Bio:
Lauri Kubuitsile is a full time, Motswana writer. She has twelve published works of fiction. She has also written two television series for Botswana Television and her short stories have been published in anthologies and literary magazines around the world. She’s won numerous writing prizes including the Golden Baobab Prize- junior category (2008/2009), the BTA/AngloPlatinum Short Story Contest (South Africa- 2007) and the Botswana Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture’s Orange Botswerere Prize for Creative Writing (2007). She was recently chosen to be a writer in residence in El Gouna Egypt for the month of May 2010.

Winning Story: The Mechanic's Son
I approach stories in many ways. In this case I had the title, The Mechanic’s Son, inspired by a book by Chris Abani. I wanted to write a story about all the ways that we don’t really know people, the ways we get derailed by things with no relevance and then miss the important things that truly define a person.

Mirirai Moyo, Zimbabwe
Best Story for ages 8-11 years

Bio:
Mirirai Moyo is a freelance writer. She was born on July 5 1979, in Mberengwa, Zimbabwe and presently lives in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Mirirai’s first effort to appear in print was a composition published in a school yearbook when she was ten years old. During her High School years, she had a few stories in The New Generation newspaper. In 1996 she was the Harare Region Winner for the Randalls National Essay Competition. Mirirai’s short stories also featured in The Sunday Mail, Fascinating Tales and Parade. Some of her writing have also been in DRUM Magazine’s Fiction segment. Her radio play, Belonging, was awarded Honourable Mention in the BBC African Performance 2008.

Winning Story: Diki, The Little Earthworm
Diki, the Little Earthworm is having a miserable morning underground. Nothing seems right. So he goes above ground hoping that the change will do him good. But once out in the open, everything gets off to a bad start. He is mistreated by everyone who comes across him. And then along comes a kind Ant.

Ahmed Farah, Kenya
Best Story written by a writer 18 years and below

Bio:
Ahmed Farah, originally born in the coastal city of Mombasa, was raised in the United States as well as Tanzania and Nairobi. Currently, Farah is a senior in high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA. Farah looks forward to attending college, where he hopes to study Political Science.