Booker Prize recognises African women - 30th November 2020

This year’s Booker Prize for Fiction nominations included two female African writers. This is a first for the literary prize and a boost for authors from Africa.

Ethiopian American Maaza Mengiste and Zimbabwean Tsitsi Dangarembga, were both shortlisted for the £50,000 award.

The Booker Prize is the UK's most famous literary prize. It's awarded every year for the best English language novel. Traditionally, it only recognised the work of British, Irish, and Commonwealth writers. However, in 2014, the rules were changed to include any book which is written in English and published in the UK.

Dangarembga, who was recently arrested in Harare during a peaceful protest against the government, made the list for 'This Mournable Body'. It is a sequel to her 1988 novel, 'Nervous Conditions'. The book follows a woman’s experience as she tries to make a life for herself in Zimbabwe.

Mengiste has been shortlisted for 'The Shadow King'. It tells the story of ordinary people who fought against Italy's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia. She is the first Ethiopian author to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

The two novelists welcomed the recognition of their work and feel that it gives encouragement to other African writers.

"I do think that maybe it is inspiring for younger writers", said Dangarembga.

For Mengiste, the nomination "is letting African writers know that their work is noticed, it is being read".

Scottish American Douglas Stuart took home this year’s prize for his first novel ‘Shuggie Bain’.