[The JRB Daily] Short Story Day Africa Prize ‘Disruption’ shortlist announced—featuring 8 African writers from 5 countries
The shortlist for the seventh Short Story Day Africa Prize has been announced, the JRB can exclusively reveal! The prize was…
Author: Jennifer Malec
Ronnie Govender, 1934—2021, RIP
Renowned activist, writer, playwright and director Ronnie Govender has died, aged eighty-six. He passed away in Cape Town on 29…
[The JRB Daily] ‘Women’s fiction at its finest’—shortlist announced for 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction, including Ghanaian–American writer Yaa Gyasi
The shortlist for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction has been announced—featuring six writers who have never been shortlisted for…
[The JRB Daily] 2021 Sunday Times/CNA Literary Awards longlists announced
The longlists for the 2021 Sunday Times/CNA Literary Awards have been revealed. The awards celebrate ‘the best of South African…
[The JRB Daily] ‘Urgent, energetic and wildly original’—2021 International Booker Prize shortlist announced
The six novels shortlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize have been revealed. The International Booker Prize celebrates ‘the finest…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 5, Issue 2 (April 2021)
Wamuwi Mbao, Damon Galgut, Mercy Dhliwayo, Richard Poplak, Bhakti Shringarpure, Peace Adzo Medie, Femi Kayode, Panashe Chigumadzi, Phumlani Pikoli, Ayanda…
‘They say charity begins at home. But so does depression’—Mercy Dhliwayo talks to Jennifer Malec about her debut collection of short stories, Bringing Us Back
Mercy Dhliwayo chatted to The JRB Editor Jennifer Malec about family relationships, border jumping, and her debut collection of short…
‘I wanted to explore the “otherness” we feel when we go back home’—Femi Kayode talks to Jennifer Malec about his debut novel, Lightseekers
Femi Kayode chatted to The JRB Editor Jennifer Malec about being ‘other’ in your home country, the nature of evil, and his…
[The JRB Daily] 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist announced—including Rémy Ngamije and Moso Sematlane
Header image, from top left: Moso Sematlane, Rémy Ngamije, Ola W Halim, Vincent Anioke and Franklyn Usouwa The shortlist for…
Phumlani Pikoli, 1988—2021, RIP
Multidisciplinary artist and award-winning author Phumlani Pikoli has died, aged thirty-three. According to a family statement, Pikoli was found dead…
[The JRB Daily] 2021 Humanities and Social Sciences Awards winners announced—including The JRB’s Makhosazana Xaba and Niq Mhlongo
The winners of the 2021 Humanities and Social Sciences Awards (HSS Awards) have been announced. The winners were announced at…
[The JRB Daily] 2021 International Booker Prize longlist announced—Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o becomes first person to be nominated as both author and translator
The thirteen novels longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize have been revealed. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has made history this…
[The JRB Daily] Longlist announced for 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction, including Ghanaian–American novelist Yaa Gyasi
The longlist for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction has been announced, including Ghanaian–American novelist Yaa Gyasi. Gyasi has been…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 5, Issue 1 (February 2021)
Wamuwi Mbao, Lidudumalingani, Efemia Chela, Stephen Langtry, Lebohang Mojapelo, Kopano Maroga, Simon van Schalkwyk, Sanya Osha, Louisa Uchum Egbunike, Tymon…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 10 (December 2020, The Fiction Issue)
Keletso Mopai • Byron Loker • Wamuwi Mbao • Sebastian Murdoch • Jarred Thompson • Richard de Nooy • Khaddafina…
[The JRB Daily] ‘I’m absolutely stunned, I didn’t expect that’—Douglas Stuart wins the 2020 Booker Prize for Fiction, for his novel Shuggie Bain
Douglas Stuart has won the 2020 Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel Shuggie Bain. Chair of judges Margaret Busby…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 9 (November 2020)
Wamuwi Mbao, Maaza Mengiste, Connor Cogill, Itumeleng Molefi, Adekeye Adebajo, Flora Veit-Wild, Bolu Babalola, Nakhane, Jacob Dlamini, Victor Dlamini, Shanice…
[The JRB Daily] 2020 South African Literary Awards winners announced
The winners of the 2020 South African Literary Awards have been announced. The winning writers were announced in a virtual…
Stephen Gray, 1941—2020, RIP
Prominent writer, academic and critic Stephen Gray has died. Gray passed away in Johannesburg on Thursday, 22 October, at the…
Angifi Dladla, 1950—2020, RIP
The poet Angifi Proctor Dladla has died, at the age of sixty-nine. The news was confirmed by Dladla’s family on…
