Kenyan Writer, Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam, Shortlisted For Golden Baobab Prize

The Golden Baobab Prizes have announced their shortlisted writers for 2014. Established to inspire the writing and publishing of African stories that captivate the minds of children, the prizes award $20,000 to talented African writers and illustrators. The prize package also includes publishing and training opportunities to honorees.

For the 2014 Prizes for Literature, Golden Baobab received 210 manuscript submissions representing 13 African countries. After going through Golden Baobab’s 13-week evaluation process which is renowned for its rigor, the shortlist features 3 writers from South Africa, 2 from Ghana, 2 from Kenya and one each from Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

The 2014 shortlisted writers are:

The Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books

• Portia Dery (Ghana) – Grandma’s List
• Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam (Kenya) – Malaika’s Magical Kiosk
• Mandy Collins (South Africa) – There is a Hyena in my Kitchen
• Mike Mware (Zimbabwe) – The Big Ball

The Golden Baobab Prize for Early Chapter Books

• Bontle Senne (South Africa) – The Monster at Midnight
• Mamle Wolo (Ghana) – Flying through Water
• Mary Okon Ononokpono (Nigeria) – Talulah the Time Traveller
• Hillary Molenje Namunyu (Kenya) – Teddy Mapesa and the Missing Cash
• Jayne Bauling (South Africa) – The Saturday Dress

No stories from the Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers made it onto the 2014 shortlist. The winners of the 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes for Literature as well as the winners and shortlist for the 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes for Illustrators will be announced on November 13, 2014.