Since its inception in 2015, the Brittle Paper African Literary Person of the Year Awards has celebrated individuals who work behind the scenes to build and sustain African literary culture. While most literary awards spotlight authors and their creative works, this initiative fills a key gap by honoring the community of individuals whose collective effort keeps the literary ecosystem thriving. Yes, it takes a massive, collaborative village of editors, platform creators, social media influencers, and cultural organizers to publish, promote, and sell just one book. We think of it as celebrating the village behind the books.

The award began as an individual honor in 2015 and expanded into a suite of awards in 2020, celebrating a broader range of contributions to African literary culture. Past winners include Nnedi Okorafor, Lola Shoneyin, Zukiswa Wanner, Abdulrazak Gurnah, and Sylvia Arthur, among others. Each year, the awardees are chosen based on their outstanding contributions to advancing African literary culture and industry. The 2024 honorees continue this tradition. We are thrilled to unveil them and celebrate their work.

The 2024 Brittle Paper African Literary Awards Honorees by Category

African Literary Person of the Year: Othuke Ominiabohs [Read the tribute]
Ominiabohs has transformed independent publishing in Africa through his groundbreaking work with Masobe Books. Since its founding in 2018, Masobe has signed 117 authors, published over 100 titles, and sold more than 100,000 copies in just five years. Ominiabohs’s vision and commitment to storytelling have created a thriving platform for African authors.

Publisher of the Year: Mkuki na Nyota [Read the tribute]
This Tanzanian publishing house has made an indelible mark by centering Kiswahili literature in global publishing. Their commitment to indigenous language publishing exemplifies how literature can preserve and celebrate cultural identity.

Children’s Literature Advocate of the Year: Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie [Read the tribute]
Ekezie has championed neurodivergent representation in children’s literature, creating stories that celebrate diversity and spark important conversations about inclusion.

Social Media Influencer of the Year: Anthony Ikechukwu Chielo [Read the tribute]
Chielo has redefined how readers engage with books online. His high-energy, cinematic book review videos connect African stories with a digital audience in ways that are fresh, accessible, and highly engaging.

Platform of the Year: Book Dash [Read the tribute]
This non-profit publisher has distributed over 4.4 million children’s books across Africa, tackling the early childhood literacy crisis with creativity and community-driven innovation.