The Gemspread Publishing has announced Ikechukwu Henry(Nigeria) as the winner of the 2025 Ma Kękę Short Story Contest × The Ama Ata Aidoo Award for his entry, ‘The Archives of Forgotten Names’.
Organized in partnership with the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), the prize was established to celebrate creativity, encourage emerging voices, and unite African literature across borders. The contest received over 150 entries from across the continent, reflecting Africa’s vibrant literary talent and diversity of storytelling.
The judging process was led by Denja Abdullahi, Former Director of the National Council for Arts & Culture (Nigeria), Former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), UNESCO Global Facilitator & Expert on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH), poet, playwright, culture technocrat, shortlisted writer for the 2018 Nigeria Prize for Literature (Drama), and recipient of the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in 2021.
Following his review, a longlist of ten writers was announced, featuring Joshua Addo, Kanyinsola Akinbode, Awonuga Oluwatobiloba Praise, Nyarko Grace, Peace Ufedojo Haruna, Eze Goodluck, Celestine Seyon Reuben, Ikechukwu Henry, David Mathias Atiribom, and Emmanuella Oyelade. This was later narrowed to a shortlist of five finalists:
- ‘Voices in Exile’ by Kanyinsola Akinbode
- ‘When the Baobab Weeps’ by Nyarko Grace
- ‘Ndewo, My Motherland’ by Eze Goodluck
- ‘The Rest is History: The Men in Black’ by Celestine Seyon Reuben
- ‘The Archives of Forgotten Names’ by Ikechukwu Henry
Henry was unveiled as the overall winner during the award ceremony held at the Ghana International Book Fair 2025, as part of the Ama Ata Aidoo Creative Writing Competition and Award Ceremony. His prize includes USD 500, a publishing deal with Gemspread Publishing, and support for developing a book proposal.
Speaking on behalf of Gemspread Publishing, Shalom Shaba, Director of Publishing, said:
“The Ma Kẹkẹ × Ama Ata Aidoo Award was born out of a vision to create accessible platforms for African writers, while honouring the legacy of one of Africa’s most influential literary figures. We are deeply proud of all who submitted stories, and especially of Ikechukwu, whose work reminds us of the power of African storytelling to connect, inspire, and endure.”
Ikechukwu Henry is a Nigerian fiction writer whose work explores environmental and climate crises, mental health, queerness, family dynamics, and speculative otherworldliness. His stories, such as ‘Metamorphosis’, ‘Dance of Deaths’, and ‘Pebbles of Feeling’, have appeared in Brittle Paper, The Kalahari Review, Spillwords, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Ta Adesa, Words Rhymes & Rhythm, and The AfterPast Review. He has earned multiple recognitions, including first runner-up in the RoNovella Writing Contest (2022), winner of the Tenacious Writer’s Award (2022), and a longlisting for the SEVHAGE Prize for Short Fiction (2023).
Beyond writing, Henry runs the Substack Whisper and Worlds, where he reflects on arts, psychology, and speculative fiction, affirming his place as one of Africa’s promising literary voices.
Congratulations, Ikechukwu Henry!
Sarah Adeyemo
Sarah Adeyemo, SWAN IX, is a Nigerian poet, writer, editor, spoken word artiste and communication expert. The debut author of “The Shape of Silence”. She draws inspiration from solitude and experiences. She is a fellow of the SprinNG Writing Fellowship. Her works appeared or are forthcoming in The Shallow Tales Review, The Muse Journal, The Weganda Review, Everscribe Magazine, Afrillhill Press, Poems For Persons Interest, TV-63 Magazine, Northern Writers Forum Journal, Eboquills, Rinna Lit. Anthologies, and elsewhere. She's a member of the Swan Collective. She tweets @SarahInkspires.
