As part of our 2024 recap, we list Literary Awards, Residencies, and Fellowships in African and Black Literature over the year.
It was another year of overachieving writers of African descent as they grabbed awards, fellowships, and residencies on the continent and in the diaspora. While it cannot be compared to the heights of 2021 where many huge awards like the Nobel, the Book, and the Prix Goncourt were bagged, it was still a decent haul as Prix Goncourt and Prix Renaudot went to African writers.
Like in previous years, we covered happenings in Africa (continental and national), The Americas, and Europe. If any awards were won by African writers in Asia, we may have missed them, and if you know anything we would appreciate being informed.
Literary Awards, Residencies, and Fellowships
Africa and the Middle East
Continental
Those where all Africans are eligible.
- Sevhage Literary Prizes 2023 – Arasi Kamolideen Oluwapelumi, Amanda Ilozumba, Ola W. Halim, Abasi-maenyin Esebre, Sodiq Oyekanmi
- Prix Voix d’Afriques 2024 – Nincemon Fallé
- Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature 2023 – Fatuma Salim and Philipo Oyaro
- Prix Littéraire Les Afriques 2023 – Mbarek Ould Beyrouk
- Prix Kourouma 2024 – Bessora
- Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry 2023 – Tawanda Mulalu
- Sheikh Zayed Book Awards 2024 – Reem Bassiouney, Dr Houssem Eddine Chachia, and Dr. Ahmed Somai.
- Afritondo Short Story Prize 2024 – Sabah Carrim
- 1949 Books’ new writing residency – Satie Gueuti, Hady Barry, Ange Danielle Brou, Lucie-Amélie Blocquaux, and Kpingni Maureen Dieth Douabou.
- Debunk Barbara Achermann Fellowship – Doreen Baingana, A.K. Kaiza, Kiprop Kimutai, Clifton Gachagua, Lutivini Majanja, Abdul Adan, Aleya Kassam, Carey Baraka, Ras Mengesha, and Paul Goldsmith.
- LOATAD Black Atlantic Residency 2024 – Moustafa Ahmad, Tia Bannon, Tom Correial, Asheda Dwyer, Laila Garroni, Kirstie Kwarteng, Munganyende, Kéchi Nne Nomu, Kim M. Reynolds, Nina Rizzi, Helen Tamrat, and Crystal Kwadwo Tettey.
- International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2024 – Basim Khandaqji
- Writivism Prize 2023 – Damilola Omotoyinbo, Mlamli Tyulu, and Hussani Abdulrahim.
- Prix Orange du Livre en Afrique 2024 – Dibakana Mankessi
- Isele Prizes 2024 – Gloria Mwaniga, Alex Leslie, and Erinola Daranijo.
- Evaristo Prize for African Poetry 2024 – Ehiorobo Derek and Kyle Okeke
- Iskanchi Book Prize 2024 – Aminta Dupuis
- Sillerman First Book Prize 2024 – Michael Imossan
- Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa 2024 – Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza
- Toyin Fálọlá Prize 2024 – Divine Inyang Titus
- Nommo Awards 2024 – Wole Talabi, Stephen Embleton, Gabrielle Emem Harry, Mamode Ogbewele, Roye Okupe and artist Sunkanmi Akinboye and colourist Toyin Ajetunmobi.
- Caine Prize for African Writing 2024 – Nadia Davids
- Quramo Writers’ Prize 2024 – Arthur Gabriel Yak
- Canex Prize for Publishing in Africa 2024 – Pumla Dineo Gqola, Cassava Republic
- Prix Ivoire for African Literature in Francophone Expression 2024 – Azza Filali
- African Writers Awards 2024 – Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare, Eniola Abdulroqueeb Arowolo, Gabriel Awuah Mainoo, Sumaiyah Muhammad, Adrian Nyarko-Boateng, and others.
- Morland Writing Scholarships 2024 – Carey Baraka, Fayssal Bensalah, Yvette Ndlovu, and Frances Ogamba.
- Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize 2024 – Cherise Morris
- Brittle Paper African Literary Excellence Awards 2024 – Othuke Ominiabohs, Mkuki na Nyota, Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie, Book Dash, and Ikechukwu Chielo.
National
Those where only writers from one nation are eligible.
