TheAfricanGriot.com is pleased to announce the longlist for the second annual Alexander Nderitu Prize for World Literature. The 2025 writing contest accepted scripts for ten-to-fifteen-minute stage plays and aims to spotlight both the playwrights and the craft of playwriting. A total of 266 entries were sent in from 23 countries worldwide. In no particular order, the longlisted writers are:

1.      Retreat in the Berkshires – Kate Schwartz (USA)
2.      Last Rites – Charlene Adhiambo (Kenya)
3.      Big Fat Wish – Christopher Franciosca (USA)
4.      Surveillance – Sabina Ramet (USA/Norway)
5.      A Lesson in A Flat – Mike Power (USA)
6.      Clowns of the Crown – Chiemezem Everest Udochukwu (Nigeria)
7.      Two Women – Meri Holl (USA)
8.      My French Tutor and the Dragon Under My Bed – Lucas Huang (USA/Taiwan)
9.      Untitled Saint - Wei Cheng (China)
10.   Bella Napoli – Steve Gold (USA)
11.   Yesterday By the Beatles – Sean Sullivan (USA)
12.   Breaking the Wall – Dan Borengasser (USA)
13.   Body Count – IfedolapoOlaniyi (Nigeria)
14.   Y? – Frank E. Robinson (USA)
15.   The Worst Table – Karen Poulsen (USA)

Also in no particular order, the Honourable Mentions are:

1.      Curs’d Be Macbeth – Donna Latham (USA)
2.      We Don’t Say Bleh BlehBleh – Evan Edwards (USA)
3.      No Country For Young People – Phil Ibsen (Kenya)
4.      The Nazarene, The Jew and the Jihadist – John Ladd (USA)
5.      Eden Revisited – Christopher P. Minichono (USA)
6.      Weekend Warrior – Lisa Emily Patterson (Denmark)
7.      After the Funeral – Martin Heavisides (USA)
8.      Ojukwu – Stephen Adinyoi (Nigeria)
9.      A Harvest Truth – Richard Lyons Conlon (USA)
10.   Beneath the Garment – Jeff Iwu (Nigeria)
11.   Cutting Season – Elizabeth Hess (USA/Canada)
12.   Much Fuss About Everything – Kithusi Mulonzya (Kenya)
13.   Solid 8 – Jeffrey Gold (USA)
14.   Call & Response – Marcus Scott (USA)
15.   A Loaf of Bread – Erick Kitheka (Kenya)

View the shortlist...>