Harare author Simbarashe Kundizeza denies using AI to write prize story
Writer Simbarashe Kundizeza faced a prize review in Harare over allegations of using artificial intelligence. The review threatens his recent literary award while sparking broader debates over technology bias against African writers.
Kundizeza won this year’s $10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing last week for his story, “The Blue Fighter.” Organizers have not retracted the prize. Organizers confirmed this week that the award is currently under review.
A report in The Atlantic magazine said an AI detection tool called Pangram tested the text. Pangram indicated the entire piece was generated by AI, except for an excerpt from another author’s poem.
Kundizeza posted a denial on X late Tuesday. He stated that the work was inspired by his family’s personal experiences.
“There is need to use technology responsibly so that it is not deployed to create a bias against natives who seek to write about their own experiences and cultures,” he said.
“Although I am not too well versed with these technologies, it is well known that AI is in certain ways biased against us, it’s something that really needs to be looked at because this kind of treatment I got is not going to stop,” he added.
Prize organizers stated they hold a clear responsibility to examine such claims. They explained that their review will follow a supportive, human-centered approach.
Kundizeza insisted his text went through standard editorial processes before publication. The plot depicts real hardship from Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil.
He rejected claims that stylistic differences from his earlier work should cast doubt on his authorship. He argued that writers naturally change styles and improve over five years.
The controversy generated wider debate on social media about accusations directed at Black writers. The Radical Books Collective described the situation as part of an unfair broader pattern. The collective listed several authors facing similar claims on social media:
- Jamir Nazir
- Jerry Falade
- Thélyson Orélien
- Simbarashe Kundizeza
Nhlandla Duba, a linguist from Zimbabwe researching at the University of Pretoria, supported the Harare writer on X. Duba said the story sounds completely human.
The Caine Prize for African Writing recognizes published African authors of short stories. The review process examines contested submissions through internal panels and external documentation.
Kundizeza maintained that the characters and setting remain rooted in his own life in Harare.
