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Entertainment Reporter
Five prominent Zimbabwean authors who recently participated in the Caine Prize for African Writing Workshop will on Thursday 14 August participate in a Launch of the 2014 Caine Prize Anthology at the Book Café in Harare.  The launch, which comes after the successful hosting of the workshop in March this year and the prize giving ceremony in London, will feature readings by the authors followed by a discussion led by acclaimed literary critic and author Memory Chirere.  The event is scheduled to start at 5.30 pm.

The Book titled The Gonjon Pin and Other Stories, features 17 stories from across Africa. Twelve of the stories came from participants at the workshop which was held in Vumba Zimbabwe and featured writers from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Somalia.

Zimbabwe had six participants who are Bella Matambanadzo, Violet Masilo, Philani Nyoni, Bryony Rheam, Barbara Mhangami and Lawrence Hoba. Of these, only Barbara and Bryony will not be attending the launch event. The other five are stories that were shortlisted for this year’s prize and the list included Zimbabwe’s Tendai Huchu. The prize was won by Kenya’s Okwiri Oduor.

Eight publishers internationally currently print and distribute copies of Caine Prize anthologies. In Zimbabwe the rights are held by amaBooks Publishers, who are joining the authors in the initiative to launch the anthology. Other partners coming in to assist in the launch include the British Council, The Caine Prize for African Writing, Beit Trust, Harare City Library, and Red Fox Hotels.

“As authors, we are participating in the Gonjon Pin book launch to help raise awareness of the collection and help spread the impact of the Caine Prize for African Writing in African literature. As you know, Zimbabwean literature has currently been taking centre-stage again in the world”, said one of the authors featured in the anthology.