Andrée Blouin Prize seeks nonfiction manuscripts from women

The Andrée Blouin Prize is a new manuscript prize that seeks nonfiction entries from women; the deadline for entry is April 30, 2025.

Andrée Blouin (1921–1986) was a political activist and writer from the Central African Republic (CAR) who became integral to the fight for independence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Once described as ‘the most dangerous woman in Africa’ by a Belgian official, threats on Blouin’s life caused her to go into exile. Blouin continued her activism from afar, writing extensively and continuing to advise liberation movements in Africa. She passed away in Paris on April 9, 1986, at the age of 64.

Despite her achievements, Blouin never gained widespread recognition at the time of her death. This erasure remains today in the limited retellings of African independence movements. This is why the new literary award has been established in Blouin’s honour and is an attempt to rectify this error, bring Blouin to a larger audience, and continue her legacy of women’s political thought and activism. The Andrée Blouin Prize supports African women (both cis and transgender) who write about history, politics, or current affairs from a left perspective. The prize foregrounds voices of colour but is open to all women living on the African continent. The winner of the Andrée Blouin Prize will receive a $2000 advance and a publishing contract with Inkani Books.

The Andrée Blouin Prize is run by Inkani Books, a people’s movement-driven publishing house in Johannesburg, South Africa.

You can find more information about the award here.