The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an initiative of Afreximbank, in collaboration with Narrative Landscape Press Limited, has announced the second edition of The Prize for Publishing in Africa.
The prize, which is open to African publishers of trade books, comes with a total cash award of $28,000. The winner will receive $20,000, while four finalists will be awarded $2,000 each.
The Prize for Publishing in Africa is part of CANEX’s broader vision to promote African creativity across various industries. By recognizing outstanding publishers, the initiative not only rewards excellence but also encourages the production and distribution of high-quality books within and beyond the continent.
Speaking on the announcement, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, emphasized the significance of the initiative in strengthening Africa’s publishing industry saying:
“We are delighted to announce the 2025 CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa. Building on last year’s successful edition, this landmark initiative celebrates African publishing excellence. Through the CANEX Book Factory, we aim to put a spotlight on the enormous contribution of African authors and publishers to Africa’s cultural identity and economy.”
Additionally Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press Limited and Programme Manager for the CANEX Book Factory, highlighted the impact of the prize on African publishing saying:
“The first edition of the Prize greatly underscored the necessity of this intervention in the publishing value chain in Africa. We are grateful to Afreximbank and CANEX for their ongoing support of African publishing. We are excited to launch this second edition, and we hope to see submissions from more publishers across the continent than in the inaugural edition.”
Submissions for the 2025 edition are currently being accepted until April 30, 2025. Interested publishers must register for the CANEX Book Factory via canex.africa, access the Prize for Publishing in Africa submission portal, and check their email for confirmation and further instructions.
The competition is open to publishers settled in Africa, and submissions can be in any official language of the African Union, including English, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Swahili, and indigenous African languages. Priority will be given to books printed and produced within the continent.
The winners will be announced at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, scheduled to take place from September 4–10, 2025, in Algiers, Algeria.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
