US-BASED NIGERIAN WRITER TOPE FOLARIN HAS WON THIS YEAR'S PRESTIGIOUS CAINE PRIZE FOR AFRICAN WRITING

US-based Nigerian writer Tope Folarin has won this year’s prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing. He received the £10,000 prize for his short story Miracle, set in an evangelical Nigerian church in the US state of Texas. The judges described it as a “delightful and beautifully paced narrative”.

Mr Folarin was among five writers short-listed for the prize, regarded as Africa’s leading literary award. Three other Nigerians were short-listed – Elnathan John for Bayan Layi, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for The Whispering Trees and Chinelo Okparanta for America. Sierra Leone’s Pede Hollist was the only non-Nigerian short-listed for his short story Foreign Aid. Ms Okparanta was the only female contender.

The chair of judges, Gus Casely-Hayford, awarded Mr Folarin the prize at a dinner held at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University in the UK. ”Tope Folarin’s Miracle is another superb Caine Prize winner – a delightful and beautifully paced narrative, that is exquisitely observed and utterly compelling,” he said.

“Religion and the gullibility of those caught in the deceit that sometimes comes with faith rise to the surface as a young boy volunteers to be healed and begins to believe in miracles,” the Caine Prize said in a statement. This is the second consecutive year that a Nigerian has won the prize.

Last year’s winner was Rotimi Babatunde for his story Bombay’s Republic – about Nigerian soldiers who fought in the Burma campaign during World War II.

The 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing has been awarded to Nigerian author Tope Folarin for Texan short story "Miracle," an extract from forthcoming novel "The Proximity of Distance."
Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford, an art historian, broadcaster and academic associated with the Tate Britain 

Council and National Portrait Gallery Board of Trustees, proclaimed "Miracle" a worthy winner, describing it as "a delightful and beautifully paced narrative, that is exquisitely observed and utterly compelling."

Set in a Nigerian evangelical church in Texas, presided over by a blind prophet, "Miracle" examines "religion and the gullibility of those caught in the deceit that sometimes comes with faith" through the eyes of a young believer, read the Caine Prize statement.

"What an unbelievable night. I'm still floating," tweeted Folarin after the July 8 awards dinner held at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

"I'm so thankful to everyone who's sending love my way. Much appreciated #blessed #caineprize" (@topefolarin).

"My fellow shortlistees are great writers and -- more importantly -- wonderful human beings," he had written before the ceremony took place.

Folarin, who serves the Hurston/Wright educational foundation as a board member, represented Nigeria, -- though he was born and raised in the USA, where he lives and works -- a first for the Caine Prize, which is open to those who were born in Africa, are African nationals, or whose parents are African.

Besides receiving a £10,000 award, he is invited to become a Writer-in-Residence at Georgetown University, in his current hometown of Washington DC, and given an opportunity to particiapte in Cape Town's Open Book Festival which runs September 7-11.

The Caine Prize was established in 2000 and is named after its creator, Michael Harris Caine, co-founder of the Man Booker Prize.