Booker Prize recognises African women

Two African women on Booker Prize list - 30th November 2020

The Booker Prize is a competition to find the best book in English. It takes place every year and is the most important book prize in the UK. It is given to the writer of the best English language book of the year. The writer receives £50,000.

The winner is chosen from a shortlist, which included two African women for the first time. They were Ethiopian American Maaza Mengiste and Zimbabwean Tsitsi Dangarembga. Their success may give African authors more opportunity.

The title of Dangarembga’s book is 'This Mournable Body'. It tells the story of a woman who lives in Zimbabwe. The writer recently had problems in Zimbabwe. She was arrested in Harare. She had been at a peaceful protest against the government.

Mengiste's novel, 'The Shadow King', is about ordinary people who fought the Italian army. It takes place in 1935, when Italy invaded Ethiopia. Mengiste is the first Ethiopian to make the Booker shortlist.

The two authors are pleased to be on the list. They are positive about the effect this will have. Mengiste said: "It is letting African writers know that their work is noticed".

This year’s Booker Prize was won by Douglas Stuart. He won for his first ever book: ‘Shuggie Bain’.