The Dinaane Debut Fiction Award – formerly the European Union Literary Award – is a South African

literary award A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded Literature, literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author. Organizations Most literary awards come with a corresponding award c ...

, open to permanent residents or citizens of South Africa and other southern African countries. The prize was first given in 2004 and was renamed in 2015. The word “dinaane” means “telling our stories together” in Setswana. The prize is an initiative of the Jacana Literary Foundation (JLF), a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote and foster excellent writing from southern Africa, in partnership with

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

-based publisher Jacana Media. External funding allows the JLF to publish and disseminate literature that might not otherwise be commercially viable. The competition accepts debut, unpublished works of fiction (novel or novella). Authors must not have had a work of fiction formally published prior to the award. Self-published authors may apply, provided that the work has only been published online. Although the entries must be primarily in English, Jacana welcomes innovative writing that captures the multilingual African landscape. The winner is awarded R35 000 and a publishing contract from Jacana Media. In addition, the Kraak Writing Grant is awarded to an entrant whose manuscript showed great promise. The grant is valued at R25,000 and is dedicated to the memory of writer and human rights activist Gerald Kraak. Other projects currently administered by the JLF are: *The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award and Anthology: Named after South African writer Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award and Anthology are made possible through ongoing support by the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

. Up to three poems in any of South Africa’s official languages may be submitted, and the longlist published in an anthology. Cash prizes of R6000, R4000 and R2000 are awarded to the winner and runners-up. *The Gerald Kraak Anthology and Prize: Created in honour of Gerald Kraak, this prize invites submissions from writers and photographers across Africa on the topics of gender, human rights and sexuality.

Winners

; Dinaane Debut Fiction Award *2023/2024: Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani, '' Buried in the Chest'' *2022:

o award O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), p ...

*2021:

*2020: Resoketswe Manenzhe, ''Scatterlings'' *2019:

Mubanga Kalimamukwento Mubanga Kalimamukwento (born 1988) is a Zambian writer, known for her novel ''The Mourning Bird'', which focuses on Zambia's AIDS crisis, and ''Obligations to the Wounded'', her thematically linked collection of short stories centring the lives of ...

, ''The Mourning Bird'' *2015/2016: Tammy Baikie, ''Selling LipService'' ;European Union Literary Award *2014: Andrew Miller, ''Dub Steps'' *2013: Penny Busetto, ''The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself'' *2011/12:

Ashraf Kagee Sharīf or Sherif (, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef, feminine sharīfa (), plural ashrāf (), shurafāʾ (), or (in the Maghreb) shurfāʾ, is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the famil ...

, ''Khalil's Journey'' *2010:

James Clelland James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince James ...

, ''Deeper than Colour'' *2009: Zinaid Meeran, ''Saracen at the Gates'' *2008:

Megan Voysey-Braig Megan is a Welsh feminine given name, originally a diminutive form of Margaret. Margaret is from the Greek μαργαρίτης (''margarítēs''), Latin ''margarīta'', "pearl". Megan is one of the most popular Welsh-language names for women in ...

,''Till We Can Keep an Animal'' *2007:

Kopano Matlwa Kopano Matlwa (born 1985) is a South African writer and doctor, known for her novel ''Spilt Milk'', which focuses on the South Africa's "Born Free" generation, and ''Coconut'', her debut novel, which addresses issues of race, class, and colonizat ...

, ''Coconut'' *2006:

*2005:

Fred Khumalo Fred Khumalo (born 4 August 1966) is a South African journalist and author. His books encompass various genres, including novels, non-fiction, memoir and short stories. Among awards he has received are the European Union Literary Award, the A ...

, ''Bitches' Brew''; and Gerald Kraak, ''Ice in the Lungs'' *2004:

Ishtiyaq Shukri Ishtiyaq Shukri is a South African writer, author of the novels ''The Silent Minaret'' and ''I See You''. ''The Silent Minaret'' was the first book to receive the European Union Literary Award, in 2004. Career Shukri's writing career was launched ...

, ''The Silent Minaret''

Notes

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External links

Dinaane Debut Fiction Award
official site Awards established in 2004 South African fiction awards First book awards South African literary awards