University of Johannesburg Prize

Annual prize for South African writing

Award

The University of Johannesburg Prize

Awarded for| Best work of creative writing
Location| Johannesburg, South Africa
Presented by| University of Johannesburg
Formerly called| RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skryfwerk
Reward(s)| R70 000 / R35 000 / R50 000

The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing, also known as the UJ Prize, is awarded annually by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for the best creative works in each of five categories: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation.[1] There are usually two prizes, a main prize and a debut prize, in each category. The prizes are not linked to a specific genre, and each year's prize rewards work published in the previous year.[2] The winner of the main prize in each category receives R70 000, the winner of each debut prize receives R35 000, and the winner of the Literary Translation prize receives R50 000.[1]

The Afrikaans prize has been awarded since 2001, but was previously called the RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skyfwerk (RAU Prize for Creative Writing) and located at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU).[3] In 2005, when RAU was merged with other institutions to establish UJ, the name of the prize was changed and the English category was introduced.

The Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation prizes were awarded for the first time in 2021, with any work published between 2018 and 2020 eligible for entry.[1]

Marlene van Niekerk, Willem Anker and S.J. Naudé have each won the Afrikaans prize three times; English translations of novels by Anker and Naudé have also won the UJ Literary Translation Prize, once each; in Naudé's case, he translated his own work.

## Prizes for South African Writing in English

[edit]

Winners of the English prize (2009-2023)  Year  | Prize  | Winner  | Work  | Genre  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023  | Main  | CA Davids | How to Be a Revolutionary | Fiction  | [4]
Debut  | Pulane Mlilo Mpondo  | Things My Mother Left Me | Fiction
2022  | Main  | Mandla Langa | The Lost Language of the Soul | Fiction  | [5]
Debut  | A’Eysha Kassiem  | Suitcase of Memory | Fiction
Lisa-Anne Julien  | If You Save Me | Fiction
2021  | Main  | Jacob Dlamini | Safari Nation | Non-fiction  | [6]
Debut  | Rešoketšwe Manenzhe  | Scatterlings | Fiction
Jamil F. Khan  | Khamr: The Making of a Waterslams | Memoir
2020  | No prizes awarded  |  | [7]
2019  | Main  | Gabeba Baderoon | The History of Intimacy | Poetry  | [8]
Debut  | Mphuthumi Ntabeni  | The Broken River Tent | Historical fiction
2018  | Main  | Lesego Rampolokeng | Bird-Monk Seding | Fiction  | [9]
Debut  | Barbara Boswell  | Grace | Fiction
2017  | Main  | Nthikeng Mohlele | Pleasure | Fiction  | [10]
Debut  | Mohale Mashigo | The Yearning | Fiction
2016  | Main  | Craig Higginson | The Dream House | Fiction  | [11]
Debut  | Eliza Kentridge  | Signs for an Exhibition | Poetry
Nkosinathi Sithole  | Hunger Eats a Man | Fiction
2015  | Main  | Zakes Mda | Rachel's Blue | Fiction  | [12]
Debut  | Penny Busetto | The Story of Anna P, As Told By Herself | Fiction
2014  | Main  | Lauren Beukes | The Shining Girls | Fiction  | [13]
Debut  | Dominique Botha  | False River | Fiction
2013  | Main  | Ken Barris  | Life Underwater | Fiction  | [14]
Debut  | Steven Boykey Sidley  | Entanglement | Fiction
2012  | Main  | Craig Higginson | The Landscape Painter | Fiction  | [15]
Debut  | Terry Westby-Nunn  | The Sea of Wise Insects | Fiction
2011  | Main  | Ivan Vladislavic | Double Negative | Fiction  | [16]
Debut  | Shaida Ali  | Not a Fairy Tale | Fiction
2010  | Main  | Imraan Coovadia | High Low In-between | Fiction  | [17]
Debut  | Jacob Dlamini | Native Nostalgia | Non-fiction
2009  | Main  | Dalmon Galgut | The Impostor | Fiction  | [18]
Debut  | Chris Marnewick  | Shepherds and Butchers | Fiction