- Maisha Yetu Awards 2023 (Kenya) – Eunniah Mbabazi, Nuria Books, James Murua (Writing Africa), and others.
- Rentrée Littéraire du Mali 2024 (Mali) – Walid Amri, Zeina Haidara, Ousman Toure, and Benaouda Lebdai.
- National Arts Merit Awards 2024 (Zimbabwe) – Fatima Kara, Mai Sarungano Folktales, Zibusiso Mabonisa, Memory Chirere, Ngonidzashe Paradza aka Mambo Guramatunhu.
- Sawiris Cultural Awards 2024 (Egypt) – Fathi Embabi, Ahmed Naji, and Karim Mohsen.
- Humanities and Social Sciences Awards 2024 (South Africa) – Sabata-Mpho Mokae, Brian Willian, Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vehad, Ashti Juggath, Moses Seletisha, Joel Cabrita, Joanne Hichens and Karina M Szczurek, Dawn Garisch, Pieter Odendaal, and Craig Higginson.
- Tuzo Nyerere 2024 (Tanzania) – Mohamed Omar Juma, Laura Pettie Kisswaka, and Blandina Isabela Lucas.
- Awele Creative Trust Award 2023 (Nigeria) – Olayinka Yaqub
- Kikwetu Flash Fiction Contest 2023 (Kenya) – Isaac Kilibwa
- Festival International de Littérature de Dakar 2023 (Senegal) – Sami Tchak and Mamadou Samb
- Abu Sherif Poetry Prize 2024 (Liberia) – Emmanuel G.G. Yamba
- Dinaane Debut Fiction Award 2024 (South Africa) – Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani
- Prémio Literário Carlos Morgado 2024 (Mozambique) – Alfoi Renato Bernardo Firme
- Prémio Literário Fernando Leite Couto 2024 (Mozambique) – Francisco Panguana Junior
- Prémio Literário Mia Couto 2024 (Mozambique) – Adelino Albano Luís
- University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English 2024 (South Africa) – Morabo Morojele and Jarred Thompson
- Prix Zamenga 2024 (DR Congo) – Hananie Nsenda
- Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature 2024 (Kenya) – Daniel Okello, Ngumi Kibera, John Habwe, and M. K. Tarus.
- Kenya Publishers Association’s 25 Notable Books and Authors (Kenya) – Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Meja Mwangi, David Maillu, Egara Kabaji, Charles Mangua, Wahome Mutahi, Francis Imbuga, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Binyavanga Wainaina Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor Stanley Gazemba, and others.
- NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2024 (Nigeria) – Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi
- Prix Du Livre Guinéen 2024 (Guinée) – Aboubacar Dany Camaran
- South African Literary Awards 2024 (South Africa) – Jabulane Johan Ncongwane, Sihle Khumalo, Barry Gilder, Sithembile Mputa, SJ Naudé, Kabelo Duncan Kgatea, and others.
- Sunday Times Literary Awards 2024 (South Africa) – Andrew Brown, Jonny Steinberg
- Achmat Dangor Literary Prize 2024 – Gabrielle Mudiwa
- DST Angola/Camões Literature Prize 2024 (Angola) – Jorge Arrimar
- Prix Littéraires du Togo 2024 – Patron Henekou, Koffi Boko, Klenam Sandra, Éditions Continents.
- Botswana Literature Awards 2024 – Thabo Katlholo, Nkululeko Jackson, Juby K Peacock, Thabiso E. Boefelo, Barolong Seboni, and others.
- Ngoma Awards 2024 (Zambia) – Weston Mutale Bowa, Monde Sifuniso, and Creative Writing Zambia Education.
The Americas
Those on the American continent won by writers of African descent
- Drue Heinz Literature Prize 2024 – Mubanga Kalimamukwento
- Guyana Prize for Literature 2024 – Michael Jordan, Etherine G H Adams, Ian McDonald, Ruth Osman, Reneka Anand, Harold Bascom, and Samir Mohammed.
- US NAACP Image Awards 2024 – Elizabeth Acevedo, Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer, Krystle Zara Appiah, Dr. Tanisha C. Ford, Evie Shockley, Kahran Bethencourt, and Darrin Bell.
