Four Kenyan writers are among the 20 African writers shortlisted for the prestigious Morland Writing Scholarships 2018. The writing scholarship is offered to African writers and is sponsored by the Miles Morland Foundation (MMF).
The Foundation aims to support African writing and African Literature.
Those in the run-up for the 2018 scholarship program come from nine African Countries.
These include Kenya (4), Nigeria (5), South Africa (4), Cameroon (1), Ghana (1), Ethiopia (1), Zimbabwe (1), Somalia (1) and Cote D’ Ivoire (1).
Kenyans who have made it to the short list are Muthoni Gichuru, Idza Luhumyo, Wairimu Muriithi, and Makena Onjerika.
Makena also won this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story,” Fanta Blackcurrant.”
The judges had a rough time combing through over 550 entries from 27 countries. The judges who are expected to announce the final list in late November 2018 are Zimbabwe’s Ellah Allfrey, Sierra Leone’s Femi Terry and Kenya’s Muthoni Garland.
“I can’t think of anywhere else in the World that could produce a short list with such energy, imagination, and originality,” said Miles Morland in a post posted on the MMF’s website.