## Prizes for South African Writing in Afrikaans

[edit]

Winners of the Afrikaans prize (2001-2023)  Year  | Prize  | Winner  | Work  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2023  | Main  | Antjie Krog | Plunder | [19]
Debut  | Carien Smith  | BOT
2022  | Main  | S.J. Naudé | Dol heuning | [20]
Debut  | Ashwin Arendse  | Swatland
Frederik de Jager  | Man op ‘n fiets êrens heen
2021  | Main  | Willem Anker | Skepsel | [21]
Debut  | Ryan Pedro  | Pienk ceramic-hondjies
2020  | Main  | Etienne van Heerden | Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld | [3]
Debut  | Ruan Kemp  | Gedeeltelik Bewolk
2019  | Main  | Charl-Pierre Naudé  | Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey | [3]
Debut  | Lodewyk G. Du Plessis  | Die dao van Daan van der Walt
2018  | Main  | S.J. Naudé | Die derde spoel | [3]
Debut  | Jolyn Phillips  | Radbraak
2017  | Main  | John Miles  | Op 'n dag, 'n hond | [3]
Debut  | Bibi Slippers  | Fotostaatmasjien
2016  | Main  | Ena Jansen  | Soos familie | [3]
Debut  | Roela Hattingh  | Kamee
2015  | Main  | Willem Anker | Buys | [3]
Debut  | Stephanus Muller | Nagmusiek
2014  | Main  | Marlene van Niekerk | Kaar | [3]
Debut  | Dominique Botha  | Valsrivier
2013  | Main  | Ingrid Winterbach | Die aanspraak van lewede wesens | [3]
Debut  | André Kruger  | Die twee lewens van Dieter Ondracek
2012  | Main  | Dan Sleigh | Wals met Matilda | [3]
Debut  | S.J. Naudé | Alfabet van die voëls
2011  | Main  | Marlene van Niekerk | Die sneeuslaper | [3]
Debut  | Nicole Jaekel Strauss  | Maal
2010  | Main  | Elsa Joubert | Reisiger | [3]
Debut  | Karin Brynard  | Plaasmoord
2009  | Main  | Etienne van Heerden | 30 Nagte in Amsterdam | [3]
Debut  | Loftus Marais  | Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters
2008  | Main  | Breyten Breytenbach | Die windvanger | [3]
Debut  | Willem Anker | Siegfried
2007  | Main  | Ingrid Winterbach | Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat | [3]
Debut  | Danie Marais  | In die buitenste ruimte
2006  | Main  | André P. Brink | Bidsprinkaan | [3]
Debut  | Marlize Hobbs  | Flarde
2005  | Main  | Marlene van Niekerk | Agaat | [3]
2004  | Main  | Abraham H. de Vries | Tot verhaal kom | [3]
Debut  | Marius Crous  | Brief uit die kolonies
2003  | Main  | Dan Sleigh | Eilande | [3]
Debut  | Nini Bennett  | Stoornis
2002  | Main  | Rachelle Greeff  | Merke van die nag | [3]
Debut  | Nanette van Rooyen  | Om te vlerk
2001  | Main  | Antjie Krog | Kleur kom nooit alleen nie | [3]

## Prizes for Creative Writing in Zulu

[edit]

Winners of the Zulu prize (2021-2023)  Year  | Prize  | Winner  | Work  | Genre  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023  | Main  | Ndabayakhe William Zulu  | Emzileni KaShaka | Historical fiction  | [22]
2022  | Main  | Ntombenhle Protasia Dlamini  | Zinoju Zulu | Poetry  | [23]
Khanyelihle Mnguni  | Kusazoba Mnandi | Short stories
Debut  | Sandile Ngwenya  | Imali Yezipoki | YA fiction
2021  | Main  | E.D.M. Sibiya  | Isibusiso Nezinyembezi | Poetry anthology  | [24]
Debut  | Mbusiseni Bhenya  | UGovana kaGovana | Drama

## Prizes for Creative Writing in Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa)

[edit]

