South African writer Stephen M. Finn’s story about the Khoisans shortlisted for Commonwealth Short Prize
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The popular annual Commonwealth Short Prize a competition that is open to writers from the countries that are members of the influential grouping Common Wealth Countries has released its short list. A South African writer whose short story titled Broken String is about the Khoisans and their encounter with a president is one of the those short listed.
In this short story, “an elder from the Khoisan community stands in protest outside government offices in South Africa, opposing the political oppression and the cultural and linguistic exclusion of her people.”
She was there to tell the man in that building. The country’s government building. The President. They wanted recognition. But she wanted to be at home. Under the open sky. A sky she’d been pushed from when she was a girl.”
Stephen M. Finn, who also writes as Qhaunis Kruunu, has worked as a journalist, photographer, teacher and academic. He has published two novels and several plays. His work explores the lives of outsiders and highlights the oppression of both people and animals by those in positions of power.
It is still early days though to predict the outcome as regional winners will only be announced in three weeks-time and the winner in June. However, 25 writers who hail from 18 Commonwealth countries, includes writers from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana in Africa, and for the first time Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia. Only one of the writers has featured on the shortlist before.
Their stories take us from the backseat of a Beijing taxi to a tamarind tree hiding secrets and a ship’s final voyage. Some explore injustice and survival; others, joy and quiet resistance. We will publish the stories on adda, our online magazine, later this year. Which one are you most excited to read?
Next, the judges will select five regional winners, to be announced on 14 May, followed by the overall winner at our online award ceremony on 25 June.
“Until then, we invite you to explore the shortlist, discover these extraordinary new voices, and celebrate the power of storytelling across the Commonwealth,” the organisers said.
Chair of the Judges, writer and filmmaker Dr Vilsoni Hereniko from Rotuma, Fiji, said: ‘A great story moves us, causes us to think, and sometimes changes us. This shortlist of relevant, vibrant, and essential reading is made up of the best 25 stories from a pool of almost 8,000 entries. Together, they demonstrate why the short story form must continue to be supported and promoted.’
Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, added: ‘Every single writer who entered this year’s prize deserves our congratulations. The breadth of voices, perspectives, and experiences is awe-inspiring and a powerful reminder of the creative energy that unites us as a Commonwealth of people. We congratulate those who made the shortlist; their work speaks not only to our shared challenges but also to our hopes and aspirations.’
Five regional winners will be announced on 14 May, and the overall winner will be announced on 25 June. The shortlisted stories will be published in adda, the competition’s online literary magazine.