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MBABANE – Writing his way to the top!
Local author 1tsika .ota won the Africa winner, 2022 &ommonwealth Short Story Prize. This a first for Eswatini as 2 -year-old newcomer won with µAnd the earth drank deep’, a crime story set in µdistant past of our species’. The MudJes have praised stories that µreached across cultures and Jenerations’.
The &ommonwealth )oundation announced the reJional winners of the world’s most Jlobal literary prize. The author beat off competition from a stronJ field of shortlisted entrants includinJ 1iJerian authors 'era 'uru and )ranklyn 8souwa, 8Jandan author &harlie Muhumuza and MubanJa .alimamukwento from =ambia.
Writes
.ota, trained as a chemist and writes in his spare time, will Jo throuJh to the final round and the overall winner will be announced on -une 21.
The MudJe representinJ the African reJion, accordinJ to 5wandan publisher Louise 8mutoni-%ower µAnd the earth drank deep’ is a universal story, that reaches across cultures and Jenerations.
A story that uses African folktale in a way that remains true to form, but is also accessible. It is a reminder of a time when storytellinJ had a prized place in social JatherinJs. ³I was personally transported back to the floor by my mother’s feet where I quietly listened to tales of 5wandan folk heroes and villains. The MudJes felt that in this story we could see ourselves and what it means to be human. The willinJness of the writer to put µevil’ on display without interroJation or MudJement was commended,” said the publisher.
Testify
&hair of the MudJes, *uyanese writer )red '’AJuiar shared his sentiments too. ³This year’s reJional winners offer a cornucopia of riches for readers Jlobally from sources located around the world.
³These stories testify to the varied