Winner of the Northern Sotho prize (2011-2023)  Year  | Prize  | Winner  | Work  | Genre  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023  | Main  | Moses Seletisha  | Eto la Mofaladi | Biography  | [22]
Debut  | Ntloro Charlotte Pebane  | Lerato la Lepheko | Fiction
2022  | Main  | PM Mashilo & MT Masha  | Ditsakauma Tša Marumo | Various  | [23]
Debut  | Kholofelo Thaba  | Sedibeng sa Komelelo | Poetry
Mahlatsi Maqwenjo  | Bohlale bjo foufetšego | Fiction
2021  | Main  | Kobate John Sekele  | Madimabe a Lešoko | Fiction  | [24]

## Prizes for Literary Translation

[edit]

The translation prize is awarded for the translation of a literary text from any language into any one of the official South African languages. There is no debut prize for literary translation; instead, there is a prize for the translation of a youth text.[1]

Winners of the Literary Translation prize (2021-2023)  Year  | Prize  | Winner  | Work  | Language  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023  | Main  | Henrietta Rose-Innes | A Library to Flee (Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld by Etienne van Heerden)  | Afrikaans to English  | [25]
2022  | Main  | S.J. Naudé | Mad Honey (Dol heuning by the same author)  | Afrikaans to English  | [23]
2021  | Main  | Michiel Heyns | Red Dog (Buys by Willem Anker)  | Afrikaans to English  | [24]
Youth Text  | Nathan Trantraal  | Lang pad onnetoe (Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds)  | English to Afrikaans

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "UJ recognises multilingual ethos with creative writing prizes". University of Johannesburg. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
2. ^ "Shortlists for the 2012/2013 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English". Books LIVE. Retrieved June 07, 2013.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans" (PDF). University of Johannesburg (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2024-09-05.
4. ^ Malec, Jennifer (2023-09-12). "2023 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
5. ^ Malec, Jennifer (2022-10-03). "2022 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
6. ^ Malec, Jennifer (2021-10-13). "2021 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
7. ^ Malec, Jennifer (2021-10-06). "Shortlists announced for 2021 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
8. ^ "Gabeba Baderoon and Mphuthumi Ntabeni win the UJ Prizes for South African Writing"
9. ^ "Lesego Rampolokeng and Barbara Boswell win the UJ Prizes for South African Writing"
10. ^ "University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing in English 2016 winners announced"
11. ^ "Craig Higginson, Eliza Kentridge and Nkosinathi Sithole win the 2015/16 University of Johannesburg Prizes"
12. ^ "Zakes Mda and Penny Busetto Win the 2014/2015 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing (English)"
13. ^ "Lauren Beukes and Dominique Botha Win the 2013/2014 University of Johannesburg Prizes"
14. ^ "Ken Barris and Steven Boykey Sidley win the 2012/2013 University of Johannesburg Prizes"
15. ^ "Craig Higginson and Terry Westby-Nunn Win the 2011/2012 University of Johannesburg Prizes"
16. ^ "Ivan Vladislavic and Shaida Kazie Ali Win the 2010/2011 University of Johannesburg Prizes for Creative Writing"
17. ^ "Imraan Coovadia and Jacob Dlamini Win the 2010 University of Johannesburg Prizes"
18. ^ "Literary awards: 2009/2010 update" (PDF). Western Cape Government. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
19. ^ "Persverklaring: Wenners van die 2023-UJ-debuutprys en die 2023-UJ-prys". Litnet. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
20. ^ "Persverklaring: Wenners van die 2022-UJ-debuutprys en die 2022-UJ-prys bekend". Litnet. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
21. ^ "2021 UJ-pryse: Wenners aangekondig/Winners announced". NB Publishers. 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
22. ^ a b "2023 UJ Creative writing prize winners in isiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa revealed". University of Johannesburg. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
23. ^ a b c "Winners announced for the 2022 UJ Prize for Creative Writing and Literary Translation". University of Johannesburg. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
24. ^ a b c "Announcement of winners: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu; Sesotho sa Leboa and for Literary Translation". University of Johannesburg. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
25. ^ Malec, Jennifer (2023-10-04). "Henrietta Rose-Innes wins 2023 UJ Prize for Literary Translation". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 2024-09-05.