The Polari Prizes 2025 longlists were announced in London, UK, on Friday, August 1, 2025. Here are the writers of African descent on it.
The Polari First Book Prize was established to celebrate new writing with a focus on LGBTIQ issues by writers born or based in the UK and Ireland by Paul Burston in 2011. It borrows from the term “Polari,” a term in the gay subculture in that part of the world. Previous winners of the prize include Angela Chadwick, Fiona Mozley, Saleem Haddad, Paul McVeigh, Kirsty Logan, Diriye Osman, John McCullough, Mari Hannah, and James Maker. In 2019, the prize expanded to the Polaris Book Prize, open to writers at any stage of their career (except debuts).
The 2025 jury, chaired by Paul Burston alongside author Nicola Dinan (Polari First Book Prize winner 2024), author Jon Ransom (Polari Book Prize winner 2024 and Polari First Book Prize winner 2023), author Lou Morgan, and book blogger Bob Hughes, announced the longlists on Friday, August 1.
Paul Burston, founder of the Polari Prizes, said: “As the Polari Prize enters its 15th year, there’s never been a better time to celebrate LGBTQ writing. We received a record number of submissions this year, from a wide range of writers working in many different genres. The judges really had their work cut out. We couldn’t be prouder of this year’s long lists. From dazzling debuts to exciting new books by writers at the top of their game, there’s something here for everyone.”
The writers of African descent on the longlists are;
The Polari Book Prize 2025
- Like Water Like Sea, Olumide Popoola (Cassava Republic Press)
- May Day, Jackie Kay (Picador)
- Person Unlimited, Dean Atta (Canongate)
The Polari First Book Prize 2025
- Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, Jason Okundaye (Faber)
- Bloodsongs, Mae Diansangu (Tap Salt Eerie)
The shortlists will be announced in late September, and the winners announced at a ceremony at the British Library, London, UK, on Thursday, November 27. The Polari Book Prize and Polari First Book Prize winners will receive cash prizes of £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.
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