University of Johannesburg Prize explained

The University of Johannesburg Prize
Location:Johannesburg, South Africa
Awarded For:Best work of creative writing
Presenter:University of Johannesburg
Reward:R70 000 / R35 000 / R50 000
Former Name:RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skryfwerk

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

Winners of the English prize (2009-2023)!Year!Prize!Winner!Work!Genre!Ref.
2023MainCA DavidsHow to Be a RevolutionaryFiction[4]
DebutPulane Mlilo MpondoThings My Mother Left MeFiction
2022MainMandla LangaThe Lost Language of the SoulFiction[5]
DebutA’Eysha KassiemSuitcase of MemoryFiction
Lisa-Anne JulienIf You Save MeFiction
2021MainJacob DlaminiSafari NationNon-fiction[6]
DebutRešoketšwe ManenzheScatterlingsFiction
Jamil F. KhanKhamr: The Making of a WaterslamsMemoir
2020No prizes awarded[7]
2019MainGabeba BaderoonThe History of IntimacyPoetry[8]
DebutMphuthumi NtabeniThe Broken River TentHistorical fiction
2018MainLesego RampolokengBird-Monk SedingFiction[9]
DebutBarbara BoswellGraceFiction
2017MainNthikeng MohlelePleasureFiction[10]
DebutMohale MashigoThe YearningFiction
2016MainCraig HigginsonThe Dream HouseFiction[11]
DebutEliza KentridgeSigns for an ExhibitionPoetry
Nkosinathi SitholeHunger Eats a ManFiction
2015MainZakes MdaRachel's BlueFiction[12]
DebutPenny BusettoThe Story of Anna P, As Told By Herself Fiction
2014MainLauren BeukesThe Shining Girls Fiction[13]
DebutDominique BothaFalse RiverFiction
2013MainKen BarrisLife UnderwaterFiction[14]
DebutSteven Boykey SidleyEntanglementFiction
2012MainCraig HigginsonThe Landscape PainterFiction[15]
DebutTerry Westby-NunnThe Sea of Wise InsectsFiction
2011MainIvan VladislavicDouble NegativeFiction[16]
DebutShaida AliNot a Fairy TaleFiction
2010MainImraan CoovadiaHigh Low In-betweenFiction[17]
DebutJacob DlaminiNative NostalgiaNon-fiction
2009MainDalmon GalgutThe ImpostorFiction[18]
DebutChris MarnewickShepherds and ButchersFiction

Prizes for South African Writing in Afrikaans

Winners of the Afrikaans prize (2001-2023)!Year!Prize!Winner!Work!Ref.
2023MainAntjie KrogPlunder[19]
DebutCarien SmithBOT
2022MainS.J. NaudéDol heuning[20]
DebutAshwin ArendseSwatland
Frederik de JagerMan op ‘n fiets êrens heen
2021MainWillem AnkerSkepsel [21]
DebutRyan PedroPienk ceramic-hondjies
2020MainEtienne van HeerdenDie biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld
DebutRuan KempGedeeltelik Bewolk
2019MainCharl-Pierre NaudéDie ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey
DebutLodewyk G. Du PlessisDie dao van Daan van der Walt
2018MainS.J. NaudéDie derde spoel
DebutJolyn PhillipsRadbraak
2017MainJohn MilesOp 'n dag, 'n hond
DebutBibi SlippersFotostaatmasjien
2016MainEna JansenSoos familie
DebutRoela HattinghKamee
2015MainWillem AnkerBuys
DebutStephanus MullerNagmusiek
2014MainMarlene van NiekerkKaar
DebutDominique BothaValsrivier
2013MainIngrid WinterbachDie aanspraak van lewede wesens
DebutAndré KrugerDie twee lewens van Dieter Ondracek
2012MainDan SleighWals met Matilda
DebutS.J. NaudéAlfabet van die voëls
2011MainMarlene van NiekerkDie sneeuslaper
DebutNicole Jaekel StraussMaal
2010MainElsa JoubertReisiger
DebutKarin BrynardPlaasmoord
2009MainEtienne van Heerden30 Nagte in Amsterdam
DebutLoftus MaraisStaan in die algemeen nader aan vensters
2008MainBreyten BreytenbachDie windvanger
DebutWillem AnkerSiegfried
2007MainIngrid WinterbachDie boek van toeval en toeverlaat
DebutDanie MaraisIn die buitenste ruimte
2006MainAndré P. BrinkBidsprinkaan
DebutMarlize HobbsFlarde
2005MainMarlene van NiekerkAgaat
2004MainAbraham H. de VriesTot verhaal kom
DebutMarius CrousBrief uit die kolonies
2003MainDan SleighEilande
DebutNini BennettStoornis
2002MainRachelle GreeffMerke van die nag
DebutNanette van RooyenOm te vlerk
2001MainAntjie KrogKleur kom nooit alleen nie

