South African journalist and writer, Niq Mhlongo wins the 2019 Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English Fiction for his collection of short stories; ‘Soweto, Under The Apricot Tree.’
Independent judge’s panel compiled the shortlist announced on May 13, 2019, from 80 submissions. The award ceremony was held in Cape Town, South Africa.
The judges described the collection as a superior kind of storytelling by a skillful storyteller, with diverse stories, each one distinguished by way of subject matter, tone and narrative voice.
Mhlongo’s collection of short stories is the first collection to have won a prize normally handed to novelist. This years prize falls in place, as Herman Charles Bosman whom the prize is named after, is one of South Africa’s greatest short story writers. A prize money of R35,000 will go to author of Dog Eat Dog.