The AKO - Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual prize for a short story by an African writer, published in English, whether they live in Africa or elsewhere. The winner receives a cash prize of £10,000. Four shortlisted writers will each receive £500.

The Caine Prize for African Writing is a registered charity whose aim is to bring African writing to a wider audience using our annual literary prize. As well as administering the Prize, we work to connect readers with African writers through a series of public events, as well as helping emerging writers in Africa break into the world of mainstream publishing through the annual Caine Prize Writers' Workshop, which takes place in a different African country each year.

The stories written in the Caine Prize workshops are published annually with the shortlisted stories in the annual Caine Prize Anthology by New Internationalist in the UK and publishers in eight African countries, including, Jacana Media (South Africa), Cassava Republic (Nigeria), Kwani? (Kenya), Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana), FEMRITE (Uganda), Gadsen Publishers (Zambia), 'amaBooks (Zimbabwe) and Langaa (Cameroon).

It is named after the late Sir Michael Caine, former Chairman of Booker plc, Chairman of the "Africa 95" arts festival in Europe and Africa in 1995 and for almost 25 years Chairman of the Booker Prize management committee. After his death, friends and colleagues decided to establish a £10,000 prize to be awarded annually in his memory.

How can I apply?
There is no application form. To apply, send six original published copies of the work for consideration to the Caine Prize office, including a letter from the publisher.

• If the work is published in a book or magazine, we would like to receive at least one copy of the book/journal and five photocopies; but particularly if several stories from an anthology are submitted, we would, if possible, like to receive six copies of the book/journal itself.
• If it is published in a magazine or journal, we will accept one original copy plus five photocopies, but we prefer six original copies.
• If the book is published online, we would like to receive six printed copies.
• Address and mail the eligible work:

The Caine Prize for African Writing
51 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RU

A REMINDER OF OUR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The story must have been published in the five years preceding the submission deadline. For eligibility in 2023, the judges will only consider works published after 31 January 2018.
• Stories of less than 3,000 words or more than 10,000 words are not eligible for the Prize.
• Short stories must be submitted by a publisher - this includes publishers of physical and digital literary magazines or journals. Self-published and unpublished works are not eligible.
• Short stories that have previously been submitted to the Caine Prize are not eligible.
• Editors must obtain the consent of the writer(s) before submitting stories for the Prize.
• Stories submitted for the Prize must have been published in English. Translated stories are eligible, provided the English translation has been published.
• Genres not eligible for entry include children's stories, factual writing, plays and autobiography/biography.
• Entries must specify which African country the author is from and the word short story must be counted.
• Editors are encouraged to submit several stories, as long as they don't submit more than one story by the same author.
• Short stories that do not fulfil the criteria will not be considered for the prize.

Rewards

• Winner receives a cash prize of £10,000.
• Four shortlisted writers will each receive a cash prize of £500.
• Opportunity to take part in interviews, panel discussions and readings with a global audience.
• Opportunity to take part in the Prize's various programmes.