplifting, funny while being tragic—and defiant in the face of politics, bigotry, and injustice. But, crucially, at a time like this, with the world beset with myriad challenges and a devastating virus, the stories are grounded in faith, hope and the humanity we all share.’
Previous winners in the Africa region have been Jekwu Anyaegbuna (2012), Julian Jackson (2013), Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (2014), Lesley Nneka Arimah (2015), Faraaz Mahomed (2016), Akwaeke Emezi (2017), Efua Traoré (2018), and Mbozi Haimbe (2019). Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi won the global prize in 2014.
