Can you figure out which book cover each letter from our greeting is taken from? (hint: they’re all books on our Notable African Books of 2019 list)

As 2019 draws to an end, we at Brittle Paper would like to thank all our readers for your continued support. It’s been another fantastic year of achievements by African authors and authors of the African diaspora, and we’ve been honored to be able to document them.

Like previous years, our Notable African Books of 2019 list, the 2019 Brittle Paper Awards, and the 2019 Brittle Paper African Literary Person of the Year award recognize the richness of African literature and those who make it possible. Congratulations once again to Ope Adejeji (Fiction), Ojo Taiye (Poetry), Simone Haysom (Creative Nonfiction), Namwali Serpell (Essays and Think-Pieces), Nkateko Masinga and Cheswayo Mphanza (Anniversary Award), as well as Ellah Wakatama Allfrey (African Literary Person of the Year)!

2019, however, was also the year of two milestones: Bernadine Evaristo’s historic win, along with Margaret Atwood, of the Booker Prize – a win that makes her the first black and African diasporic female author to do so – and our deputy editor Otosirieze Obi-Young’s win of The Future Awards Africa Prize for Literature – in the very first year that the prize was awarded. What a way to end the decade!

Looking forward, we’re excited for the continued flourishing of African writing across all genres, in print and online, as well as more adaptations of African literature into films and TV productions. But as we move into 2020 and beyond, we’re especially excited – drumroll please – for the relaunch of the Brittle Paper website! All we’ll say for now is: stay tuned.

A Merry Christmas to all those who are celebrating, and a Happy New Year to all our readers – see you in 2020!