Established in memory of the missionary and educational administrator Margaret Wrong, the prize was administered by the International Committee on Christian Literature for Africa.
It was awarded for "original literary work by writers of African race resident in a part of Africa to be determined each year by the Trustees".
A year after Wrong's death, fourteen individuals - including Seth Irunsewe Kale, Rita Hinden, Lord Hailey, Ida Ward and Wrong's partner Margaret Read – wrote to The Times announcing the intention to establish a trust for a literary prize in Wrong's memory.
[2] A committee was formed, initially chaired by Gerald Hawkesworth and then by Christopher Cox, Educational Adviser to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The award was originally given to African writers in European languages and Afrikaans, with the recipient receiving both a silver medal and a money prize.