The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2025 nominees were announced in Sweden on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Here are the writers, illustrators, storytellers, reading promoters, and organisations of African descent in the running.
Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays best known for several children’s book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, and the Six Bullerby Children (Children of Noisy Village in the US), and for the children’s fantasy novels Mio, My Son; Ronia the Robber’s Daughter; and The Brothers Lionheart. On her passing in 2002, the Swedish government set up the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award to promote every child’s right to great stories. This global award is given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature. With a prize of five million Swedish kronor, it is the largest award of its kind. The only winners with an African link have been Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA) and Jacqueline Woodson.
With 265 candidates from 72 countries and regions, including 81 candidates new from previous years, the nominees for the 2025 award are now public. The list includes authors and illustrators, as well as storytellers and reading promoters. Those who are of African descent include;
Cameroon/France
- Christian Epanya, Author/Illustrator
Canada/United State
- Zetta Elliott, Author/Illustrator
Côte d’Ivoire/France
- Marguerite Abouet, Author
- Veronique Tadjo, Author/Illustrator
Cuba
- Teresa Cárdenas, Author
Egypt
- Randa El Sawi, Author/Storytelling
Kenya
- Grace Wangari, Author/Promoter of reading/Storytelling
Nigeria/United Kingdom
- Atinuke, Author/Storytelling
- Ben Okri, Author
South Africa
- Biblionef South Africa, Organisation
- Book Dash, Organisation
- Gcina Mhlope, Promoter of reading/Storytelling
South Africa/United Kingdom
- Beverley Naidoo, Author
Tunisia
- Raouf Karray, Illustrator
United Kingdom
- Joseph Coelho, Author/Illustrator/Promoter of reading/Storytelling
- Malorie Blackman, Author
- Patrice Lawrence, Author
United States
- Christopher Myers, Author/Illustrator
- Elisabeth Acevedo, Author/Storytelling
- R. Gregory Christie, Illustrator
Zambia
- Lubuto Library Partners, Organisation
Zimbabwe
- Audrey Chirenje, Author
- Ignatius Mabasa, Author/Storytelling
The laureate will be announced on April 1, 2025.
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