The Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature has announced the longlist for the 2025 edition of the prize, unveiling 11 outstanding titles in the Prose Fiction category.
Regarded as Africa’s most prestigious literary award, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited comes with a cash prize of $100,000, making it not only the continent’s richest literary honor but also a career-defining milestone for writers.
This year’s longlist features both established literary figures and new voices, reflecting the evolving landscape of Nigerian fiction. The selected titles are:
- An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso
- Fine Dreams by Linda N. Masi
- Leave My Bones in Saskatoon by Michael Afenfia
- New York, My Village by Uwem Akpan
- Pericha by Ayo Oyeku
- Uzzy by Oyín Olugbile
- The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe
- The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
- This Motherless Land by Nikki May
- Water Baby by Chìoma Okereke
- When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
The list includes familiar names such as Chigozie Obioma, twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Chika Unigwe, a previous winner of the Nigeria Prize; and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, who won the prize in 2016. Their presence alongside newer voices like Ayo Oyeku and Oyín Olugbile points to a longlist that values both literary pedigree and fresh perspective.
The judging panel, whose details will be revealed with the shortlist announcement, selected the longlist from a robust pool of entries submitted by Nigerian authors across the globe.
The shortlisted titles are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, followed by the winner’s announcement at an award ceremony later in the year.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates annually among four genres—prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. This year marks a return to prose fiction, the genre with the widest readership and arguably the most competitive submissions.
The longlist can be viewed on NLNG’s official platforms and literary stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the books ahead of the final announcement.
Congratulations to all longlisted authors!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
