Margaret Busby 

Africa39: how we chose the writers for Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014

As Port Harcourt prepares to become the World Book Capital 2014, Margaret Busby describes how a panel of judges selected 39 African writers to represent the continent
  
  

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dinaw Mengestu
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dinaw Mengestu are among the 39-strong lineup. Photograph: Victor Ehikhamenor/Linda Nylind Photograph: Victor Ehikhamenor/Linda Nylind

Among the first events of this week's London Book Fair (LBF) was a breakfast press conference to reveal an eagerly anticipated rollcall of 39 writers under the age of 40 from Africa and its diaspora. This afternoon, at a second briefing in the presence of Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the countdown will begin to the start of Port Harcourt's tenure as World Book Capital 2014.

Africa39 is the latest phase of the Hay festival's initiative of working with the World Book capitals – Bogotá in 2007 and Beirut in 2010 – to highlight the local talents and languages with the potential to define the literature of the future. As one of three judges, including Osonye Tess Onwueme and Elechi Amadi, who are tasked with making the final selection, I regard the list as a sort of snapshot of what is to come. But equally pertinent is how it came about.

The selection process began last year, with Caine prizewinning author and founder of the Kenyan literary journal Kwani?, Binyavanga Wainaina, consulting publishers, agents and critics to identify hundreds of writers from which to choose 39. Apart from the age criterion, contenders had to have published at least one work of fiction, and to show stand-out potential for development.

Importantly, Wainaina guaranteed that attention would be given to writers working in African languages, and that fiction in its broadest sense would be considered. "Wild, weird, explorers of the imagination" were encouraged to participate, as were those who use pseudonyms for safety and creative freedom. More than 20-plus years after the publication of my pioneering anthology, Daughters of Africa, I was delighted to see that more than half of the writers were women.

We judges were spoiled for choice: the 100 nominees embraced every kind of literary writing, from erotica to romance to science fiction to thrillers. We reduced it by half, then edged happily towards the final list. Except that it is not, by definition, so "final". We are simply saying: "Here are 39 of the best … "

Africa39 is not an exercise constrained by labels, fashion and preconceived rules about genres, nor by what constitutes African writing. Twenty countries are represented by work created in a variety of African and European languages – Kiswahili, Igbo and Lingala as well as English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Understandably, with the continuing debate about the validity of the "African writer" category, there are those who feel uncomfortable about participating in this venture (indeed, some have chosen to opt out).

I have done my fair share of judging prizes and it is never a task to be taken lightly – it's a responsibility and a privilege to be in a position to affect someone's career. Perhaps the best thing about Africa39 is that there is no single winner: it is a unique opportunity to showcase, celebrate and encourage a new generation of fiction writers, encompassing names that have already drawn international acclaim and others who are beneath the radar. The group is neither exclusive nor discrete, rather it is exemplary of exciting literature with African regional connections.

The countdown to an action-packed launch of Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 begins with a briefing at LBF at 4pm today (Thursday) introduced by Wole Soyinka. Soyinka will also write a preface to an Africa39 anthology, which will be published by Bloomsbury in October.

The 39 writers

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)

Richard Ali A Mutu (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Monica Arac de Nyeko (Uganda)

Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria)

Eileen Barbosa (Cape Verde)

A Igoni Barrett (Nigeria)

Jackee Budesta Batanda (Uganda)

Recaredo Silevo Boturu (Equatorial Guinea)

Nana Brew-Hammond (Ghana/US)

Shadreck Chikoti (Malawi)

Edwige Renée Dro (Ivory Coast)

Tope Folarin (Nigeria/US)

Clifton Gachagua (Kenya)

Stanley Gazemba (Kenya)

Mehul Gohil (Kenya)

Hawa Jande Golakai (Liberia)

Shafinaaz Hassim (South Africa)

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Nigeria)

Stanley Onjezani Kenani (Malawi/Switzerland)

Dinaw Mengestu (Ethiopia/US)

Nadifa Mohamed (Somalia/UK)

Nthikeng Mohlele (South Africa)

Linda Musita (Kenya)

Sifiso Mzobe (South Africa)

Glaydah Namukasa (Uganda)

Kioko Ndinda (Kenya)

Okwiri Oduor (Kenya)

Ukamaka Olisakwe (Nigeria)

Ondjaki (Born in Luanda, Angola and lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Chibundu Onuzo (Nigeria)

Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Ghana/UK)

Taiye Selasi (Ghana/Nigeria/UK/Italy)

Namwali Serpell (Zambia/US)

Lola Shoneyin (Nigeria)

Novuyo Rosa Tshuma (Zimbabwe/South Africa)

Chika Unigwe (Nigeria/Belgium/US)

Zukiswa Wanner (Zambia/South Africa/Zimbabwe/Kenya)

Mary Watson (South Africa/Ireland)

Mohamed Yunus Rafiq (Tanzania)

 

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