A big win in the Southern African writing community as NoViolet Bulawayo gets recognized for her brilliant contribution to literature through her unforgettable short story Hitting Budapest. She has been writing for years, and this recognition stands as a testament to her dedication, depth, and the truth she pours into her work. For many writers across the region, this is more than just an award it’s a powerful motivation to keep soaring, keep creating, and keep writing.

27 SEPTEMBER 2025, LONDON UK The Caine Prize for African Writing has announced that Zimbabwean writer NoViolet Bulawayo has been awarded the 2025 Best of Caine Award for her short story Hitting Budapest, which originally won the Prize in 2011.

Marking the Prize’s 25th anniversary, the Best of Caine Award is an honorary prize celebrating the most outstanding winning story from the Prize’s quarter century history. The announcement was made by Ellah Wakatama OBE, Chair of the Caine Prize, at the inaugural Words Across Waters Afro Lit Festival in London on Saturday, 27 September 2025.

This year’s judging panel featured an impressive lineup: Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah (Chair), award-winning author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, and acclaimed film producer Tony Tagoe.

Speaking on the winning story, Prof. Gurnah said: “It was a tremendously impressive collection of stories to read through, but the decision to award the Best of Caine Prize to NoViolet Bulawayo was unanimous and swift. The judges were impressed with the control of voice the story demonstrated and the superb evocation of a childhood vision.”

In her acceptance speech, NoViolet Bulawayo reflected on how much the Caine Prize shaped her journey: “Winning the Caine Prize as an unpublished writer back in 2011 was truly the kind of defining highlight to jumpstart a career. It brought my work to a global audience, affirmed my literary path, and strengthened my confidence and commitment to writing so that finishing a first novel worthy of the recognition bestowed on me by Africa’s most prestigious literary award my first ever recognition was non-negotiable. Now, receiving the Best of Caine Award these many years later feels like a moment to reflect on the journey.”

She went on to dedicate the award to future writers whose voices are yet to be heard, highlighting the importance of African literature as a force that continues to “challenge, expand, enrich, and reimagine what African literature can be.”

The Caine Prize for African Writing has played a transformative role in shaping the careers of countless African writers, offering unmatched global visibility, publishing opportunities, and writing fellowships. NoViolet’s recognition at this milestone moment in the Prize’s history proves yet again that African stories are not just surviving they are thriving and redefining the global literary landscape.

For Southern Africa, and for every young writer watching from afar, this win is not just hers alone. It’s a reminder that consistency, passion, and authenticity in storytelling will always make room for your voice.