Audio Collection

Welcome to the AKO Caine Prize’s audio collection! On this page, you can listen to recordings of Caine Prize shortlisted stories, as well as the Prize’s podcast series.

Podcast Series - Georgina Godwin Interviews the 2020 Shortlist (7 episodes)

1. Georgina Godwin Meets Ellah Wakatama OBE: Chair of The AKO Caine Prize for African Writing

In this first episode, journalist Georgina Godwin is joined by the Chair of the AKO Caine Prize Ellah Wakatama. They discuss the 2020 shortlist, the history of the 21 year old prize, the future of the prize and the judging process.

2. Georgina Godwin Meets ERICA SUGO ANYADIKE: 2020 AKO CAINE PRIZE SHORTLISTEE

“We are living in a world where women are reduced to these really superficial things or they’re reduced to their sex and so it was very important for me to address that.”

In this episode, Georgina Godwin is joined by Tanzanian writer Erica Sugo Anyadike who reads from How to Marry an African President. They discuss Erica’s experience of growing up in Zimbabwe and her literary inspirations and motivations.

Read a PDF of Erica’s story here

3. Georgina Godwin meets CHIKODILI EMELUMADU: 2020 AKO CAINE PRIZE SHORTLISTEE

“I wanted to write a body of work that fulfilled my need for academic rigour….”

In this episode, Nigerian-British writer Chikodili Emelumadu joins Georgina Godwin to read from her story What to do when your child brings home a Mami Wata. They discuss Chikodili being shortlisted for the prize for a second time, the story’s unique structure and its deeper meanings.

Read a PDF of Chikodili’s story here

4. Georgina Godwin meets Jowhoe Ile: 2020 AKO Caine Prize Shortlistee

“I was interested in writing about food and the preparation of food…I feel it is not only physically nourishing but also for the mind and the spirit.”

In this episode, Jowhor Ile joins Georgina Godwin to read from his story Fisherman's Stew. They discuss his journey as an award-winning writer and academic, his affinity for the short story genre and what inspired him to write Fisherman’s Stew.

Read a PDF of Jowhor’s story here

5. Georgina Godwin meets Rémy Ngamije: 2020 AKO Caine Prize Shortlistee

“Fiction is to put yourself in other people’s shoes, the part of the reader is to also allow yourself to go along with a journey.” Rwandan/ Namibian writer Rémy Ngamije reads from his story The Neighbourhood Watch and talks to Georgina about his inspiration for the story, he discusses Namibia’s literary scene and being editor in chief of literary magazine Doek! The winner of the 21st AKO Caine Prize for African Writing will be announced on the 27th July 2020 - visit www.caineprize.com for details.

Read a PDF of Rémy’s story here

6. Georgina Godwin meets Irenosen Okojie: 2020 AKO Caine Prize Shortlistee

“I always thought that my writing was a bit too weird for something like the Caine Prize”

“I really like to centre the idea of outsiderness and the idea of people who we don’t normally see seen, I really like to make them visible in my work.” In this episode, Nigerian-British writer Irenosen Okojie joins Georgina Godwin to read from her story Grace Jones. They talk about what writing means to her, her writing process, and what being nominated for the AKO Caine Prize means to her.

Read a PDF of Irenosen’s story here

7. Georgina Godwin's final episode with 2020 AKO Caine Prize Winner Irenosen Okojie

In this podcast episode, Georgina Godwin speaks to Chair of judges Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE, winner of the 2020 AKO Caine Prize Irenosen Okojie and Chair of the Prize Ellah Wakatama OBE. Kenneth talks about the process of reading more than 180 stories, discussing and adjudicating with fellow judges, and being stopped in his tracks by Irenosen's story.

In this episode we also hear from Irenosen Okojie herself, reflecting on her win and living all of this in the middle of a pandemic... "I'm still in a bit of a daze!"

To wrap up this final episode, the Chair of the AKO Caine Prize for African Writing Ellah Wakatama OBE speaks to Georgina about this year's prize, and the steps forward...

2019 Shortlisted Stories - Audio (4 tracks)

It Takes A Village some say - By Ngwah-Mbo Nana Nkweti [2019 Caine Prize Shortlist]

A childless Cameroonian-American couple adopt a girl from their home country but do not realize what they have taken on

Read the PDF of Nana’s story here

Skinned by Lesley Nneka Arimah [2019 Caine Prize Winner]

In a dystopian world where women are required to be naked until they accept a husband, a woman in her early thirties refuses to marry …

Read the PDF of Lesley’s story here

The Wall - by Meron Hadero [2019 Caine Prize Shortlist]

An Ethiopian boy who has spent his early years in the shadow of the Berlin Wall comes of age in Iowa

Read the PDF of Meron’s story here

Sew My Mouth by Cherrie Kandie [2019 Caine Prize Shortlist]

Two young women who love each other wrestle with the expectations of family and society in Nairobi

Read the PDF of Cherrie’s story here

2018 Shortlisted Stories - Audio (5 Tracks)

'American Dream' by Nonyelum Ekwempu [2018 Caine Prize Shortlist]

A boy dreams of escape to America from his troubled life in a slum on the Lagos lagoon

'Involution' by Stacy Hardy [2018 Caine Prize Shortlist]

A woman discovers that a strange creature has taken up residence inside her vagina

'The Armed Letter Writers' by Olufunke Ogundimu [2018 Caine Prize Shortlist]

Armed robbers announce their intention of visiting Abati Close, throwing all the residents into confusion...

'Fanta Blackcurrant' by Makena Onjerika [2018 Caine Prize Winner]

Meri is not like the other street kids – there has always been something different about her…

'Wednesday's Story' by Wole Talabi [2018 Caine Prize Shortlist]

The real story of Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday, involving an Ifá priestess-to-be, doomed romance and a breach in the fabric of time

2017 Shortlist - Audio (3 Tracks)

'The Story of the Girl Whose Birds Flew Away' by Bushra al-Fadil, read in arabic [Caine Prize 2017 Winner]

Who Will Greet You At Home By Lesley Nneka Arimah [Caine Prize 2017 Shortlist]

The Virus by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene [Caine Prize 2017 Shortlist]