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African writers rarely win or are even nominated for the best new writer, debut author, first novel/story awards. Because they usually need a running start to be seen or eventually debut. And that running start can be many years or works later. By which time, they are unqualified
Really unfortunate because their first works can be as amazing as anything. But that little opportunity is lost forever. There's a direction that SFF looks at by default. And it's not at the continent. Tbh we rarely win any SFF awards. But those less than the rest.
A lot of the time these amazing works have to be self published. Because no one will take them. They are too this and that, not this and that enough. Too African, not African enough, not SFF enough, that's not really sci-fi, etc. So many standards.
And so the writers publish their works themselves, without the platform, system and machinery to ensure they are seen. The stories are largely wasted once published. Because reprints don't qualify for anything. (Note, I say wasted in particular context. Award eligibility)
So between reprint & debut author award rules, so much that's gold is lost. This is a generic problem. But it mostly affects African writers, I think.
