The African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) is accepting nominations for the 2027 Pius Adesanmi Memorial Award for Excellence in African Writing, a biennial prize honoring an outstanding single-authored academic book on Africa and/or the global African world. Entries opened on September 14, 2026, and close on December 14, 2026.

The award was established in 2019 in memory of Professor Pius Adesanmi, the Nigerian-born, Canada-based scholar whose passing that year was a monumental loss to the global African Studies community. It recognizes books from any academic discipline within the broader field of African Studies, with the committee particularly interested in work that is theoretically, conceptually, and methodologically innovative, and that demonstrates both excellence in African writing and a meaningful contribution to the field.

The winner receives a cash prize and a plaque, along with lifetime membership of the ASAA. The prize is funded by the association itself.

To be eligible, a submission must be a single-authored book within African Studies, written by a person of African descent and focused on Africa and/or the global African experience. School guides, textbooks, and edited volumes will not be considered. Books must be published in English or translated into English from French, Portuguese, or any other African language, and must have been published between January 2020 and June 2026 to qualify for the 2027 award.

Nominations can be submitted by or on behalf of a scholar, activist, or artist, and publishers or authors may submit no more than one book each. Each nomination should include a short description of the book, its theoretical, conceptual, and/or methodological significance, and what makes it an example of excellence in African writing. Entries must also come with one electronic copy and six physical copies of the book for the award committee’s review; physical copies will not be returned. Electronic copies and nominations should be emailed to piusadesanmimemorialprize@as-aa.org, and the committee will share mailing addresses for the physical copies by email.

Submissions will be judged on their contribution to African Studies; representation across region, gender, minority race, disability, religion, and more; quality of writing, including style, language use, and clarity; creativity; relevance to the African and diaspora experience; thematic cohesion; and writing novelty.

The winner will be announced at a special ceremony during the closing banquet of the 7th ASAA Biennial Conference in October 2027, and the result will subsequently be posted on the ASAA website. Enquiries should be directed to piusadesanmimemorialprize@as-aa.org.