2023 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize Open for Submissions on 01 February 2023
The 2023 edition of the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize for quality, independently published books (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction) by Kenyan authors shall open for submissions on 01 February 2023. 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. The 2023 winner will be awarded Ksh.30,000. GUIDELINES The Prize is open to Kenyan authors. A Kenyan is a citizen by birth if, on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen or through naturalisation. Self-publishers may submit books on behalf of their authors. Books Eligible Print (hard copies) and eBooks (PDF only). Books submitted should be published in English. Not more than three (3) years since publication (only books published in 2020 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 end on 15 April 2023. Submission Fee Print books – Ksh.2000 per title. eBooks – Ksh.1,000 per title. Payments to be send to Mystery Publishers through one of the following methods: PayPal or Payoneer, email address mysterypublishers@gmail.com for those using PayPal/Payoneer/international writers, or Lipa M-Pesa, Pay Bill No. 909534 with your name as the account number, Credit/Debit Card payment through Publisher’s online payment gateway, DPO Payments (the Author to contact the publisher for procedures), or Mobile Banking using M-Pesa: Go to M-Pesa>Paybill (put KCB Paybill 522522)>Account No. 1203888244>Amount>Enter your M-Pesa PIN>OK Direct Bank Deposit to: A/c. Name: Mystery Publishers Limited A/c. No. 1203888244 A/ Currency: Kenya Shillings (KES) Bank SWIFT CODE: KCBLKENX Bank: Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Branch: Tom Mboya, Nairobi, Kenya Bank Clearing Code: 01107 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 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. 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.
Echoes of Military Souls by Jerusha Kananu Marete Voted the Best Book for the 2022 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize 2022
A military poetry book of its kind, Echoes of Military Souls by Kenyan writer and theatre expert Jerusha Kananu Marete, has been voted the best book for the 2022 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize, with over 800 votes, which translates to 81.84% of the votes cast. Vincent de Paul’s Inevitable Desires: First Love came in second, with 94 votes (9.28%), and City of Cannibals by Dancan Ouma Obuya took the third position with 56 votes (5.53%). View the voting results Here. Published in 2019, Echoes of Military Souls presents the nexus between war and women’s experiences and the trauma of broken families from losing a loved one because of war. The book addresses what is happening currently in Africa: the scourge of terrorism in Somalia, the Central Africa Republic, Mozambique, and the Boko Haram menace in West Africa. Families are devasted across Africa because of war, militaries committed to a faceless enemy, and the gallant soldiers who never give up. Thus, it has compellingly addressed Afro-currency. The winning author will be announced during an award ceremony in the last week of February 2023. Buy the Winning Books from Mystery Bookstore or Amazon, Nuria Bookstore, or Kibanga Books.
Vote | Nominees for 2022 Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize
Voting ends on 30 November 2022 The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is awarded annually to the best independently published book (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction). The Prize is open to Kenyan independent writers resident in Kenya, on the continent, and in the diaspora. The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is managed by Mystery Publishers, a Kenyan premier pan-African independent publisher with a bias toward African speculative fiction and genre/pop literature stories. The Prize aims to recognise quality self-published books with unique and extraordinary stories addressing current and future Africa (Afro-currency and Afro-futurism) for books at most three (3) years old since publication. The winner shall receive Ksh 20,000, scholarships to select creative writing courses at Mystery Creative Writing Training Institue, and a book distribution offer to all Mystery Publishers distribution channels. The 2022 Prize was only open for Mystery Publishers’ books/authors, and after thoroughly considering the books published since 2019, public voting is now open for the 2022 shortlisted books. Please, vote for the book with the most compelling story that you feel addresses our current and future Africa. Click here to vote