The 2025 Dublin Literary Award longlist celebrates Africa’s literary brilliance, featuring Nigerian and Senegalese authors Umar Abubakar Sidi, Chigozie Obioma, David Diop, and Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. Their nominated works—spanning magical realism, historical epics, and decolonial narratives—highlight Africa’s storytelling power, blending cultural heritage with universal themes.
African authors take center stage in the 2025 Dublin Literary Award longlist, announced on January 14, 2025, spotlights Africa’s rising literary influence with four groundbreaking authors from Nigeria and Senegal earning global recognition. Their works—spanning magical realism, historical epics, and decolonial narratives—underscore the continent’s ability to blend cultural specificity with universal resonance.
Nigerian Voices: Folklore and History Collide
1. Umar Abubakar Sidi – The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus
- Nominated by: Masobe Books (Nigeria).
- Synopsis: A surrealist odyssey blending Yoruba proverbs, Sufi mysticism, and Nigerian folklore. The story follows Garba Dakaskus, a man hunted for a mysterious book, as he navigates a mental asylum and time itself. Sidi, a naval helicopter pilot and poet, crafts a narrative that interrogates power and identity through a uniquely African lens.
2. Chigozie Obioma – Road to the Country
- Nominated by: Lagos Public Library (Nigeria).
- Synopsis: Set during the Nigerian Civil War, this epic follows Kunle, a guilt-ridden academic, as he searches for his missing brother. Obioma, a two-time Booker Prize finalist, weaves Igbo spirituality and political critique into a gripping tale of redemption.
Senegalese Storytelling: Confronting Colonial Legacies
3. David Diop – Beyond the Door of No Return
- Nominated by: Openbare Bibliotheek Brugge (Belgium).
- Synopsis: A lyrical reimagining of the transatlantic slave trade through Senegalese oral traditions. Diop, winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize, merges historical rigor with poetic prose to challenge Eurocentric narratives.
4. Mohamed Mbougar Sarr – The Most Secret Memory of Men
- Nominated by: Vancouver Public Library (Canada).
- Synopsis: A metafictional quest tracing a Senegalese writer’s hunt for a vanished literary icon. Sarr, recipient of the 2021 Prix Goncourt, explores colonialism’s shadow on artistic legacy, blending mystery with sharp cultural commentary.
Cultural Impact & Global Resonance
These works reflect Africa’s literary dynamism:
- Sidi and Obioma root their stories in Nigerian history and spirituality, offering fresh perspectives on war, identity, and resilience.
- Diop and Sarr dismantle colonial narratives, centering African voices in global historical discourse.
Judge Fiona Sze-Lorrain praised the selections: “African authors are redefining world literature by honoring local traditions while speaking to universal human experiences. Their stories bridge continents without losing cultural authenticity.”
Award Significance
The €100,000 prize, split between author and translator for non-English works, highlights the Dublin Award’s commitment to global storytelling. While most African entries this year are English-language originals, Sarr’s French-to-English translation signals growing linguistic diversity in international recognition.
What’s Next?
The shortlist will be unveiled on March 25, 2025, with the winner announced on May 22 during the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
