Nigerian author Munachim Amah has won the fifth Writivism short story award with a cash prize of $400.
The story revolves around a young man named Nkem who is struggling with his identity and gender and discovering himself.
The 2017 Writivism Festival was held at the Square in Kampala from August 17 to 20. The festival included book launches, poetry, comedy, plays, panel discussions, music, and exhibitions.
Amah’s story beat Fairies, by Saaleha Bhamjee (South Africa), Mobache, by Régine Gwladys Lebouda (Cameroon), The (Un)Lucky Ones, by Andrew C. Dakalira (Malawi), and This Story Has No End, by Blessing J. Christopher (Nigeria).
Amah also won a one-month writing residency at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Accepting the prize in Kampala, Amah said: “I have received positive feedback since I published this story. Many people who have read it said they felt moved. I dedicate this prize to anybody going through a personal struggle.
“This story was inspired by my observation of people’s experiences and struggles with identity. Winning this prize means a lot, and I have to work harder to improve my craft,” Amah told The EastAfrican.
Amah is an alumnus of the 2016 Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop, and his short fiction and creative non-fiction stories have been published in Saraba Magazine, African Writer, Kalahari Review, and are soon to be featured in Bakwa Magazine.
“The dry, sparse earth was still hot from the relentless day.
“I faced outwards, into the darkness and the wildness. My hunched back shielded me from the hellish epicentre just five metres behind me,” King writes.
A Long Way from Home, by Vivian Uchechi Ogbonna (Nigeria) and Finding Binyavanga, by Sada Malumfashi (Nigeria) were close contenders for the creative non-fiction prize.
“This is a true story of my life. It is about my coming of age and enlightenment. It happened a few days before my 21st birthday,” King said.
He is a lecturer and writer in Cape Town where he lectures on climate change and homophobia.
The five shortlisted short stories have already been published in the Munyori Literary Journal as in previous years. The three shortlisted non-fiction stories have been published in Enkare Review.
The annual festival is organised by the Centre for African Cultural Excellence.
