Booked and Busy: The Politics of Literary Prizes

Opinion is the basis of all literary prizes. Writing is rewarded by systems and institutions of opinion. On September 15 2020, the Booker Prize announced what Alison Flood and Sian Cain of The Guardian described as the ‘most diverse Booker Shortlist ever’. The shortlist of six features four writers of colour. Maaza Mengiste, an Ethiopian American woman, was nominated for The Shadow King. Tsitsi Dangarembga, the Zimbabwean woman whose recent arrest sparked international outrage, was nomina

Every year, The Republic publishes the most ambitious writing focused on Africa, from news and analysis to long-form features.

To continue reading this article, Subscribe or Register for a Free Pass.

Already a subscriber? Log in.