Lesley Nneka Arimah’s short story “Skinned” has been selected for this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing. The Nigerian writer, who authored the collection of stories entitled What it Means When a Man Falls from the Sky, will receive a £10,000 prize for her work.

“Lesley Nneka Arimah’s 'Skinned' defamiliarises the familiar to topple social hierarchies, challenge traditions and envision new possibilities for women of the world,” noted Peter Kimani, the chair of the judging committee. “Using a sprightly diction, she invents a dystopian universe inhabited by unforgettable characters where friendship is tested, innocence is lost, and readers gain a new understanding of life.”

Founded with the goal of “bringing African writing to a wider audience,” the Caine Prize aims “to connect readers with African writers through a series of public events, as well as helping emerging writers in Africa to enter the world of mainstream publishing through the annual Caine Prize writers’ workshop, which takes place in a different African country each year.”

“Skinned” was originally published in 2018 in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern. An audio recording of the story was also produced by the Caine Prize.

Photo Credit: Emily Baxter