The Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature

The Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature, established in 2019, honours the memory and legacy of Wakini Kuria, who served on the Advisory Board of the African Writers Development Trust and was the Chief Editor of Writers Space Africa (WSA) Magazine from 2017 until her passing in 2019. She also coordinated the Writers Space Africa – Kenya Chapter and played a key role in developing platforms for emerging African writers.

Since its inception, the prize has recognised outstanding writers from across Africa, including winners from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, and other countries.

For the 8th edition of the prize, submissions are invited in the children’s literature genre for readers aged 6 to 12 years.

Genre: Children’s fiction
Theme: Digital World
Word limit: Maximum 1,200 words
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Writers of African descent only
Submission period: March 15 – July 1, 2026

The winners will receive:

First Prize: Certificate and $200
Second Prize: Certificate and $150
Third Prize: Certificate and $100
This prize is sponsored by Nahida Esmail.

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Enquiries about submissions should be directed to Writers Space Africa. Please always refer to their website for complete details and information. 

Please note, this call is run by Writers Space Africa, not the Commonwealth Foundation.