THE WADADLI YOUTH PEN PRIZE 2016 CHALLENGE has been held in Antigua and Barbuda since 2004. It was conceptualized and is coordinated by author Joanne C. Hillhouse who intends the programme to be developmental – nurturing and showcasing the literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda by providing incentive and a platform via the annual Challenge. The Challenge is intended to be more than a contest (and unlike your typical contest the longlisted writers receive edit notes from the judges to help them improve their pieces) and Wadadli Pen (which through this blog has provided an online platform for Antiguan and Barbudan arts with an emphasis on the literary arts) aspires to be more than its annual Challenge. The Challenge has been the most consistent offering to date and has dug up and/or encouraged a lot of talented writers over the years, and hopes to continue doing so. A word on prizes – that’s never the purpose of writing but the reason we seek monetary prizes among the other gifts is to reinforce the value of the arts, that writers deserve to be paid for their creative and intellectual output. The best way to support the arts is by investing in the arts. So hopefully, if you’re reading this, you’ll support the businesses that support the arts and/or become a business that supports the arts. Okay, enough soapboxing. Here’s the breakdown of the 2016 winners and prizes.
Please note that each winner also receives a certificate and the winner’s name is emblazoned onto the Challenge plaque – (renamed) the Alstyne Allen Memorial Challenge plaque with the names of all the winners through the years sponsored by the Best of Books which also assists Wadadli Pen in other ways, including hosting the awards ceremony.
WINNER – SCHOOL WITH THE MOST SUBMISSIONS
Christ the King High School
Prizes & Sponsors
The following books (x2) sponsored by Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel and the now defunct Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival:
Lorna Goodison’s Selected Poems
Prospero’s Daughter by Elizabeth Nunez
The Women who raised me by Victoria Rowell
& leftovers of the books (x2) contributed in 2015 by CODE – Sponsors of the Burt Award for teen/young adult Caribbean Literature:
All Over Again by A-dziko Simba Gegele
Inner City Girl by Colleen Smith-Dennis
& contributed by the Best of Books 
Musical Youth by Joanne C. Hillhouse (2)
TOP THREE – OVERALL
WINNER- Daryl George (author of Tropical Moonlight Sonata)
Wadadli Pen 2016 winner Daryl George, centre, poses with the Alstyne Allen Memorial Challenge plaque named in honour of a late member of the original Wadadli Pen family. Pictured, left, is a member of her family, Douglas Allen, and, right, Wadadli Pen founder, coordinator, and friend of the deceased whose official tenure with the programme ran from 2004 to 2006. (Photo courtesy The Best of Books)
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$500 – Patron who prefers to remain anonymous
Pen (w/discount provided by Paperclips Antigua), Glorious by Bernice McFadden – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
Barbuda Express voucher x2 (including ferry and day tour with lunch)
Raw Island Products– gift basket of products
Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings by Joanne C. Hillhouse (courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse)
Books – the Best of Books
1ST RUNNER UP-Alyssa Charles (author of Faded Glory)
Alyssa Charles.
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$300 – Juneth Webson
Glorious by Bernice McFadden, Controlling the Silver by Lorna Goodison – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
2ND RUNNER UP–Chammaiah Ambrose (author of Guilty)
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$200 – Juneth Webson
Glorious by Bernice McFadden, 
Controlling the Silver by Lorna Goodison – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
TOPS – 18 to 35
WINNER – Daryl George (author of Tropical Moonlight Sonata)
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$350 – Frank B. Armstrong
Just Write Writer’s Retreat fellowship – Brenda Lee Browne
Equiano’s Epigrams: The Interesting Narrative in Poetry by John Agard – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
Writer’s Digest magazine (courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse)
Caribbean Time Bomb by Robert Coram – The Best of Books
HON. MEN. – Jemelia Pratt (author of Les Trajó Aquí)
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$150 – Frank B. Armstrong
Anna In-Between by Elizabeth Nunez, Lorna Goodison’s Turn Thanks – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
Caribbean Time Bomb by Robert Coram – The Best of Books
TOPS – 13 TO 17
WINNER – Alyssa Charles (author of Faded Glory)
Prizes & Sponsors
EC$240 – Dr. Hazra Medica
Gone to Drift by Diana McCaulay – Papillotte Press
Lorna Goodison’s Turn Thanks, Prospero’s Daughter by Elizabeth Nunez – Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel
Musical Youth & Writer’s Digest magazine (courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse)
Vampire Diaries board game – The Best of Books
RUNNER UP – The runner-up in this category has (as of 2020) been retroactively removed due to plagiarism.
HON. MEN. –
Canice James (author of Heroic Night)
EC$50 – Dr. Hazra Medica
All Over Again by A-dZiko Gegele– CODE
Zahra Emanuel (author of My So Called Father)
EC$50 – Dr. Hazra Medica
Inner City Girl by Colleen Smith-Dennis– CODE
TOPS – 12 AND YOUNGER
From left, Akeilah Hillhouse, rep for sponsor Frank B. Armstrong, and 12 and younger top three – Chammaiah Ambrose, Zion Ebony Williams, and Judah Christian.
WINNER – Chammaiah Ambrose (author of Guilty)
EC$200 – Caribbean Reads Publishing
EC$60 gift certificate for books – the Cushion Club
All Over Again by A-dZiko Gegele– CODE
Gifts – Frank B. Armstrong
Legends of the Guardians board game – The Best of Books
1ST RUNNER UP – Judah Christian (author of My Worst Day Ever)
EC$175 – Caribbean Reads Publishing
EC$35 gift certificate for books – the Cushion Club
All Over Again by A-dZiko Gegele – CODE
Gifts – Frank B. Armstrong
Life Adventures game & I was a Rat by Philip Pullman – The Best of Books
2ND RUNNER UP – Zion Ebony Williams (author of A Dinner to Remember)
EC$125 – Caribbean Reads Publishing
EC$35 gift certificate for books – the Cushion Club
Inner City Girl by Colleen Smith-Dennis – CODE
Gifts – Frank B. Armstrong
The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Stories by Barbara Arrindell – The Best of Books
HONOURABLE MENTIONS –
Denejah Browne (Lost and Found)
Avriel Walters (My Cousin)
Rolanda Cuffy (The Caribbean)
Kya Matthew (Antigua and Barbuda-My Paradise)
Morgan Leah Simon (Antigua Experience)
Laila Tahir (Caribbean Experiences)
-gifts contributed by Juneth Webson, Frank B. Armstrong & the Cushion Club
Juneth Webson delivers her Wadadli Pen gifts to programme founder and coordinator Joanne C. Hillhouse
Wadadli Pen 