First black African woman nominated for Booker Prize

Zimbabwe's NoViolet Bulawayo on Tuesday became the first black African woman to be shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, for her tale of a 10-year-old girl who escapes poverty at home only to find new problems in the United States.

Bulawayo was nominated for her novel We Need New Names, which follows the girl's decision to leave a shanty town in Zimbabwe and move to live with an aunt in the United States.

The author, whose real name is Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, is also the first Zimbabwean to be shortlisted for the prestigious prize.

The winner is awarded €59 000 (R784 000) and normally sees a significant boost in sales.

'I feel very lucky and honoured'

Bulawayo told AFP that she had no idea she would be on the shortlist and said it was an "amazing feeling" - as well as being a little a bit "awkward".

"I feel there are so many deserving black women who came before me. So I feel very lucky and honoured, especially as this is my first novel," she said.

Bulawayo would be the fourth African winner if she triumphs on 15 October.

South African writer JM Coetzee won in 1983 and 1999, while another South African writer, Nadine Gordimer, was joint winner for her novel The Conservationist in 1974.

Nigerian-born Ben Okri won for his third novel The Famished Road in 1991.