The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2025 has officially unveiled the highly anticipated longlist for the 2025 edition, focusing this year on Prose Fiction.
The selection of 11 distinguished books marks a significant step in identifying the literary masterpiece that will clinch the prestigious prize worth $100,000 to the winner.
The Prize, widely regarded as the most prestigious literary award in Africa, aims to promote Nigerian literature and celebrate literary excellence. This year’s longlist showcases a diverse range of voices and narratives, promising a compelling competition as the judges move towards selecting the eventual shortlist and winner.
Unveiled on the prize’s verified social media handles today, Wednesday, July 23, see the full list below:
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
According to a statement the prize sponsored by NLNG, the author of the winning book will be awarded at a grand ball event in October. The event commemorates the company’s first LNG loading in October 1999. The prize rotates annually across four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.
Speaking on the unveiling of the longlist, the Chairman of Advisory Board for the Prize, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, stated that the Advisory Board is excited with the longlist of 11 books that have made it from 252 submitted for the 2025 edition. She stated that, from this stage of the longlist onward, the prize will evoke a mix of emotions both within the stories themselves and in response to the selection of finalists and the eventual winner(s) of the $100,000 prize.
“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,” she said.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo underscored the power of prose fiction in shaping minds, and emphasized the importance of relevance, quality, and imagination in storytelling for the next generation.
She commended the judges for a thoughtful and rigorous selection and reiterated the Advisory Board’s commitment to excellence in literature and nurturing a strong reading culture.
