I Believe in Miracles! Nigerian Writer Tope Folarin is the 14th Winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing with his Story “Miracle”

This evening at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Nigerian writer, Tope Folarin was announced as the 14th winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. Tope’s short story “Miracle” helped him clinch the prize money of 10,000 Pounds.

According to Gus Casely-Hayford the Chair of the judges, “Tope Folarin’s ‘Miracle’ is another superb Caine Prize winner – a delightful and beautifully paced narrative, that is exquisitely observed and utterly compelling“.

The first Nigerian to win the Caine Prize is the popular multiple awards winning novelist Helon Habila in 2001. Previous shortlisted Nigerian writers include the famous Nigerian authors Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 2002; Chika Unigwe in 2004, was also shortlisted in 2006 for the Dutch equivalent of the Orange Prize for her novel translated into Dutch, “de fenicks”. Ike Okonta in 2005; Sefi Atta in 2006, is famous for her Everything Good Will Come and Swallow and the short story collection News From Home.

Tope Folarin is the recipient of writing fellowships from the Institute for Policy Studies and Callaloo, and he serves on the board of the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Tope was educated at Morehouse College, and the University of Oxford, where he earned two Master’s degrees as a Rhodes Scholar. He lives and works in Washington, DC.

Tope was shortlisted with 3 other Nigerians and a Sierra Leonean for the prize and he came out ahead. The shortlisted writers include popular writer, ElNathan John who is famous for his satirical and humorous pieces.

Read the shortlisted stories here!

Tope Folarin (Nigeria) ‘Miracle’ from Transition, Issue 109 (Bloomington, 2012)
Read Miracle

Pede Hollist (Sierra Leone) ‘Foreign Aid’ from Journal of Progressive Human Services, Vol. 23.3 (Philadelphia, 2012)
Read Foreign Aid

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Nigeria) ‘The Whispering Trees’ from The Whispering Trees, published by Parrésia Publishers (Lagos, 2012)
Read The Whispering Tree

Elnathan John (Nigeria) ‘Bayan Layi’ from Per Contra, Issue 25 (USA, 2012)
Read Bayan Layi

Chinelo Okparanta (Nigeria) ‘America’ from Granta, Issue 118 (London, 2012)
Read America

We say a BIG congratulations to the winner and the shortlisted writers. Good job guys!