Abi Daré has won the first-ever Climate Fiction Prize for her novel And So I Roar, a poignant follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut, The Girl with the Louding Voice, per theguardian.com. The award, which comes with a £10,000 prize, was announced at a prestigious ceremony in London.
Daré expressed joy and surprise at the win, saying, “As a Black British-Nigerian woman, receiving this prize is a reminder that we do not need to wait for permission to step into global conversations.”
And So I Roar follows Adunni, the brave young heroine from Daré’s debut, as she transitions from pursuing education in Lagos to confronting a climate-ravaged reality back in her home village. While not initially intended as a climate story, the novel evolves into a powerful exploration of how environmental degradation deeply impacts rural African communities, especially women and children.
Judge and author Madeleine Bunting described the book as “a story of how the climate crisis can provoke social crisis,” praising its energy, emotional depth, and message of resilience.
Daré underscored the importance of spotlighting climate stories from the Global South: “Africa contributes only 4% of global carbon emissions, yet bears the brunt of climate injustice. This prize creates space for stories that connect us all.”
Born in Lagos and now based in Essex, Daré is also the founder of The Louding Voice Foundation, which supports educational opportunities for Nigerian girls. Her victory marks a defining moment for African and diasporic voices in climate storytelling.
- Featured image: Abi Daré/Jooney Woodward/The Observer
