Man Booker-winning Nigerian author Ben Okri has been announced as the new vice-president of the Caine Prize for African Writing.

Zimbabwean Ellah Allfrey, deputy editor of Granta, steps into the role of deputy chair of the prize, which is Africa’s leading literary award.

Chairman of the council of the prize Jonathan Taylor said: “I warmly welcome these two important appointments. Ben was in at the beginning and has been associated with the prize for 13 years; he is one of the giants of African literature. Ellah with her distinguished involvement in publishing and literary fiction will bring a further important international dimension to the prize.”

Okri, who sits on the advisory council, described the role as “a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the enrichment of literature”. More.

See: The Bookseller