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Safal Kiswahili Prize for African PLiterature: 2024 Shortlist Announced in Nairobi

Author

Gerald Kombo
June 29, 2025

In a vibrant literary gathering held in Nairobi, the Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature officially unveiled the 2024 shortlist, shining a spotlight on Kiswahili’s growing literary frontier and the continent’s rising voices.

The Prize, now in its ninth edition, continues to gain stature as one of Africa’s premier platforms for unpublished Kiswahili manuscripts — celebrating originality, storytelling, and linguistic heritage.

A Prize Rooted in Vision and Identity

Established in 2014 by Dr. Lizzy Attree, a British literary advocate with a passion for African languages, and Dr. Mukoma wa Ngugi, a Cornell University professor and son of the late Wahome Mutahi, the prize has grown into a cornerstone of African literary recognition.

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“Today, I speak wearing three hats — as a Trustee of the Safal MRM Foundation, the Group Head of Marketing, Communications and External Affairs, and the Managing Director of Safal Building Systems,” said Anthony Ng’ang’a, delivering the keynote at the shortlist unveiling.
“This prize was born out of a shared vision — to champion Kiswahili as a language of the future. Though Dr. Lizzy doesn’t speak Kiswahili herself, she saw the boundless potential in our language. Along with Dr. Mukoma wa Ngugi, they laid the foundation for something that has grown far beyond literature. This is a commitment to African identity.”

2024 Shortlisted Manuscripts Revealed

From 210 entries, carefully reviewed by a panel of three judges, seven manuscripts emerged as this year’s shortlist — representing the best unpublished writing in Kiswahili.

📚 Novels

  • Nderemo za Mtaa – Joel Hamisi (Tanzania)

  • Kitanzi cha Mauti – Mayassa Abdallah Chembea (Tanzania)

  • Nyaraka za Wafu – Ali Othman Masoud (Tanzania)

✍🏾 Poetry

  • Waadhi – Mohamed Hamid Haji (Tanzania)

  • Bure Ghali – Bashiru Abdallah (Tanzania)

  • Laana ya Uovu – Mohamed Idrisa (Tanzania)

📖 Short Stories

  • Mungu Hadanganywi na Hadithi Nyingine – Edwin Omindo (Kenya)

Though Tanzanians dominate the shortlist — a reflection of Kiswahili being their primary language of instruction — Kenyans have also achieved success. Jacob, a previous winner from 2018, was present at the event as living proof that Kenyans too can rise in this space.

"Swahili Is the Language of the Future"

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“If you look at demographic projections, Africa is where the world will be. And with over 300 to 400 million Kiswahili speakers — a number still growing — the future is African, and Kiswahili is its voice,” said Anthony Ng’ang’a.
“Swahili is one of the African Union’s official languages. And yet, when you stack all the world’s literature, there are still very few books written in Kiswahili. This prize exists to change that.”

He added that if nothing else, the prize will leave behind a wealth of Kiswahili literature and poetry that will serve generations.

Judging and Selection

Chaired by Dr. Salma Hamad, and supported by Prof. Richard Wafula (Kenyatta University, Kenya) and Dr. Caesar Jjingo (Makerere University, Uganda), the judging panel reviewed hundreds of thousands of words under a new manuscript limit of 60,000 words per entry.

The rigorous review process, Ng’ang’a acknowledged, ensures that “those who win are truly deserving, having stood out in a pool of brilliant submissions.”

$15,000 in Literary Prizes

To further support and encourage African writers, the prize allocates a total of US$15,000, distributed as follows:

  • Best Novel – US$5,000

  • Best Poetry Collection – US$5,000

  • Second Prize in any category – US$2,500

Ng’ang’a, with a touch of humor, told attendees:

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“If you gave me $5,000 right now, I’d be very happy. It’s not just a reward; it’s a meaningful investment in a writer’s journey.”

Winning manuscripts will be published by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers (Tanzania), and the best poetry collection will also be translated into English by the Africa Poetry Book Fund.

Looking Ahead to Kiswahili Day

The awards ceremony is scheduled for July 3, 2025, at the University of Dar es Salaam, just days before World Kiswahili Language Day on July 7.

As Ng’ang’a concluded:

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“This year’s event will be more than a ceremony. It will be a celebration of vision, creativity, and unity — all channeled through the language of Swahili.”

About the Prize

The Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature is sponsored by the Safal Group, through Mabati Rolling Mills (Kenya) and ALAF (Tanzania). It awards the best unpublished manuscripts written in Kiswahili across multiple categories: novel, poetry, biography, drama, and graphic novels.

The initiative is not only about literary excellence, but about preserving cultural identity, inspiring future generations, and raising the global stature of African languages.

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