Just a year after launching its fiction section, Nigerian magazine The Republic has earned its first Caine Prize shortlist spot, with Yasmine Zohdi’s story “The Absence of Stains” selected among the five finalists for the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing. The magazine celebrated the recognition on social media, describing it as a significant milestone for its relatively new fiction programme and congratulating Zohdi on the achievement.

The Republic began accepting fiction in March 2025 with award-winning Nigerian novelist Chigozie Obioma as its inaugural Fiction Editor. The move marked a new direction for the magazine, which had been known primarily for its essays, criticism, and reportage. Under Obioma’s editorial leadership, the fiction desk set out to publish imaginative work that could move beyond the confines of genre, geography, and literary trends. The magazine has since continued to expand its fiction offering, including its recent call for stories exploring “Nigeria in the World,” with selected writers receiving $200 for their work.

Zohdi’s “The Absence of Stains” is now one of five stories shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize, alongside Gladwell Pamba’s “The Last Shop,” Melara Mvogdobo’s “Dieu Merci,” Akinwande Jordan’s “So Long It’s Starting To Look Like Eternity,” and Simbarashe Kudizeza’s “The Blue Fighter.” The shortlist was selected from more than 400 submissions, with the winning writer set to receive £10,000 and each shortlisted writer receiving £500. The Republic is making Zohdi’s story available to read without a paywall for one week, with readers required only to create a free account or log in.

Read here:

https://rpublc.com/story/2025/08/%E2%80%A6