Shortlists for Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2009

The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2009
Regional shortlists announced

The shortlists for the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book and Best First Book have been announced today in London.
Best Book Award: Africa
Damon Galgut/The Imposter /Penguin Books/South Africa
Tim Keegan/My Life with the Duvals/Umuzi/South Africa
Mandla Langa/The Lost Colours of /the Chameleon Picador Africa/South Africa
Sindiwe Magona/Beauty’s Gift /Kwela Books/South Africa
Zoë Wicomb/The One That Got Away/Umuzi/South Africa
Best First Book Award: Africa
Uwem Akpan/Say You‘re One of Them/Abacus/Nigeria
Jane Bennett/Porcupine/Kwela Books/South Africa
Jassy Mackenzie/Random Violence/Umuzi/South Africa
Chris Marnewick/Shepherds and Butchers/Umuzi/South Africa
Sue Rabie/Boston Snowplough Human & Rousseau/South Africa
Megan Voysey-Braig/Till We Can Keep an Animal/Jacana Media/South Africa
The judging panel for the Africa region was chaired by Elinor Sisulu (South Africa). She was joined by judges Kole Omotoso (Nigeria) and Billy Karanja Kahora (Kenya).
Elinor Sisulu commented: ‘Once again Africa’s publishing powerhouses, South Africa and Nigeria dominated the entries. Of over fifty entries received, only two were from Kenya and two from Ghana. There was an unusually high number of short story collections among the entries.