Redemption Song and Other Stories: The Caine Prize for African Writing 2018

by Caine Prize, Chris Brazier (Editor)

The leading African literary award, known as the African Booker, named after the Booker Prize founder, Michael Caine. Now entering its nineteenth year, the Caine Prize for African Writing is Africa’s leading literary prize, and is awarded to a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. This collection brings together twelve short stories—the five 2018 shortlisted stories, along with others written at the 2018 Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop that took place in Rwanda. The collection showcases young writers who go on to publish successful novels, for Leila Aboulela, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Brian Chikwava and Helon Habila. The collection also includes the following twelve stories written at the No Ordinary Soirée by Paula Akugizibwe • Tie Kidi by Awuor Onyango • Calling the Clouds Home by Heran T. Abate • America by Caroline Numuhire • All Things Bright and Beautiful by Troy Onyango • Departure by Nsah Mala • Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila • Ngozi by Bongani Sibanda • The Weaving of Death by Lucky Grace Isingizwe • Redemption Song by Arinze Ifeakandu • Spaceman by Bongani Kona • Grief is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open by Eloghosa Osunde. Now entering its nineteenth year, the Caine Prize for African Writing is Africa’s leading literary prize, and is awarded to a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. This collection brings together twelve short stories—the five 2018 shortlisted stories, along with others written at the 2018 Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop that took place in Rwanda. The collection showcases young writers who go on to publish successful novels, for Leila Aboulela, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Brian Chikwava and Helon Habila. The collection also includes the following twelve stories written at the No Ordinary Soirée by Paula Akugizibwe • Tie Kidi by Awuor Onyango • Calling the Clouds Home by Heran T. Abate • America by Caroline Numuhire • All Things Bright and Beautiful by Troy Onyango • Departure by Nsah Mala • Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila • Ngozi by Bongani Sibanda • The Weaving of Death by Lucky Grace Isingizwe • Redemption Song by Arinze Ifeakandu • Spaceman by Bongani Kona • Grief is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open by Eloghosa Osunde The prize was launched in 2000 to encourage and highlight the richness and diversity of African writing by bringing it to a wider audience internationally. The focus on the short story reflects the contemporary development of the African storytelling tradition.

Genres: Short Stories

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2018

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic collection of short stories by African authors. All the writing and the stories are superb and I would highly recommend the entire volume. My favorites were the two sci-fi stories, "Where Rivers Go To Die" by Dila and "Tie Kidi" by Awuor Onyango; I would love to read a novel-length version of those two stories and hear what happens next. My runner-up favorites are "Wednesday's Story" by Talabi, "Involution" by Hardy and "All Things Bright and Beautiful" by Troy Onyango.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rarity for an anthology: mostly hits rather than misses for me. My personal favourites in no particular order:
"Involution" by Stacy Hardy
"Fanta Blackcurrant" by Makena Onjerika
"Wednesday's Story" by Wole Talabi
"Grief is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open" by Eloghosa Osunde
"Where Rivers go to Die" by Dilamn Dila

They were all striking and powerful. Will keep an eye out on the authors and their writing careers.

[Robert Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, this collection of short stories is wonderful. Each one delves into intriguing aspects of the variety of African life across the continent.

I do wish some of the stories continued instead of ended. A few of them seem to end in the middle of the climax without a resolution. Also there are some words and phrases that will be unfamiliar if you are not knowledgeable about life in Africa.

All that being said, this is a really solid collection and definitely worth a read.

[Jane Riordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories which, had I understood the use of local words and phrases would, I am sure, meant much more to me.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is typical of an anthology, my thoughts on the stories were across the board. But I am always grateful to the Caine Prize for introducing me to a crop of African writers to keep an eye out for in the future.

Highlights include the superb “Involution” by Stacy Hardy, a godsend in what’s turning out to be a middling reading year overall; “Calling the Clouds Home” by Heran T. Abate and “Ngozi” by Bongani Sibanda. A special mention goes out to Eloghosa Osunde’s “Grief Is the Gift that Breaks the Spirit Open”, which I had already read last year as one in a series of interconnected short stories featured in her debut novel Vagabonds! and was a delight to revisit here.

[Greg Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting world view, providing depth of experience and perspective from African writers.