Prizes for Creative Writing in Zulu

Winners of the Zulu prize (2021-2023)!Year!Prize!Winner!Work!Genre!Ref.
2023MainNdabayakhe William ZuluEmzileni KaShakaHistorical fiction[22]
2022MainNtombenhle Protasia DlaminiZinoju ZuluPoetry[23]
Khanyelihle MnguniKusazoba MnandiShort stories
DebutSandile NgwenyaImali YezipokiYA fiction
2021MainE.D.M. SibiyaIsibusiso NezinyembeziPoetry anthology[24]
DebutMbusiseni BhenyaUGovana kaGovanaDrama

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

Winner of the Northern Sotho prize (2011-2023)!Year!Prize!Winner!Work!Genre!Ref.
2023MainMoses SeletishaEto la MofaladiBiography
DebutNtloro Charlotte PebaneLerato la LephekoFiction
2022MainPM Mashilo & MT MashaDitsakauma Tša MarumoVarious
DebutKholofelo ThabaSedibeng sa KomeleloPoetry
Mahlatsi Maqwenjo Bohlale bjo foufetšegoFiction
2021MainKobate John SekeleMadimabe a LešokoFiction

Prizes for Literary Translation

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.
2023MainHenrietta Rose-InnesA Library to Flee (Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld by Etienne van Heerden)Afrikaans to English[25]
2022MainS.J. NaudéMad Honey (Dol heuning by the same author)Afrikaans to English
2021MainMichiel HeynsRed Dog (Buys by Willem Anker)Afrikaans to English
Youth TextNathan TrantraalLang pad onnetoe (Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds)English to Afrikaans

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-03-23. UJ recognises multilingual ethos with creative writing prizes. 2021-11-08. University of Johannesburg. en.
  2. "Shortlists for the 2012/2013 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English". Books LIVE. Retrieved June 07, 2013.
  3. Web site: UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans. 2024-09-05. University of Johannesburg. Afrikaans.
  4. Web site: Malec. Jennifer. 2023-09-12. 2023 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced. 2024-09-05. The Johannesburg Review of Books. en-US.
  5. Web site: Malec. Jennifer. 2022-10-03. 2022 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced. 2024-09-05. The Johannesburg Review of Books. en-US.
  6. Web site: Malec. Jennifer. 2021-10-13. 2021 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English winners announced. 2021-11-08. The Johannesburg Review of Books. en-US.
  7. Web site: Malec. Jennifer. 2021-10-06. Shortlists announced for 2021 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English. 2021-11-08. The Johannesburg Review of Books. en-US.
  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. Web site: Literary awards: 2009/2010 update. 2021-11-08. Western Cape Government.
  19. Web site: 2023-04-03. Persverklaring: Wenners van die 2023-UJ-debuutprys en die 2023-UJ-prys. 2024-09-05. Litnet.
  20. Web site: 2022-04-18. Persverklaring: Wenners van die 2022-UJ-debuutprys en die 2022-UJ-prys bekend. 2024-09-05. Litnet.
  21. Web site: 2021-03-21. 2021 UJ-pryse: Wenners aangekondig/Winners announced. 2021-11-14. NB Publishers.
  22. Web site: 2023-09-05. 2023 UJ Creative writing prize winners in isiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa revealed . 2024-09-05. University of Johannesburg. en.
  23. Web site: 2022-07-21. Winners announced for the 2022 UJ Prize for Creative Writing and Literary Translation. 2024-09-05. University of Johannesburg. en.
  24. Web site: 2021-09-15. Announcement of winners: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu; Sesotho sa Leboa and for Literary Translation. 2021-11-08. University of Johannesburg. en.
  25. Web site: Malec. Jennifer. 2023-10-04. Henrietta Rose-Innes wins 2023 UJ Prize for Literary Translation. 2024-09-05. The Johannesburg Review of Books. en-US.