NoViolet Bulawayo Wins “Best of Caine Prize” for Hitting Budapest at 25th Anniversary

Zimbabwean novelist NoViolet Bulawayo wins the Best of Caine Prize for Hitting Budapest at the award’s 25th anniversary, reaffirming Zimbabwe’s place in global literature and celebrating the enduring power of African storytelling (image source)

Zimbabwean novelist NoViolet Bulawayo has won the Best of Caine Prize for her acclaimed short story Hitting Budapest, in a landmark recognition marking the 25th anniversary of the Caine Prize for African Writing. The announcement was made at the inaugural Words Across Waters: Afro Lit Fest at the British Library in London. The one-off commemorative award honours the most impactful story from the prize’s history. Judges praised Bulawayo’s 2011 piece for its “powerful language, distinctive voice, and bold, compelling storytelling.”

Hitting Budapest follows six children sneaking out of their shantytown, Paradise, into the wealthy suburb of Budapest to steal guavas. Told through the eyes of nine-year-old Darling, it highlights themes of childhood innocence, hunger, and inequality. First published in the Boston Review, the story later became the opening chapter of Bulawayo’s debut novel We Need New Names, which went on to be shortlisted for the 2013 Booker Prize.

“Winning the Caine Prize as an unpublished writer back in 2011 was the defining moment that jumpstarted my career,” Bulawayo told the London audience.

The award was presented by Caine Prize chair Ellah Wakatama, joined by Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, Ugandan novelist Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, and Ghanaian producer Tony Tagoe. Bulawayo, who grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to the US at 18, now teaches at Cornell University. Her second novel Glory, a satirical take on Zimbabwe’s post-Mugabe politics, was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize.

She credited the Caine Prize with giving her early work global visibility: “The award put me on the literary map, connected me to publishers, and proved that stories from Zimbabwe’s townships could resonate worldwide.” The prize carries a £10,000 cash award, but its influence often extends into publishing deals, academic appointments, and international recognition. Founded in 2000, it has spotlighted 25 winners from across Africa, including Nigeria’s Helon Habila and Kenya’s Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.

Zimbabwean critic Imbuwa Mubu said the win reaffirms Zimbabwe’s literary influence:“Bulawayo’s victory reminds us that stories rooted in childhood hunger, inequality and survival can carry universal resonance.” Organisers hinted the Best of Caine Prize could return for future milestones. For Zimbabwe’s cultural sector, the recognition underscores how local storytelling continues to thrive on global stages.

As Bulawayo concluded: “This story began with children running barefoot for guavas. To see it celebrated 14 years later reminds us of the endurance of African storytelling.”