Dr Carren Otieno and Teacher Richard Mbuthia Join the 2024 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Judging Panel
We are pleased to share the exciting news of new judges joining the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize judging panel. The panel is drawn from academicians, editors, publishers, writers, and readers. Dr Carren Otieno (Rongo University) and Tanzania-based teacher Richard Mbuthia have joined the 2024 judging panel. They will serve on the panel for two years, with the possibility of extending for a third and final third year. The two join others who are serving their second year: passionate reader and founder of Kenyan Readathon, Lexa Lubanga (Kenya), who is also the Panel chairperson; writer, poet, and publisher Dr Michael Dekel (Israel), who is the vice chairperson; writer and columnist Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki (Kenya), writer Lesalon Kasaine (Kenya); and reader Xavier Omweri. We’re honoured to have the wonderful and committed team at this year’s Prize and to work together to recognise self-published works and writers in Africa. The 2024 submissions closed on 15 April 2024, and the judging process is ongoing. Dr Carren Adhiambo Otieno (Lecturer, Rongo University) – Kenya Dr Carren Adhiambo Otieno is a Kenyan scientist, an author of scientific articles, and a lecturer at the Department of Physical, Biological and Health Sciences, Rongo University – Kenya. She is a researcher with 18 years of experience and 22 years in academia. She has a B.Ed (Science), MSc Botany (Microbiology), and PhD Botany. Her research interest is in improving food security through research on orphaned and endangered food crops, plant pathology, microbiology, and climate change. She is passionate about empowering and encouraging girls to pursue STEM courses, leading to increased visibility. Richard Mbuthia (Teacher, Writer, Editor) – Kenya Richard Mbuthia is a Kenyan Tanzania-based teacher, passionate poet, editor, motivational speaker, and author of The Setting Noon and Other Poems (2017) and children’s poetry anthologies he compiled and edited Letters of Gold (2017), Bounding for Light (2018), Sparks in the Dark (2019), and Echoes of the Sun (2020). He has also been published in various local and international poetry anthologies, magazines, and online forums. Richard is passionate about teaching and developing poetry craft in children.
Abolished – Public Voting as Part of Evaluation of Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize
The move aims to preserve the integrity of the Prize and accord all shortlisted books and authors a fair chance. Kenya, 15 May 2024: The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize (ARIBP), an annual prize sponsored and managed by Mystery Publishers Limited, a premier pan-African publisher of choice, appreciates your continued support in celebrating independent African authors. The ARIBP aims to recognise quality self-published books with unique and extraordinary stories addressing current and future Africa (Afro-currency and Afro-futurism), and to that end, empowering self-published (indie) authors to produce professional and quality books that meet industry-standard books. Previously, the shortlisted books were taken through a public voting system, which aimed to introduce the books and the authors to the public and different audiences; this contributed to ten per cent (10%) of the overall book evaluation criteria. However, this approach to evaluating shortlisted books conferred an unfair advantage to the authors with a large reader base, popularity, many social media followers, or lobbyists behind them, which does not automatically mean that such works are of better quality. This also created an illusion of winning the Prize because, psychologically (and conveniently so), the human mind will always consider the person or book with many votes as the best (or worst) in that list. In our endeavour to preserve the integrity of the Prize and ensure fairness for all shortlisted books and authors, the ARIBP Secretariat, in consultation with the Advisory Board, has abolished public voting as part of the evaluation criteria of ARIBP. The 2024 and subsequent prizes will only be evaluated by a panel of judges drawn from diverse backgrounds—readers, writers, editors, and publishers (not necessarily a MUST for the panel to comprise all backgrounds). Before submitting the books to the judging panel, Mystery Publishers’ editorial team shall review all submitted books to select those that meet the minimum quality publishing standards for shortlisting. The Judging Panel shall then take the shortlisted books through stringent quality parameters and evaluation criteria and share the reports with the authors. This was a difficult decision, as we know the effect it can have on you. We thank you for your understanding and support during this change, and as always, we promise to endeavour to preserve the integrity of the Prize and accord all independent authors a fair chance. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please get in touch with us at: Email: bookprize@mysterypublisherslimited.com
2024 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Open for Submissions
The 2024 edition of the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize for quality, independently published books (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction) by African authors is open for submissions. About the Prize. The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is an annual prize managed by Mystery Publishers, a Kenyan premier pan-African independent publisher with a bias toward African speculative fiction and genre/pop literature stories for quality, professionally self-published books. The 2024 winner will be awarded Ksh.20,000 (might increase depending on available funding). GUIDELINES The Prize is open to African authors on the continent or in the diaspora. An African is a citizen of any African country by birth if, on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in any African country, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen or through naturalisation. Self-published authors only. (Proof of self-publishing to be provided.) A book or author is self-published if: It is DIY publishing (the author does all the publishing process by themselves); They engage professional author services providers/companies