[The JRB Daily] Anna Burns wins the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award for her novel Milkman
Irish author Anna Burns has won the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award—known as the world’s richest annual literary prize—for her…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 8 (October 2020)
Makena Onjerika, Wamuwi Mbao, Christa Kuljian, Shayera Dark, Sanya Osha, Sihle Ntuli, Zoë Wicomb, Sibongile Fisher, Nkiacha Atemnkeng, Nicky Falkof,…
[The JRB Daily] 2019 Short Story Day Africa Prize ‘Disruption’ longlist announced—featuring 21 African writers from nine countries
This longlist for the seventh annual Short Story Day Africa Prize has been announced! The prize was founded in 2013,…
[The JRB Daily] Louise Glück wins the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature
American poet Louise Glück has won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature. The award was announced by the Swedish Academy…
[The JRB Daily] Women dominate the shortlist for the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award—the world’s richest annual literary prize
The ten-novel shortlist for the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award has been revealed. The shortlist includes Milkman, the Booker Prize-winning…
[The JRB Daily] Maggie O’Farrell wins 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel Hamnet
British author Maggie O’Farrell has been announced as the winner of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, for her novel…
George Bizos, 1927—2020, RIP
George Bizos, esteemed human rights lawyer who fought tirelessly against the apartheid system, has died. Bizos was born on 15…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 7 (August 2020)
Carey Baraka • Rustum Kozain • Petina Gappah • Fiona Zerbst • Wamuwi Mbao • Efemia Chela • Lidudumalingani •…
[The JRB Daily] ‘I am as proud as a cow with seven udders!’ Marieke Lucas Rijneveld and Michele Hutchison win the 2020 International Booker Prize for The Discomfort of Evening
The Discomfort of Evening, written by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld and translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison, has been announced…
[The JRB Daily] Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga arrested during protest in Harare, released on bail
Acclaimed Zimbabwean writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga was reportedly arrested this morning during a protest in Harare. Update: Dangarembga has…
[The JRB Daily] Tsitsi Dangarembga, Maaza Mengiste longlisted for 2020 Booker Prize for Fiction
The longlist for the Booker Prize for Fiction has been announced, including Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga and Ethiopian–American author Maaza…
[The JRB Daily] ‘It is so important now that Africans own their own narrative’—Irenosen Okojie wins the 2020 Caine Prize for African Writing
Irenosen Okojie has won the AKO Caine Prize for African writing, for her story ‘Grace Jones’. Announcing the award, chair…
[The JRB Daily] Saaleha Idrees Bamjee wins 2020 Ingrid Jonker Prize for debut poetry for Zikr, a poignant collection of longing and loss
Saaleha Idrees Bamjee has been announced as the winner of this year’s Ingrid Jonker Prize for English Poetry for her…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 6 (July 2020)
Adam Smyer • Wamuwi Mbao • Nadia Davids • Hemley Boum • Nkiacha Atemnkeng • Esther Mirembe • Stella Nyanzi…
‘It’s surreal that a coming-of-age story set in Umlazi has found another home in the USA’—International deal for Sifiso Mzobe’s debut novel Young Blood (Plus: Excerpt)
United States publisher Catalyst Press has acquired the rights to publish Sifiso Mzobe’s award-winning novel Young Blood in North America….
[The JRB Daily] 2020 Ingrid Jonker Prize for English Poetry shortlist announced
The four books shortlisted for the Ingrid Jonker Prize for English Poetry have been announced. The prize, one of South…
George Hallett, 1942—2020, RIP
Header image: Brother George, by The JRB Photo Editor Victor Dlamini Legendary South African photographer George Hallett has died, according…
[The JRB Daily] Media24 Books Literary Prizes winners announced, including Jonny Steinberg, Trevor Sacks and Edyth Bulbring
Header image: Jonny Steinberg, Trevor Sacks, Zirk van den Berg, Loftus Marais, Edyth Bulbring, Fanie Viljoen, Theodore Key The winners…
[The JRB Daily] Zambian author Namwali Serpell shortlisted for Arthur C Clarke Award, the UK’s most prestigious prize for science fiction
The shortlist for the 34th Arthur C Clarke Award has been announced, including The Old Drift by Zambian author Namwali…
Elsa Joubert, 1922—2020, RIP
Acclaimed author Elsa Joubert has died at the age of ninety-seven. Joubert’s son, Nico Steytler, has confirmed that his mother…