Stormzy's prize for new writers reveals inaugural winners

Poet Monika Radojevic and novelist Hafsa Zayyan both receive the #Merky Books award, named after the rapper’s publishing imprint

Grime rapper Stormzy has chosen two winners for his inaugural #Merky Books new writers’ prize, with the award going to both a novel and a collection of poetry.

The half-Brazilian, half-Montenegrin Monika Radojevic has won for her collection of poetry, 23 and Me, alongside Hafsa Zayyan for her novel We Are All Birds of Uganda. The rapper welcomed the results, telling the winning pair: “A lot of talented people don’t fulfil their potential, they are so talented but they sit on it. I call it the beautiful shame. But you guys have the confidence to write, to do something about it, and that’s amazing.”