15th May 2009
2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award winners

The South African Centre of International PEN (SA PEN) is delighted to announce the winners of the first PEN/Studzinski Literary Award for original short stories in English by African authors.

Nobel Laureate J M Coetzee has selected the short story Where he will leave his shoes by Karen Jayes as the winner of the first prize. Coetzee describes it as "a story that breathes new life into the tired topos of the house-servant's perspective on the master. Its treatment of complex, not fully conscious feelings is compelling." The author, Karen Jayes, works as a freelance writer and lecturer in Cape Town. She says of Where he will leave his shoes: "I try to write in voices that aren't often heard...This particular voice humbled me. I would like for others also to hear his sadness, his hope - and his warning."

Andrew Salomon, an archeologist living in Cape Town, has been awarded the second prize for A visit to Dr Mamba, a short story based on a leaflet promising cures for a range of intriguing dilemmas. Coetzee described Salomon's story as "sly, straight-faced humour...furthered by clean, stripped down narration."

The third prize is shared between The visit by Nadia Davids, "an admirably structured story exploring some of the enduring damage of apartheid," according to Coetzee, and Survival mechanisms by Ceridwen Dovey, "which calls on poetic resources to explore white ambivalence about South Africa." Nadia Davids, an award-winning South African writer and theatre director is currently resident in New York. Ceridwen Dovey, a South African anthropologist, documentary film maker and prize-winning novelist also lives in the United States.

John Studzinski, a global investment banker and philanthropist, has generously donated the prize money of £5 000 for the winner, £3 000 for the second prize and £2 000 for the third prize.

J M Coetzee has also given honorable mentions to the following writers and stories selected as finalists for the award:

• NoViolet Mkha Bulawayo - Snapshots
• Naomi Nkealah - In the name of peace
• Isabella Morris - Bluette
• Irene McCartney - Pauline's ghost

21st March 2009

The South African Centre of International PEN (SA PEN) is pleased to advise that the winners of the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award will be announced at an event to be held as part of the Franschhoek Literary Festival, on Friday, 15th May 2009.

4th February 2009

The South African Centre of International PEN (SA PEN) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award.

The award for original short stories in English by African authors attracted an unprecedented 827 entries, 625 of which met with the rules of entry. Just under 200 stories were longlisted, and 34 stories were chosen as finalists by the PEN Editorial Board comprising Shaun Johnson (Chair), Anthony Fleischer, Justin Fox, Harry Garuba, Alistair King and Mary Watson. Nobel Laureate JM Coetzee is currently judging the shortlisted stories and will choose the winners of the first (£5 000), second (£3 000) and third (£2 000) prizes. The winners will be announced in May 2009. (Details regarding the announcement will be posted on www.sapen.co.za in due course.) The finalists’ stories will be included in an anthology of new writing from Africa to be published later this year.

The writers and their stories to have been selected as finalists for the Pen/Studzinski Literary Award 2009 are:

Ken Barris – The life of Worm
Nadia Davids – The visit
Ceridwen Dovey – Survival mechanisms
Joan du Toit – An informed decision
Graham Ellis – No match for Fanie Smith
Rosemund J Handler – Strident night
Jeanne Hromnik – Love In troubled times
Karen Jayes – Where he will leave his shoes
Suzanne Jordaan – Beulah
Bobby Jordan – Metalhead and Situation Orange
Chisanga Kabinga – Display cabinet
Ken N Kamoche – A kiss in Nanjing
Yvette Kruger – What I wore
Lauri Kubuitsile – Pulani’s eyes
Beatrice Lamwaka – The star in my camp
Jennifer Lean – To each his own
Irene McCartney – Pauline’s ghost
Jenna Mervis – The lives of dogs
Kirsten Miller – Only in art
NoViolet Mkha Bulawayo – Snapshots
Wame Molefhe – Rainbow-coloured dreams
Natasha Moodley – Spirit of Madala
Isabella Morris – Bluette
Kyne Nislev Bernstorff – The last supper
Naomi Nkealah – In the name of peace
Maik Nwosu – In Leopardville
Tolu Ogunlesi – River Falling
Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi – Area boy rescue
Andrew Salomon – A visit to Dr Mamba
Alex Smith – Soulmates
Dineke Volschenk – Glorious wounds
Phillippa Yaa de Villiers – Keeping everything the same
Hayet Z – Flypapered days

The PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award has replaced the HSBC/SA PEN Literary Award and aims to encourage new creative writing in Africa. It is open to all citizens of African countries writing in English, and offers talented writers on the continent an exciting opportunity to develop or launch a literary career.

