My Invitation to the Caine Prize Workshop 2014

Dear Nkiacha Atemnkeng,

I’m emailing you on behalf of the Caine Prize for African Writing to invite you to the 2014 workshop, which will be held at Leopard's Rock Hotel in Zimbabwe, from 21 March - 2 April.

All your travel, accommodation costs and living expenses will be paid by the Caine Prize. 

Participants will be expected each to complete a short story during the Workshop, which will be published in the Caine Prize anthology later in the year.  There will be readings and discussion of work in progress each evening, and two workshop-experienced writers, will be available for one-to-one consultation.  You may come with the outline of a story to work on, or simply with an idea.  But experience has shown that the participants who gain most from our workshops are not those who come with a completed first draft – it is much better to allow the work to evolve through the workshop process. 

I will send you further details soon, but first wanted to find out whether or not you will be able to attend.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Jenny

Jenny Casswell

Account Manager

Raitt Orr & Associates

CAN Mezzanine

49-51 East Road

Old Street

London N1 6AH
+44(0) 20 7250 8296

www.raittorr.co.uk

Dear Jenny Casswell. First and foremost, thank you for making my day today and my week. The other day a taxi rolled over my left foot on my way to work. It hurt! But the leg didn't break. Today our resident president had to visit the economic capital, Douala and he had to land at the Douala Airport. As a result, the surrounding area had to be sealed off cars, so that means security officers made us disembark our taxi and I had to walk a long, long way to get to the airport. I started working when i was already tired! So that may probably give you an idea of how happy, honoured and humbled I am to receive this email from you. (In fact, when I saw your email, I screamed and switched off the Tupac I was listening to.)

I want to thank you, Lizzy and the whole Caine Prize workshop team for this wonderful opportunity. Yes, I will attend the Caine prize workshop in the land of my role model, NoViolet Bulawayo, lovely coincidence. My company's regulations state that a worker can take a month's leave after working for one year but inform them two months in advance. I have worked for eleven months without taking any leave and we're four months away from the workshop. Perfect. I will be there. Needless to say, the short story's already a zygote (in my brain anyway not my womb since I'm a man.) I'm not coming with any draft. I will write my story at the workshop. Thank you for this great opportunity. I'll be patiently waiting for any further emails. I wish you good night and dreamy dreams. Nkiacha Atemnkeng

Dear Nkiacha Atemnkeng,

This has to be the best response to an invitation I have ever received – thank you. I’m so glad you are able to make it.

I will be in touch with further information very soon.

Best,

Jenny

Jenny Casswell

Account Manager

Raitt Orr & Associates

CAN Mezzanine

49-51 East Road

Old Street

London N1 6AH

+44(0) 20 7250 8296

www.raittorr.co.uk

Animateurs

Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa)

Nii Parkes (Ghana)

Workshop Participants

Pede Hollist (Sierra Leone) Couldn't attend

Elnathan John (Nigeria) 

Abubakar Ibrahim (Nigeria)

Chinelo Okparanta (Nigeria)

Bryony Rheam (Zimbabwe)

Bella Zvinemazuva (Zimbabwe)

Philani Nyoni (Zimbabwe) 

Lawrence Hoba (Zimbabwe)

Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende (Zimbabwe)

Clifton Gachagua (Kenya)

Nkiacha Atemnkeng (Cameroon) Couldn't attend

Martin Egblewogbe (Ghana)

Abdul Adan (Somalia)

Caine once again

Caine once again: It is a “Miracle” that we weren’t killed as we ran away from “Bayan Layi”. Our strongest boy, Banda was killed. We ran past the Kuka tree and also ran past “The Whispering Trees” as the bullets whistled around our ears. We ran and ran and ran until we got to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. And then we gazed at the sea, hoping to catch a glimpse of a ship that will take us away to “America” But the problem is, we need some “Foreign Aid” to get there. NB: woven from the titles of the short stories, “Miracle” by Tope Folarin, “Bayan Layi” by Elnathan John, “The Whispering Trees” by Ibrahim Adam Abubakar, “America” by Chinelo Okparanta and “Foreign Aid” by Pede Hollist.

Father's List

I took my seat at the front pew of the church before mass with my wife, Egbe like we always do. At just a glance, I could spot all those church goers in the name of Christians who had not contributed to the betterment of Sacred Heart Parish Fiango, Kumba like the Chis, who had not disbursed a dime for our catechist’s basket. Like Mrs. Foncheu, whom I heard has slept with Father. And scrooge, Pa Atabong, who despite earning millions, donated only five thousand francs for the roofing of the Parish Council building when I contributed thirty thousand francs from my average salary.

The priest’s homily today is about the Widow’s mite. I squinted at Pa Atabong. A fragment of Father’s preaching pricked me.

“Here, I have a list of all the Christians who have been tainting the image of our church.” The quiet congregation broke into a babble.

“Does anybody want to see it?” Father Telemachus inquisitively eyed us. Still, more jabbering and fidgeting. I had to see those names! Suddenly, I was on my feet, walking towards the pulpit with celestial grace like Jesus Christ during the walk to Emmaus, since I’m a Knight. When I peered at Father’s fingers, I felt a wild jolt in my stomach and was transfixed like Lot’s wife.

Later, Egbe asked me about those who’d made the list. I kept mute. When she insisted, I stuttered,

“I, I, saw myself.”  

“What! Father wrote your name!”

“No, it’s not a list. I saw my reflection in a mirror. He only has a mirror.” Egbe stared at me but I couldn’t hold her gaze out of shame. I was having an affair with a young girl who had bore me two sons because Egbe couldn’t bear children. And she didn’t know all that.