The Island Prize committee has announced the shortlist for the 2025 prize!

In a press release, the judging committee expressed the difficulty of narrowing down the longlist of nine to a their typical shortlist of just three — so they have chosen five titles instead! The five shortlisted authors come from all across the continent, showcasing the diversity of talent in African literature.

2025 Island Prize Shortlist

Azags Agandaa A Small Patch of Earth Ghana
Izzy Agu A Dream Bewitched Rwanda/Nigeria
Wame Molefhe Love Across Borders Botswana
Kristien Potgieter In the Valley of Bones South Africa
Zabu Wamara Night Dancer Uganda

The committee shared:

This shortlist is especially satisfying because of the range of stories being told. There is a love story with a disturbing difference set in South Africa; a novel of nomadic life from Ghana; an exploration of mental illness and traditional healing methods set in Uganda; a story of love and loss from Botswana against the background of Apartheid and Opposition in South Africa; and a fantasy novel based on historical events in Mali and Gao in the Middle Ages. We hope that all of them find agents and publishers, and wish them well in the final stage of The Island Prize.

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.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors! The winner will be announced on May 19 — stay tuned!