The Jacana Literary Foundation invites aspiring authors to submit their entries for the 2025 Dinaane Debut Fiction Award.

About the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award

The Dinaane Debut Fiction Award, previously known as the European Union Literary Award, celebrates the voices of debut authors. The award welcomes unpublished manuscripts in English or translations from other South African languages. The winner will receive R35,000 and a publishing contract with Jacana Media, a leading name in South African publishing.

Since its establishment in 2004, the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award has provided debut authors with the opportunity to launch their literary careers in South Africa and internationally. Previous winners include Ishtiyaq Shukri for The Silent Minaret (2004), Fred Khumalo for Bitches’ Brew (2005), Kopano Matlwa for Coconut (2007), Mubanga Kalimamukwento for The Mourning Bird (2019) and Rešoketšwe Manenzhe for Scatterlings (2020).

Who should enter?
Permanent residents or citizens of South Africa and other southern African countries in the SADC region (including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania, Namibia, Mauritius, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar and Seychelles) who have not previously published a work of fiction.

Eligibility
Manuscripts that do not meet the submission requirements will not be considered by the judging panel. View all submission requirements here. Submissions opened on Monday, 22 July 2024 and close on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. Late submissions will not be permitted.

How to enter
Submit your manuscript through the submission portal available HERE.

Categories Africa Fiction South Africa

Tags Awards Dinaane Debut Fiction Award Jacana Literary Foundation Jacana Media News