Five writers, selected from a record-breaking 7,920 participants, have been announced as regional winners of the “World’s Most Global Literary Award,” the Commonwealth Short Story Award. The overall winner will be announced Wednesday, June 25th, 2025.
The Commonwealth Short Story Award is administered by the Commonwealth Foundation. This award is awarded in the best part of an unpublished short story (2000-5000 words). Regional winners will receive £2,500 GBP, while general winners will receive £5,000 GBP. The victory story is published online Grant With a special printing collection with paper + ink.
Two of the five local winners embrace Caribbean roots. The winner of the Caribbean is Subraj Singh of Guyana, and the winners representing Canada and Europe are Canada/St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chanel Sutherland. (See the short story description below). Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
The Commonwealth Foundation has announced five regional winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Award, the world’s most global literary award. This year’s awards received 10% more attendance than in 2024. Regional winners include Josh Al Bwama in Uganda (Africa region), Fariabasher in Bangladesh (Asia region), Canada/St. Vincent/St. Vincent region, Chanel Sutherland in Grenadine (Canada and Europe region), Gaigana (Canada) and Kangana (Canada). Ridgewell in Australia (Pacific). They now advance to the final round of the judgement and the overall winners will be announced Wednesday, June 25th, 2025.
Take readers from Australia’s Surfshack to the village of Guyana on the eve of independence, and the story tackles powerful themes head on. We read intergenerational conflicts as the boy’s illiterate mother resents in fear of unconventional newcomers. Lost memories of enslaved Africans, where storytelling is the ultimate act of rebellion. The legacy of colonialism is reflected in demons who are threatened with preying on young babies. The pressure on a young woman in her 20s is to get married and become her children in the rear. And how two young people form unlikely friendships in the face of racism and family pressures.
The chairman of the judges, Dr. Vilson Helleniko“These stories illuminate many aspects of humanity and show the true mastery of short stories. Each story shows that geography is important in storytelling. They are fictional works that are inseparable from the local culture and history that they gush out. They have colour and emotional resonance – and they have driven me deeply. Congratulations to the local winners and judges!”
The Commonwealth Short Story Award is awarded annually by any of the 56 Commonwealth Member countries for the best part of unpublished short fiction. It is the most accessible and international of all writing competitions. In addition to English, entries can be submitted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil and Turkish.
The story of victory is as follows:
Africa: “Mother who doesn’t appear in the search” Josh Al Bwama (Uganda)
Asia: “Eyes and Legs” by Faria Basher (Bangladesh)
Canada/Europe: “Down” by Chanel Sutherland (Canada/St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
Caribbean: “Margot’s Run” by Subraj Singh (Guyana)
Pacific: “Crab and Lobster Roll” by Kathleen Ridgewell (Australia)
*****
[. . .] Canada and Europe: Chanel Sutherland (Canada/St. Vincent and Grenazin) “descent” as the slave ship sinks, and enslaved Africans share the stories of their lives. Their voices rise rebelliously, illuminating memory, resilience, and hope.
Chanel Sutherland is a Vincent Canadian author of fiction and creative non-fiction. Her debut short story collection, Ray Away Child, will be published in 2026 by House of Annansi. Chanel won the 2021 CBC Non-Fiction Award and the 2022 CBC Short Story Award and the 2022 Miles Saas Field Mentorship. CBC Books monitored one of 30 authors in 2022.
[. . .] Caribbean: “Margot’s Run” by Subraj Singh (Guyana) The new mother ventures at night to protect her child from bloodthirsty creatures.
Subraj Singh is a writer for Guyana. He has an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Maryland and is a graduate of Clarion West and Tinhouse. He is a former resident of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. His fiction appeared Agni, New England reviewsand Gulf Coast Journal.
Contact: Ruth Killick on Publicity@ruthkillick.co.uk or +44(0)7880 703741
Please visit againCommonwealthFoundation.com
Also see my previous post: https://repeatingislands.com/2025/04/15/2025-commonwealth-short-story-prize-shortlist/
