The Caine Prize for African Writing has been won by British-born Nigerian writer Lesley Nneka Arimah.
Her satirical short story Skinned focuses on the challenges faced by women in African societies still dominated by traditional rituals.
The story follows the fortunes of Ejem, who comes from a culture where girls are uncovered at a certain age and go naked until they are claimed by a husband.
The 36-year-old told the Literary Hub that the idea came from a conversation about the difference between married and single women in Nigeria: “A newly wed friend marvelled at how her family — usually difficult — became easy going after her wedding. Marriage gave unconventional women cover to be themselves, we observed.”
