Literary prize · Rhodesian Ridgeback
Zimbabwean writer wrote it himself – and the Ridgeback’s ridge isn’t generated either
Der Hündeler, Edition of Thursday, 12 November 2026
What happened
An investigation into an African writing award has found “no evidence” that the winning story was generated by artificial intelligence, the BBC reports. The allegation had been made in a US magazine. The Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza had vehemently denied it.
What does this mean for your Ridgeback?
The Rhodesian Ridgeback comes from the same part of the world as the author and has received the news with quiet satisfaction. He, too, lives under suspicion: a strip of hair runs along his back in the wrong direction, with two neat whorls at the front, and strangers on the pavement routinely ask whether it is gel, dye or a fault in the coat. He does not respond. A dog whose ancestors kept lions at bay in southern Africa does not submit to questioning from passers-by. The ridge was inherited, not written, and every hair of it grew entirely unassisted. The only source he genuinely distrusts is the weather app, whenever it forecasts rain for his walk.
What you can do now: If anyone doubts the ridge, there is no need for an inquiry. The pedigree papers are in the drawer.