The 2025 longlist for the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa has been announced, celebrating the publishing houses driving African literature forward with boldness, authenticity, and vision.
Created to honour African publishers championing homegrown voices, the CANEX Prize recognises those who capture the continent’s histories, struggles, dreams, and joy with the lived understanding only African publishers can bring. CANEX says the prize underscores the critical role publishers play across the literary value chain — ‘without them, many African stories risk going untold.’
The 2025 Longlist
- Jacana Media
The Comrade’s Wife by Barbara Boswell
One Hundred Years of Dispossession by Lebogang Seale
The Black Atlantic’s Triple Burden by Adekeye Adebajo
- Masobe Books
No Pink in a Rainbow by Angel Patricks Amegbe
Broken by Fatima Bala
Half Portraits Under Water by Denis Mugaa
- Karavan Press
In Silence My Heart Speaks by Thobeka Yose
- Quramo Publishing
Dear Zimi by Chitezem Chijioke
- Modjaji Books
A Blow to the Head: A History of Violence by Andres du Toit
- Casbah Editions
Algériennes de mer en fille by Hind Soyer
- Cassava Republic Press
Like Water Like Sea by Olumide Popoola
In recognising these publishers, CANEX continues to build a platform where African literary voices can thrive, gain visibility, and expand their reach across the continent and beyond.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to support Africa’s creative and cultural industries under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The winners of the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa will be announced at CANEX@IATF 2025, an event designed to showcase and connect Africa’s creative economy. Interested participants can register via the official event link.

Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!