USA play Bella Napoli wins Alexander Nderitu Prize at Kenya literary festival
The short play Bella Napoli by New York-based playwright Steve Gold won the second annual Alexander Nderitu Prize for World Literature. Ugandan poet Carolyne ‘Afroetry’ Acen announced the win on 30 May 2026 at the Asian Literary Festival in Kenya. The prize attracted 266 entries from 23 countries for ten‑to‑fifteen‑minute stage plays. Bella Napoli is a ten‑minute, amusing yet thought‑provoking work set in 1930s Italy, following an uptight African‑American scientist who arrives in Naples for a research position and is welcomed by a disarming Austrian woman. One juror called it “Charming! I like the way it tackles two serious issues (racism, gender discrimination) in an entertaining and creative way.” Steve Gold is also the author of full‑length plays such as Outlive the Bastards, Cadillac High, and Women and Guns, which won the Fratti‑Newman Political Play contest in 2011. Acen will serve as chief judge for the 2026 edition of the prize, which will focus on poetry. The winning play will be published in The African Griot Review, the literary magazine of the Nderitu Prize, and on its parent website TheAfricanGriot.com.
For Nigerian writers and creatives, this highlights a continental platform that recognises African‑linked narratives and offers publication opportunities. It signals that prizes like the Nderitu welcome global entries while promoting African literary voices. If you have a short play or poem, consider preparing a submission for next year’s poetry‑focused prize, and explore The African Griot Review for publishing avenues and calls for work.