Chigozie Obioma, a distinguished Nigerian novelist, has been longlisted for the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize by the New Literary Project (NewLit).
The Joyce Carol Oates Prize, established in 2017 by the New Literary Project (NewLit), celebrates mid-career authors of fiction for their exceptional contributions to American literature. Awarded annually, the prize includes a $50,000 grant and a residency at the University of California, Berkeley. It recognizes U.S.-based authors with at least two significant published works who have not yet achieved major literary honors.
Obioma, celebrated for his profound storytelling and exploration of universal themes through the lens of African traditions and contemporary experiences, is recognized for his latest work, The Road to the Country (Hogarth). This recognition adds to his already remarkable literary career, which includes his earlier novels The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities, both of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Chigozie Obioma, hailed as one of the most influential writers of his generation, is a two-time Booker Prize finalist for The Fishermen (2015) and An Orchestra of Minorities (2019). His works, translated into over 30 languages, have earned him a slew of prestigious awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Internationaler Literaturpreis, and the FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Award. His stories have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Granta, and other global platforms.
As part of the prize, the winner will be in residence at the University of California, Berkeley, in Fall 2025, where they will engage with students, give public readings, and participate in literary events in the Bay Area.
Finalists will be announced in March 2025, with the recipient named in April 2025. Stay tuned!
Read more on the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize here.
Congratulations Chigozie Obioma!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
