arts 1 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Joshua Lubwama Represents Uganda at Prestigious Caine Prize Workshop in Zanzibar
Ugandan author Joshua Lubwama joined nine other writers from across Africa at the 19th Caine Prize Writers’ Workshop in Zanzibar, where they honed their craft under expert guidance. The event honored Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah and culminated in public readings, with works set for the 2026 anthology. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/author-joshua-lubwama-represents-uganda-at-caine-prize-writers-workshop-2026-5443752
Ugandan award-winning writer Joshua Lubwama participated in the 19th Caine Prize for African Writing Writers’ Workshop in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The 14-day event, running from April 11 to 24, brought together 10 writers from nine countries to refine their short stories.
Lubwama, celebrated for winning the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa with his story Mothers Not Appearing In Search, joined talents like 2018 Caine winner Makena Onjerika from Kenya, 2023 co-winner Mame Bougouma Diene from Senegal, and others from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, and DR Congo.
Facilitators included Kenyan editor Otieno Owino and 2019 Caine Prize winner Lesley Nneka Arimah from Nigeria. Owino highlighted the intensive sessions on writing craft, feedback sharing, and visits to Hamamni Secondary School to inspire local students.
On April 23, the group hosted ‘An Evening of Readings’ at Emerson Spice Hotel’s Secret Garden, partnering with local literary groups. Writers shared excerpts and engaged with audiences from Tanzania’s arts scene.
Arimah praised the participants’ unique voices, noting it was a first public reading for many. The polished stories will feature in the 2026 Caine Prize Anthology, available in Autumn 2026.
Susi Owusu, interim Caine Prize director, thanked donors Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and Hawthornden Foundation, plus local supporter Ally Baharoon of Zanzibar Renaissance Literary Society.
The Caine Prize annually honors short stories by African writers in English, named after Sir Michael Caine, with patrons Wole Soyinka and J.M. Coetzee.
Source: Daily Monitor