NoViolet Bulawayo Returns to Bulawayo Following Best of Caine Prize Honour

One of Bulawayo’s most celebrated literary exports, NoViolet Bulawayo, born Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, will meet fans this afternoon at Mzilikazi Library. The event marks her homecoming following her recent recognition at the inaugural Words Across Waters Afro Lit Festival, where she received the prestigious 2025 Best of Caine Prize.

The Best of Caine Award was created to honour the single most outstanding story from the 25-year history of the Caine Prize for African Writing. NoViolet Bulawayo earned the accolade for her 2011 short story, “Hitting Budapest,” the very work that first brought her international recognition by winning the Caine Prize fourteen years ago.

Ellah Wakatama OBE, Chair of the Caine Prize, announced the award, while the judging panel, including Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah, award-winning author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, and acclaimed film producer Tony Tagoe, praised the story for its “powerful language, distinct tone of voice, and bold, compelling storytelling.”

Speaking from the festival, Bulawayo reflected on the award’s significance. She noted that winning the Caine Prize as an unpublished writer launched her career, bringing her work to a global audience and reinforcing her commitment to writing. Receiving the Best of Caine Award provides a moment of reflection on her journey, she said, and an opportunity to honour both past winners and future African writers.

Bulawayo acknowledged the prize’s broader impact, congratulating the twenty-four winning authors and finalists whose contributions have shaped African literature over the past twenty-five years. She dedicated her award to emerging writers, expressing excitement for the new voices that will continue to define the continent’s literary landscape.

The Caine Prize is recognized as a critical platform for African writers, offering international visibility, publishing opportunities, and writing fellowships. Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah described it as a cornerstone of the African literary ecosystem, fostering both new talent and established authors who push creative boundaries.

For attendees at Mzilikazi Library, the gathering offers a rare opportunity to engage with a writer whose career bridges local beginnings and global acclaim. Bulawayo’s novels, including We Need New Names—shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of the Pen/Hemingway Award and LA Times Book Prize Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction—and Glory—longlisted for the Women’s Prize, Aspen Words Literary Prize, and Rathbones Folio Prize—have cemented her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary African literature.

Bulawayo has previously shared how the late South African musician Brenda Fassie influenced her work, reflecting the diverse cultural currents that shape her writing. Her visit to Bulawayo underscores the enduring importance of local roots in a literary career that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The event celebrates her achievements and serves as an inspiration for Zimbabwean and African writers aspiring to global recognition.