The Caine Prize for African Writing has released a statement following accusations made in the Atlantic that winner Simbarashe Kundizeza may have used AI.
“On Tuesday 6 October in London, Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza was announced as the 2026 Caine Prize winner. Today, 11 October, an article by journalist Vauhini Vara suggests that the winning story The Blue Fighter may have used AI.
“When claims such as this are made, it is our responsibility to look into them. We aim to do this by taking a human centred approach ensuring that writers are supported and cared for during the process. We have initiated that process in this case.
“The Caine Prize celebrates stories that have already been published elsewhere. We are therefore in a bond of trust with the magazines and journals that publish the initial work. This connection also makes our role more than the simple labour of administering a prize, but a key part of an ecosystem that validates and supports the writing and publishing of African authors. We are mindful of this and will continue the mission of communally upholding and celebrating African literature.”
