The African Literature Association is currently accepting nominations for the following awards. The awards will be presented at the ALA Conference, held on May 28-30, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Deadlines extended until October 31, 2025
Book of the Year Award—Scholarship (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For an outstanding book in African literary studies published in the preceding calendar year 2024. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable press that observes the peer review process. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book abstract, and 3 copies to: Stephanie Newell who can be reached at stephanie.newell@yale.edu.
First Book Award—Scholarship (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For an outstanding book in African literary studies, which is the first book by the author, and published in the preceding calendar year 2024. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable peer- reviewed press. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book abstract, and 3 copies to: AdeěleěkeĚ AdeěeňĚkoňě who can be reached at adeeko.1@osu.edu.
Book of the Year Award—Creative Writing (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For an outstanding book of African literature, whether novel, non-fiction prose, play, or poetry collection, published in the preceding calendar year 2024 by an African writer. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book description, and 3 copies to: Tsitsi Jaji who can be reached at tsitsi.jaji@duke.edu.
Best Short Story (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For an outstanding African short story published in the preceding calendar year 2024 by an African writer. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send a pdf copy to: Juliana Makuchi Nfah-Abbenyi at jmphd@ncsu.edu.
Abioseh Porter Best Article Award (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For an outstanding article in African literary studies published in a major peer-reviewed journal in the preceding calendar year 2024. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send a pdf copy to: Lokangaka Losambe at Lokangaka.Losambe@uvm.edu.
Fonlon-Nichols Award (New deadline: October 31, 2025) For excellence in creative writing and contributions to the struggle for human rights and freedom of expression, either in their actions and in their writings, or just in their writings. It is given every year to an African writer. The Award was established in 1992 to honor Bernard Fonlon and Lee Nichols for their contributions to both African literature and the freedom of expression. Authors cannot nominate themselves, and neither can their publishers nominate them. Send nominations as email document attachments to: Phyllis Taoua at taoua@arizona.edu. Please note: The nomination statement should contain: 1. a biographical profile of the nominee 2. a detailed justification for the nomination. This should not be more than 2 single-spaced or 4 double-spaced pages.