Nigerian writer Tope Folarin has been awarded the 2013 Caine Prize for his short story Miracle published in Transition Magazine. He was awarded £10,000 for what judges described as a “delightful and beautifully paced narrative” set in a Nigerian evangelical church in Texas. Miracle tells the tale of a congregation that have gathered to witness the healing powers of a blind pastor and prophet on a tour across America.
The prize, considered one of the most prestigious for African literature, is now fourteen years old. It was named after the late Sir Michael Caine who worked on establishing it shortly before he died and was also instrumental in the foundation of the Booker Prize.
Folarin was awarded his prize last night at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. He has been awarded two Master’s degrees at the University, where he has previously studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
His win is reflective of the increasing critical acclaim for Nigerian literature. Last year’s winner was Nigerian as were four out of five writers shortlisted for the 2013 prize. To read more about the nominated authors, head over to the Caine Prize’s website.
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