to provide the services for them (invoices and receipts for such services to be provided); They publish their books using self-publishing companies (a publishing agreement in addition to invoices and receipts to be provided); or Self-publishing companies may submit books on behalf of their authors (copies of publishing agreements, invoices and receipts issued to authors, and business registration/incorporation certificate to be provided). Books Eligible Print (hard copies) and eBooks (PDF only). Books submitted should be published in English or translated into English. Not more than three (3) years since publication (only books published in 2021 and later). Traditionally published books are not eligible. eBooks should not be a gift to download from Amazon. This is because the gift goes to just one person. Because of the judging process, the ebook may need to be read by multiple people. We will not accept invitations to download files from websites. Books submitted should tell an extraordinary story about the present or future of Africa (Afro-currency and Afro-futurism). Submissions close on 15 April 2024. Submission Fee Print books – Ksh.3000 or USD 20 per title. eBooks – Ksh.1,500 or USD 15 per title. Payments to be sent to Mystery Publishers through the online payment gateway, PesaPal. Click Here to pay. Submission Guidelines Five (5) hard copy books for every title submitted are to be dropped at/sent to Nuria Bookstore, The Bazaar Building, Moi Avenue, 11th Floor, Suite No. 1105, Nairobi, addressed as follows: To Mystery Publishers Limited Tel: +254 718 429 184 Book Prize Submission By [Your Name and Contact Details] Once you send or drop your books at Nuria Bookstore, please let us know via email at bookprize@mysterypublisherslimited.com CC afrikaredefinedbookprize@gmail.com eBook submissions should be through email (bookprize@mysterypublisherslimited.com) as follows: subject heading: ‘Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize submission by YOUR NAME’; Cover email and the eBook attached. PRIZE CRITERIA Selection of submitted books by Mystery Publishers. We look for professionally published books (whether a book is well presented—cover, pictures [if relevant] and layout) following industry standards. The selected books are then taken through public voting, where readers vote for the book with the most extraordinary story to produce a shortlist of ten books. (Public voting accounts for 10% of the overall evaluation.) The shortlisted books are forwarded to a judges’ panel comprising beta readers, editors, authors, and publishers. They are given Book Score Sheets to complete for every book received. In general terms, the most important aspects they will be looking for are: whether a book is well written (including structure and style), and Afro-currency and Afro-futurism in the themes. The winning book is announced at an award ceremony at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi, and the winner is awarded the prize money, a trophy, and a certificate. The first and second runners-up will be awarded a certificate. Mystery Publishers shall print 1,000 copies of the winning book and donate them to schools and community libraries. The winning author shall be expected to accompany MPL during these events.
2024 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Open to All African Writers
The 2024 edition of the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize for quality, independently published books (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction) by African authors shall open for submissions at midnight on 01 February 2024. Previously, the prize was open to Kenyan writers only. About the Prize. The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is an annual prize managed by Mystery Publishers, a Kenyan premier pan-African independent publisher with a bias toward African speculative fiction and genre/pop literature stories for quality, professionally self-published books. The 2024 winner will be awarded Ksh.20,000 (might increase depending on available funding). The 2024 submission guidelines shall be released on 01 February 2024. Check out the 2023 shortlisted books Here and the prize award ceremony photos.
Press Release | 70-year-old Kenyan writer Engineer Peter Nduati Wins the 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize
The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is delighted to announce that the 2023 winner is 70-year-old Engineer Peter Nduati, for his semi-biographical and social commentary book, Gooka from the Village to the City, published in 2022. The 2023 prize was open to Kenyan authors only, and seven (female – 2 [28.57%], male – 5 [71.43%]) submitted eight books (fiction – 6, non-fiction – 1, children’s – 1), but seven were shortlisted. Chaired by Lexa Lubanga, founder of Kenyan Readathon and ardent supporter of Kenyan writers/literature, the Judging Panel recommended to the Advisory Board Engineer Peter Nduati as the 2023 winner of the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize, who was approved and announced during the Prize award ceremony held at the multimedia library of the Alliance Française de Nairobi. Regarding the judging criteria, Lexa said: “Different books scored differently. Some would be strong in writing style but fail in professionalism and theme; others were strong in professionalism but failed in theme; while others were good in theme but failed in writing style and professionalism. As a general rule, the winning book MUST score more than 90 per cent (Judge’s Score) on professional rating; if none, no winner shall be announced, and the prize shall not be awarded. For a book to address Afro-currency/Afrofuturism well, it MUST score over 80 per cent. The Runners-up MUST score over 80 per cent and less than 90 per cent, i.e. be within the 80 to 89.99 percentile (Judge’s Score in professionalism).” The evaluation criteria entailed public voting (introducing the works to the public and allowing the readers to vote for the book with the most compelling story), which is 10% of the overall rating, and evaluation by a judging panel, which is 90% of the overall rating. The winning book is the first non-fiction book moulded in historical, scientific, and mathematical satire. The judges said it was the best professionally (self-)published, scoring 91.34 per cent on professionalism and 88 per cent on