The 2025 Island Prize Longlist is Out!

The Island Prize has announced the nine titles longlisted for the 2025 award!

The Island Prize is awarded to a debut African novel and supports new authors navigate the difficult process of book publishing. The winner receives £500 as well as focused support on their manuscript and assistance connecting with agents and publishers. The two runners up will receive £200, detailed feedback on their manuscript, and assistance preparing the manuscript for submission.

Founder Karen Jennings emphasizes the importance of awards like this, writing, “In fact, it is through prizes like these that authors across the continent can gain the confidence to tell stories as they wish. The hope is that, with time, such stories will become appreciated across the globe, without first being labelled as an exception or a surprise.”

This year’s longlisted authors, chosen from over 150 entries, span the African continent from Cameroon to Kenya to South Africa. The judges noted that creating this longlist was especially difficult given the quality of this year’s submissions:

Not only has the quality been exceptional, the range of subjects and styles has been exciting, with entries from all over the continent. There are some trends, in particular the increase in fantasy stories – which often draw on African mythology and folk tales – and stories about female experience and the cultural challenges felt across the continent.

The judges will now select a shortlist of three books which will be announced on May 5. See the full longlist below!