- US National Book Critics Circle Awards 2023 – Safiya Sinclair and Jonny Steinberg
- Windham-Campbell Prize 2024 – m. nourbeSe Philip, Christina Sharpe, and Hanif Abdurraqib
- Poet Laureate of Jamaica – Kwame Dawes
- US National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 2024 – Maya Binyam and Tyriek White
- Georgia Review Prose Prize 2024 – Gloria Mwaniga Odary
- L.A. Times Book Prizes 2023 – Tananarive Due, Airea D. Matthews, Shannon Sanders, and Amber McBride.
- Guggenheim Fellows 2024 – Jamel Brinkley, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Safiya Sinclair, and Tracy K. Smith.
- OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature 2024 – Safiya Sinclair
- Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence 2024 – Aaliyah Bilal
- Bram Stoker Awards 2024 – Tananarive Due and Jordan Peele
- Lambda Awards 2024 – Liv Little, Dr. Zelda Lockhart, Bryan Washington, Toshio Meronek and Miss Major, Charif Shanahan, Michal ‘MJ’ Jones, and James Ijames.
- Nebula Awards 2024 – R.S.A Garcia
- Shirley Jackson Awards 2023 – Tananarive Due and LaToya Jordan
- Aiken Taylor Award 2024 – Jericho Brown
- Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival Literary Awards 2024 – Stefan Bindley-Taylor and Diana McCaulay
- Kirkus Award 2024 – Percival Everett
- US National Book Awards 2024 – W Paul Coates and Percival Everett
- Ignyte Awards 2024 – Jamison Shae, Moses Ose Utomi, Eboni J. Dunbar, and others.
- Pen America Pen Open Book Award 2024 – Jacqueline Crooks
- Prêmio Jabuti 2024 – Itamar Vieira Junior
- Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction 2024 – Mubanga Kalimamukwento
- US Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize 2024 – Joseph Earl Thomas, Patrick Chamoiseau
Europe
Those in Europe won by writers of African descent
- T.S. Eliot Prize (UK) – Jason Allen-Paisant
- Preis der Literaturhäuser 2024 (Germany) – Fiston Mwanza Mujila
- Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire 2023 (France) – Dibakana Mankessi
- Grand Prix du Roman 2023 (Belgium) – Lisette Lombe
- Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie 2024 (France) – Eric Chacour
- Prix Montluc Resistance et Liberté 2024 (France) – Itamar Vieira Junior
- Republic of Consciousness Prize 2024 (UK) – Ana Paula Maia
- James Tait Black Prize 2024 (UK) – Iman Mersal
- Académie Goncourt 2024 Spring Literary prizes 2024 (France) – Louis-Philippe Dalembert and Eve Guerra.
- Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize 2024 – Caleb Azumah Nelson
- British Book Awards 2024 (UK) – Atinuke and Kingsley Nebechi
- Prix France Televisions 2024 (France) – Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
- Jhalak Prize 2024 (UK) – Yepoka Yeebo
- Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2024 (UK) – Reena (Africa) and Portia Subran (Caribbean)
- Prix littéraire des Sciences Po 2024 (France) – Hemley Boum
- Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize 2024 (UK) – Scholastique Mukasonga
- Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2024 (UK) – Kevin Jared Hosein
- Grand Prix de l’Héroïne Madame Figaro (France) – Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
- Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2024 (UK) – Hisham Matar
- PEN Translates (UK) – Abdel Aziz Baraka Sakin, Osvalde Lewat, and Shady Lewis.
- Associação Portuguesa de Escritores Awards 2024 (Portugal) – Mia Couto and Djaimilia Pereira.
- Prix Ethiophile 2024 – Khalid Lyamlahy
- Prix de la Vocation 2024 (France) – Nincemon Fallé
- Livres En Vignes 2024 (France) – Hemley Boum and Ruben Barroukwon
- PEN Pinter Prize 2024 (UK) – Alaa Abd el-Fattah, Arundhati Roy
- Prix Louis-Guilloux 2024 (France) – Hemley Boum
- Prix de la Littérature Arabe 2024 (France) – Amira Ghenim
- Prix Renaudot 2024 (France) – Gaël Faye
- Prix Goncourt 2024 (France) – Kamel Daoud
- Prix littéraire Fetkann! Maryse Condé 2024 (France) – Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, Bruno Maillard, and Laëtitia Juraver.
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