Media enquiries: Lesley Lambert Tel: +27 (0)83 326 2500
email: lesley@wisenet.co.za

Administrative enquiries: Deborah Horn-Botha Tel: +27 (0)21 701 8510
email: rudebs@icon.co.za

15 May 2008 NEW SA PEN LITERARY AWARD
JM Coetzee agrees to be final judge


The South African Centre of International PEN (SA PEN) is pleased to announce a new literary award in Africa to replace the HSBC / SA PEN Literary Award.

The new award for original short stories in English will be known as the PEN / STUDZINSKI Literary Award. John Studzinski, a global investment banker and philanthropist, has generously donated the prize money.

Nobel Laureate John Coetzee has agreed to be the final judge for the new award.

Award-winning author and SA PEN executive committee member, Shaun Johnson, has assumed leadership responsibility for the award. With Shaun's guidance, the project will build on the momentum of the previous awards sponsored by HSBC Bank plc in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Johnson said he had agreed enthusiastically when asked to take on the task: 'Having experienced myself how helpful and encouraging it is to a writer to have one's work recognised in the form of literary awards, I'm delighted to be able to play a part in assisting other authors.'

His debut novel The Native Commissioner won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Africa, the MNet Literary Award, the Neilsen Booksellers' Choice Award, was longlisted for the international Dublin/Impac prize, and shortlisted for the Sunday Times and University of Johannesburg awards.

In a sponsorship arrangement which makes the PEN / STUDZINSKI award one of the more financially rewarding literary competitions in Africa, the first, second and third prizes respectively will be £5 000, £3 000 and £2 000.

The award aims to encourage new creative writing in Africa and will offer talented writers an exciting opportunity to launch or develop a literary career.

The selected contributions of 86 writers to the earlier HSBC / SA PEN Literary Awards were published in a series of books of new creative writing, entitled AFRICAN COMPASS, AFRICAN ROAD and AFRICAN PENS. First prize winners of the HSBC / SA PEN Awards were Elizabeth Pienaar (2005), Sean O'Toole (2006) and Henrietta Rose-Innes (2007).

SA PEN authors shortlisted for 2008 Caine Prize

Three authors whose short stories were published in AFRICAN PENS in 2007 are on a shortlist of five for the 2008 Caine Prize. They are:

Stanley Onjezani Kenani (Malawi) - For Honour
Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa) - Poison
Gill Schierhout (South Africa) - The day of the Surgical Colloquium hosted by the Far East Rand Hospital

Their stories were selected from more than 90 entries which came in from 17 African countries. "SA PEN's purpose is to encourage creative writing and this is a remarkable achievement by these authors," said SA PEN President, Anthony Fleischer.

Seven authors whose short stories were published in the SA PEN series are now fully-fledged authors. They are:  

Lauren Beukes - Maverick
Maxine Case - All We Have Left Unsaid
Ceridwen Dovey - Blood Kin
Byron Loker - New Swell
Kirsten Miller - All is Fish
Sean O'Toole - The Marquis of Mooikloof
Alexandra Smith - Algeria's Way

SA PEN has in the past published other collections of South African writing, with contributions from distinguished writers such as Nadine Gordimer, Oswald Joseph Mtshali and Zakes Mda.

International PEN, the literary organisation with which SA PEN is affiliated, was founded in 1921 to advance the cause of literature and defend free expression. International PEN has 145 centres throughout the world and has undertaken to publicise winning contributions to the PEN / STUDZINSKI award in its global journal, PEN International.

Writers who are citizens of African countries are encouraged to begin preparing short stories for submission. There is no age limit. Further information and detailed rules of entry will be posted on the SA PEN website, www.sapen.co.za.

For media enquiries, contact:
Lesley Lambert
Tel: +27 (0)83 326 2500
Email: lesley@wisenet.co.za

For administrative enquiries, contact:
Deborah Horn-Botha
Tel: +27 (0)21 701 8510


Email: rudebs@icon.co.za