Mauritian Writer | Reena Usha Rungoo Wins 2024 Commonwealth Prize for Africa

Reena Usha Rungoo, a distinguished Mauritian writer, scholar, teacher, speaker, and mother has won the prestigious 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Africa region. Rungoo, aged 39, emerged victorious among 7,359 entrants from across the globe, highlighting her exceptional talent in short fiction.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize, facilitated by the Commonwealth Foundation, honours the best piece of unpublished short fiction worldwide. Regional winners are awarded GBP 2,500 each, with the overall winner receiving GBP 5,000. Rungoo’s winning story, “Dite,” meaning “tea” in Creole, delves into the complex relationship of a Mauritian woman with tea, intertwining themes of colonial history, education, language, and interpersonal relationships through olfactory memories.

As an assistant professor of literature at Harvard University, Rungoo brings a rich perspective to her writing, influenced by her identity as an islander, African, and diasporic South Asian. Her work often explores the pervasive effects of colonial violence and the resilience in the face of such legacies.

The 2024 judging panel, chaired by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, included esteemed judges Keletso Mopai, O Thiam Chin, Shashi Bhat, Richard Georges, and Melissa Lucashenko. They praised the shortlisted stories for their emotional impact and narrative prowess.

The other regional winners are Sanjana Thakur (Asia) with “Aishwarya Rai,” Julie Bouchard (Canada & Europe) with “What Burns,” Portia Subran (Caribbean) with “The Devil’s Son,” and Pip Robertson (Pacific) with “A River Then the Road.” These stories will be published by Granta ahead of the overall winner announcement on June 26.

Rungoo’s accolade underscores the vibrant literary talent emerging from Africa and the enduring power of short fiction in contemporary literature. Read African literature, encourage it and pride yourself in it.