Multiple Manchester writers have made the longlist for the Jhalak Prize 2021, an annual literary prize that supports and celebrates writers of colour in Britain.

Since 2017, the Jhalak Prize has accepted entries published in the UK by writers of colour from a range of genres including fiction, non-fiction, short stories, graphic novels and poetry.

Manchester Metropolitan University academic staff Dr Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Alex Wheatle and Danielle Jawando are all in the running across the prize categories this year.

Fellow Manchester writer afshan d’souza lodhi, is also longlisted for their new collection [re:desire] and Romalyn Ante, who was named as joint winner of the 2017 Manchester Writing Competition, is also featured in the longlist for the Jhalak Prize 2021.

Commonword’s Director Pete Kalu is celebrated by the prize too, as one of the judges for this year.

The shortlist for both prizes was announced on April 13th, featuring Dr Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s The First Woman and the winners will be revealed on May 25th, good luck everyone!