addressing the theme of Afro-currency and Afrofuturism. Engineer Peter Nduati joins the previous winner, Jerusha Kananu Marete, as the pioneers of this noble prize envisioned to be the premiere prestigious book prize for African independent writers. The judging panel comprised reader and passionate supporter of African literature, Lexa Lubanga (Kenya) as the chairperson; Dr Michael Dickel (Israel) as the vice-chairperson; and members writer and columnist Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki (Kenya), writer Lesalon Kasaine (Kenya), avid Xavier Omweri (Kenya), and Ugandan journalist and writer, Philip Matogo. The Prize secretariat is guided by an advisory board comprising multi-artist expert Dr Gameli Tordzro (Ghana); veteran Kenyan journalist and broadcaster John Sibi-Okumu (Kenya); Dr Amakove Wala (Kenya); activist Mbizo Chirasha (Zimbabwe); media practitioner and founder Qazini, Damaris Agweyu; and literature enthusiast Dr Robert Aron (USA). Engineer Peter Nduati received a cash prize of Ksh.30,000, an increase from 2022 when the winner received Ksh.20,000. His winning book captures his daily experiences mirrored in his village days toggled and enmeshed with the past, making the narrative both semi-biographical and a social commentary. The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize aims to recognise quality, professionally self-published books that address AfroCurrency or Afrofuturism themes, help improve reading culture in Africa, and create opportunities for authors. The first runner-up was The Leaves of May (novel) by Muthoni Maina, and the second runner-up was Back-Fence Talk and Other Stories (short stories) by Caroline Kinya Mbaya. They were both presented with a certificate. Other shortlisted authors were: Davis Njoroge; Beyond (novel, Sci-fi) – 2022 Peter Muchai; The Alternative (novel, crime) – 2022 Bonface Nyamweya; Peeling the Cobweb (novel – 2022 Hamisi Wawire; Hot Chalice (novel) – 2022
PHOTOS | 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Award Ceremony
The 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize award ceremony was held on 15 December 2023 at Alliance Française de Nairobi. Have a look at the photos:
Arthur Anthony Moody Awori is the Highest Bidder in “Have a Cup of Coffee With Your Shortlisted Author” Auction! for Muthoni Maina
The “Have a Cup of Coffee With Your Shortlisted Author” Auction! for the 2022 and 2023 shortlisted authors has ended, raising a total of Ksh.4,900 toward the 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize by Mystery Publishers, bringing the total amount raised through different platforms to Ksh.51,743. Reader and lover of literature, Arthur Anthony Moody Awori, is the highest bidder for a coffee session with the 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize shortlisted author, Muthoni Maina. The two will have engaging conversations about the author’s books, writing process, and more. It is also a chance to ask burning questions and gain insight into the world of literature. Other bidders for Muthoni Maina were Paul Nguyo and Laura Ogana. To all the bidders, your bids mean a lot to us; they will help us get one step closer to changing the lives of aspiring independent writers and improving the reading culture in Africa. We hope you feel our gratitude and can’t wait to share the upcoming fundraising campaigns we’ve planned to continue making progress toward our goal. You are a part of this essential community, and we couldn’t make this positive impact on our community without you. Muthoni Maina is an accomplished writer with a journalism background and a passionate advocate for women’s development. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Development Communication from the University of Nairobi before embarking on a career that has taken her from Supporting Empowering Women (SEW) Tanzania to Toto Care Box Africa Trust. Muthoni is the author of The Leaves of May, a captivating exploration of the unique points of view of three women from different points of African history. Arthur and Muthoni will have a coffee session on Friday 15 December 2023 at a time and place that shall be communicated to them later, before the 2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Award Ceremony, which shall be held at Alliance Française de Nairobi from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. On behalf of the entire Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize team and Mystery Publishers, we appreciate you and want to tell you just how much your donation towards the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize means to us. Thank you so much for supporting our initiative in the African Ubuntu spirit. ARIBP Team Mystery Publishers
Introducing our “Have a Cup of Coffee with Your Shortlisted Author” Auction!
An intimate coffee meetup with one of our talented 2022 and 2023 shortlisted authors. Engaging conversations about their books, writing process, and more. The chance to ask burning questions and gain insight into the world of literature. The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding independent authors in Africa. To support this initiative and raise funds, we propose organizing an Author Meet-Up Auction where the 2023 shortlisted authors and 2022 winner and runner-up will participate. Starting Bid: As low as 100 KES (1.00 USD)! Use M-Pesa Paybill or PayPal (online) to place your bids and support the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize. Bid generously to secure your coffee date with a literary luminary! MPESA CAMPAIGN Starting Bid: As low as 100 KES! MPESA PAY BILL: 909534 ACCOUNT NAME: NAME OF THE AUTHOR YOU ARE BIDDING ON! Use M-Pesa Paybill to place bids and support the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize. Go to the bidding Homepage and select the author with whom you would like to have coffee. Save the Date Join us for an unforgettable meet-up filled with literary magic and caffeinated inspiration on 15 December 2023 from 2:00 pm before the 2023 award ceremony, which will be held at Alliance Française de Nairobi from 4:00 pm. NOTE: The winning bidder will pay for the coffee. Stay tuned for the auction launch and author pairings! Your support fuels African literature. Let’s raise funds for the next generation of writers and storytellers! #CoffeeWithAuthors #SupportAfricanLiterature #AfrikaRedefined #BookLoversUnite