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PEN / STUDZINSKI Literary Award

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
The PEN/Studzinski Literary Award has replaced the HSBC/SA PEN Literary Award and encourages 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.

Commenting on the award, Shaun Johnson, Chairman of the SA PEN Editorial Board said: "At SA PEN we took the decision to open up the competition to all of Africa, to see what would happen. We decided to lift all age restrictions, and to see what would happen. We wanted to take a wide-angled literary snapshot of our continent, and to help get published what writers across Africa are thinking about and writing about as the first decade of the 21st Century draws to a close. It has been a privilege to help make this come about, and my congratulations to everyone who entered."

The 2009 PEN/Studzinski award attracted an unprecedented 827 entries, 625 of which met with the rules of entry. A team of 38 readers undertook 1446 readings under strict rules of author anonymity to shortlist 195 stories, and 34 stories were chosen as finalists by the PEN Editorial Board comprising Shaun Johnson, Anthony Fleischer, Justin Fox, Harry Garuba, Alastair King and Mary Watson. The finalists' stories will be published in an anthology, New Writing from Africa 2009, due for release shortly.

The majority (672) of entries were received from South African authors. Of the 155 non-South African authors, the majority (76) came from Nigeria, while entries were also received from Algeria, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe. With no age limit, the award attracted entries from all ages ranging from 10 (the youngest entrant) to 101 (the oldest). The 30 - 40 age group was the most prolific and 25 of the 34 finalist stories were written by women.

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

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


Watch this space for further updates.

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