The M-Net Literary Awards, now in its 17th year, celebrates South African creative writing and is unique in the sense that it is the only book award that rewards the publication of original works in all our indigenous languages. Novelists can enter in the following language categories: English, Afrikaans, Nguni, Sotho, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

While 87 entries were received last year, this year’s record haul of 130 books had the judges revisiting the books from different vantage points when it came to compiling the prestigious shortlist. Afrikaans entries more than doubled from 13 to 32, English entries jumped from 40 to 56, and entries for the African languages increased from 34 to 42.

In compiling the shortlist, the judges considered entries on the basis of their literary merit, originality, narrative structure and relevance.

According to Mandla Langa, patron of the M-Net Literary Awards, a country’s literature is a great barometer of where a culture’s headspace is at: “South Africa is a country in the middle of an inspiring transition. Literature is one of the major vehicles that will help the country reach its destination. This contribution from a vast array of languages and communities is a manifestation of the thrust towards nationhood."

The shortlist for the 2008 M-Net Literary Awards, which sees winners take home R30 000 each, is as follows:

English category
As a result of the phenomenal number of entries in this category, the judges have included three honourable mentions alongside the five finalists:

The five books vying for the prize are:

• Diary of a Bad Year by JM Coetzee (Random House)
• Blood Kin by Ceridwen Dovey (Penguin Books)
• After Tears by Niq Mhlongo (Kwela Books)
• Plot Loss by Heinrich Troost (Umuzi)
• No Man's Land by Carel van der Merwe (Umuzi)

The honourable mentions are for: Susan Mann’s Quarter Tones (Random House), Angelina Sithebe’s Holy Hill (Umuzi) and Six Fang Marks and a Tetanus Shot (Jacana), by Richard de Nooy.

Nguni category
In the Nguni language category two novels written in isiZulu and four written in isiXhosa made the short list:

• Yiza Mntanami by Jabulani Mngadi in isiZulu (Oxford University Press)
• Ukutshona kweHotyazana by Gongo Phakamile in isiXhosa (Bard Publishers)
• Vuleka Mhlaba by Ncedile Saule in isiXhosa (Bard Publishers)
• Indlalifa by Ncedele Saule in isiXhosa (Bard Publishers)
• Nantso ke inqonstong by Jeffrey J.F. Sanqela in isiZulu (Ilitha Publishers)
• Engakhaliyo Iyayekwa by Kula Siphatheleni in isiXhosa (Bard Publishers)

Sotho category
The five contenders in the Sotho category include books in Sepedi, Sesotho and Setswana – four of which are published by MaskewMiller Longman:

• Ha di eme di botse by M Mabe in Sesotho (MaskewMiller Longman)
• Sphaya K Mapai by MV Molele in Sepedi (MV Molele Publishers)
• Dilo tšela ke batho by MC Mphahlele in Sepedi (MaskewMiller Longman)
• Ke go jetse eng? by P Tseole in Setswana (MaskewMiller Longman)

The judges have also given an honourable mention to the Sepedi title Ntwamogolo, by MG Motimele (MaskewMiller Longman).

Xitsonga category
Two novels by MC Lubisi are in the running for this category:

• N’wina (MaskewMiller Longman)
• Xijahatana (MaskewMiller Longman)

Tshivenda Category
There is only one contender for the prize in this category: It is:
HR Tshianane’s Vhuanzwo (MaskewMiller Longman)

Afrikaans Category
In this category the judges chose two novels by seasoned, multiple award-winning authors, as well as two debut novels by writers that have already explored other literary genres. The books on the short list are:

• Willem Anker’s debut novel Siegfried (Kwela Books)
• Onsigbaar by Deon Meyer (Human & Rousseau)
• Asbesmiddag by Etienne van Heerden (Tafelberg)
• Nanette van Rooyen’s debut novel Chinchilla (Human & Rousseau)

The winners of the M-Net Literary Awards will be announced on Saturday, 14 June at a gala event in Cape Town.