Yasmine Zohdi Makes Caine Prize Shortlist
SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 — Egyptian author-translator Yasmine Zohdi is one of five writers shortlisted for this year’s Caine Prize, which celebrates short stories by African authors.
The five shortlistees were chosen from among four hundred submissions. All five are available online:
Yasmine Zohdi: The Absence of Stains
Gladwell Pamba: The Last Shop
Melara Mvogdobo: Dieu Merci
Akinwande Jordan: So Long It’s Starting To Look Like Eternity:
Simbarashe Kudizeza: The Blue Fighter
Yasmine’s story originally appeared in The Republic. Fiction editor Chigozie Obioma said, of the story, “When we launched the fiction section at The Republic, we had one goal in mind: to find and publish the best short fiction coming out of Africa and published in Africa but available to the world. Yasmine Zohdi’s ‘The Absence of Stains’ was one of the stories in the very first issue. That this story is powerful is an understatement; it is in many ways a masterpiece. We are thrilled to have published this young Egyptian author and doubly excited to see it shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize!”
This year’s judges are Bola Mosuro (chair), Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Orsod Malik, Siphiwo Mahala, and Sheila Atim.
The winner of the prize will be awarded £10,000, with an additional £500 going to each shortlisted author.