Submissions have begun for the 2018 African Literature Association (ALA) Book Awards. The deadline for submissions is 1 November 2018.

The African Literature Association (ALA) is the official organization for scholars of African literature—a global community of thinkers, teachers, researchers, and writers interested in the idea and study of African literature in all its diverse forms.

The awards has three categories—the First Book Award, the Book of the Year for Creative Writing, and the Book of the Year for Scholarship.

In order to be eligible for the awards, authors must be members of ALA. Click HERE for more information on how to become a member.

See below for the list of awards and how to nominate an author.

African Literature Association (ALA) Book of the Year Award—Creative Writing 

For an outstanding book of African literature, whether novel, non-fiction prose, play, or poetry collection, published in the preceding calendar year (2017) by an African writer. Authors must be current members of the ALA.

To make nominations, authors or their publishers are to send an author bio, a one-page book description, and 5 copies of the book to:

James McCorkle, Africana Studies

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

300 Pulteney Street

Geneva, NY 14456

[email protected]

African Literature Association (ALA) Book of the Year Award—Scholarship 

For an outstanding book in African literary studies published in the preceding calendar year (2017). Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable peer-reviewed press.

To make nominations, authors or their publishers are to send an author bio, a one-page book description, and 5 copies of the book to:

James McCorkle, Africana Studies

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

300 Pulteney Street

Geneva, NY 14456

[email protected]

African Literature Association (ALA) First Book Award—Scholarship 

For an outstanding book in African literary studies, which is the first book by the author, and published in the preceding calendar year (2017). Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable peer-reviewed press.

To make nominations, authors or their publishers are to send an author bio, a one-page book description, and 5 copies of the book to:

James McCorkle, Africana Studies

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

300 Pulteney Street

Geneva, NY 14456

[email protected]

Check out Brittle Paper‘s coverage of the 2017 African Literature Association Conference a Yale.