I was a judge for this year’s Early Chapter Books competition; it was a bit hectic but a valuable and fun experience.   I hope to share my thoughts on the process soon.  Now to the winners:

• Portia Dery, from Ghana wins the Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books with her story, Grandma’s List.
• Mary Ononokpono, from Nigeria, wins the Golden Baobab Prize for Early Chapter Books for her story, Talulah the Time Traveler.
• Xanele Puren, from South Africa, wins the inaugural Golden Baobab Prize for Illustrators. The Golden Baobab Prize for Illustrators is the biggest and most prestigious prize committed to discovering, nurturing and celebrating talented African illustrators of children’s stories.

Congratulations to the winners, the shortlisters, the longlisters, judges, Debbie and the Golden Baobab team!

From Golden Baobab’s press release:
“The 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes for Literature and Illustration received nearly 300 submissions from writers and illustrators across Africa. The longlist for the literature prizes was announced early September and showcased 11 stories, selected from 6 African countries. The shortlist fol-lowed late October with 11 stories from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The illustration prizes unveiled 3 shortlisted artists; 2 from South Africa and 1 from Ghana. This year’s prize winners represent three countries: Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.
This is the sixth year of the Golden Baobab Prizes, which were established in July 2008 to inspire the creation of enthralling, culturally relevant African children’s stories by African writers. “We are proud of the contribution we are making to the children’s literature and illustration world and are actively searching for exciting partnerships to expand our reach and impact across Africa. We are seeking major corporate partnerships by our next prize season to further propel our vision of making the heads of children across Africa beautiful places for them to live!” says the Executive Director of Golden Baobab.

Today, the Prizes offer $20,000 in monetary awards, publishing opportunities for winners of the Picture Book and Early Chapter Book Prizes, and the winner of the Illustration prize attends a Golden Baobab award ceremony and a traveling exhibition of artist’s illustrations.

Judges for the 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes are Summer Edward, Anansesem Caribbean Children’s Literature Ezine founder and editor, Nancy Drost, Seasoned international educator, Kinna Likimani, Mbaasem Foundation board member and celebrated book critic, Doreen Baingana, Multiple award-winning Ugandan author and former chairperson FEMRITE, Nonikiwe Mas-hologu, African children’s literature critic, Kanengo Diallo, 13-year old Tanzanian winner of the 2013 Golden Baobab Prize for Rising Writers, Paul O. Zelinsky, International Award-winning American Illustrator and Writer and Caldecott Medalist, Akua Peprah, Early Childhood Educa-tor and Kofi Kokua Asante Anyimadu, 8-year old Ghanaian book lover.

Also shortlisted were:
• Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam (Kenya) – Malaika’s Magical Kiosk
• Mandy Collins (South Africa) – There is a Hyena in my Kitchen
• Myke Mware (Zimbabwe) – The Big Ball
• Bontle Senne (South Africa) – The Monster at Midnight
• Mamle Wolo (Ghana) – Flying through Water
• Hillary Molenje Namunyu (Kenya) – Teddy Mapesa and the Missing Cash
• Jayne Bauling (South Africa) – The Saturday Dress

Last year’s winners of the Golden Baobab Prizes were Liza Esterhuyse and Karen Hurt from South Africa and Kanengo Rebecca Diallo from Tanzania.”