A student from the North-West University (NWU) is one of 28 writers from 19 countries whose short story has been shortlisted by an international judging panel for the 2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

Matshediso Radebe, a third-year communication student at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, is also one of only three writers from South Africa ― and one of only six writers from Africa ― who has been shortlisted for the prestigious prize.

Her short story, Falling from a knife tree, is described as essentially scattered vignettes of the coming-of-age story of a piqued girl with divorced parents. Matshediso says the story is based on an image she conceptualised in her mind.

“I am very, very excited about the competition. I feel honoured and humbled and extremely happy. I am very proud of this achievement.” Although she loves writing short stories, her dream is to write a novel one day.

Matshediso is no stranger to acclaim. She won the South African Writers College Short Story Competition in 2022. She says winning this competition boosted her self-confidence and was the motivation for her to enter the competition for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

She enjoys writing character-based stories and troubled characters with interesting relationships and compelling dynamics drive her storytelling.

More about the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The 2023 shortlisted stories will be published online in the online publication Adda (Home - adda (addastories.org)). Regional winners will be announced on 17 May and the overall winner will be announced on 27 June.

The chairperson of the judges, Bilal Tanweer says the shortlisted stories showcase the richness of the Commonwealth’s writing traditions, histories and perspectives. “These stories brim with the energy and urgency of the present moment – read them to experience the beat and the pulse of contemporary storytelling.”

Dr Anne T Gallagher AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), director-general of the Commonwealth Foundation, an intergovernmental organisation that administers the prize, says 6 642 writers entered stories in 2023. She congratulates the 28 writers who made the shortlist.

According to a press release from the Commonwealth Foundation, winning or being shortlisted for the prize opens a wealth of opportunities for the selected writers, propelling them further in their writing careers. For more information, visit: commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-prize/

Matshediso Radebe says she entered the Commonwealth Short Story Prize after reading an article online about last year’s winner