The Heart Of The Matter

The Jacana Literary Foundation and the Other Foundation are thrilled to announce the publication of the third volume of The Gerald Kraak Anthology, The Heart of the Matter.

With the prize ceremony linked to Africa Day, the publication of the anthology is tied to the Pride Month of June and the celebrations of the LGBTQI+ community which occur across the globe.

The Heart of the Matter is a collection of the 21 shortlisted entries, chosen by this year's judges; Sisonke Msimang, Sylvia Tamale, Mark Gevisser and Otosirieze Obi-Young, from over 400 submissions received from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and six other African countries. It showcases some of the most provocative works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction. The winning essay "Mothers and Men" by OluTimehin Adegbeye truly captures the essence of the African LGBTQI+ community. The anthology showcases some of Africa's most talented writers.The unique prize calls for multi-layered, stirring African voices that represent a new wave of fresh storytelling, one that provokes thought on the topics of gender, social justice and sexuality. The anthology encapsulates the current struggle of the African LGBTQI+ community; same-sex relationships are still illegal in many countries, most of them in Africa. This anthology also coincides with some of the victories of the community; Botswana's High Court recently overturned a colonial-era law criminalising consensual same-sex relations.

The second of the Gerald Kraak Anthologies, As You Like It, received the LAMBDA Literary Award for LGBTQ Anthology Fiction 2019 at a ceremony in New York. A testament to the brave storytellers of Africa, and the impact they have.

The Gerald Kraak Anthology and Prize is made possible by the Jacana Literary Foundation and the Other Foundation.