Longlist for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature Announced
The longlist for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature has been announced. Rotatating annually across four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children & literature, this year’s edition is focused on Prose Fiction.
Out of the 252 entries received this year, here are the 11 titles that made the cut:
- An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso
- Fine Dreams by Linda Masi
- Leave my Bones in Saskatoon by Michael Afenfia
- New York My Village by Uwem Akpan
- PETRICHOR, The Scent of a New Beginning by Ayo Oyeku
- Sanya by Oyin Olugbile
- The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe
- The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
- This Motherless Land by Nikki May
- Water Baby by Chioma Okereke
- When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairman of Advisory Board for the Prize, comments:
“In sifting through the 252 submissions, the judges have not only selected 11 books, they have unveiled narratives that embody the standards of literary excellence. These books are windows into diverse worlds, each brimming with depth, emotion, and craftsmanship. As we move from this longlist to the finalists and ultimately the winner, the journey promises to be one of profound emotional resonance, with each page of these works drawing us closer to a deserving champion. The 2025 edition will surely be a celebration of the power of storytelling at its finest.”
Sponsored by NLNG, the author(s) of the winning book will receive a cash prize of $100,000 at a grand ball event in October.