The Oriire Folktale Prize has released its 2025 shortlist, recognizing ten storytellers who have reimagined and preserved traditional African folk narratives by retelling them with respect to their original cultural roots.
The selected stories are:
- Oche and The Sacred Drum by James Okoh
- The Story of Ogiso and Abhi by Stacey Osalumhense
- A Forest of Brothers by Yangmen Peter
- The Man Who Borrowed Time by Ikechukwu Henry
- The Origin of Day and Night by Chinwendu Calista
- Adaku and The Spirit of Gifts by Emmanuel Imemba
- The King and The Talking Drum by Rese J; Katangwan
- The Giant of Kagoro by Shallom Paul
- How Anansi’s Greed Brought Death to Live Among Men by Akunna Danugwu
- Ọmolewà by Ogundeko Toluwanimi Alexis.
Oriire is a digital cultural archive dedicated to preserving and celebrating African mythology, history and culture. Through in-depth articles, the Oriire Codex (an encyclopedia of deities, heroes, spirits, and creatures), and community-based storytelling initiatives, Oriire aims to tell rich, authentic stories of Africa to a global audience.
Public voting is open until 19 October 2025, 5:00 PM WAT, with one vote allowed per browser per day. Click here to cast your vote for the tale that speaks to you most.
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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 Akpata Magazine, 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 tweets @SarahInkspires.
