The Dylan Thomas Prize, powered by Swansea University, has announced its longlist for this year’s edition of the prestigious literary award, and two of Africa’s finest writers have made the cut.
Nigerian novelist Ayobami Adebayo earned the nod for her book A Spell of Good Things, while British-Ghanaian writer and photographer Caleb Azumah Nelson was longlisted for his novel Small Worlds.
The international longlist, unveiled on Thursday, January 25th, comprises a total of 12 titles from authors representing the UK, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago, the US, Canada, and Hong Kong.
Reacting to the announcement, Adebayo took to her Instagram account to share her excitement.
“Thrilled that A Spell of Good Things has been longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize!!! Quite delighted to be in such stellar company. #aspellofgoodthings #dylanthomasprize.”
A Spell of Good Things (2023, Canongate Books), Adebayo’s second novel, examines the jarring disparity in class divide, the fickle nature of the middle class, and the ricocheting effects of social inequality in Nigeria. Just like her award-winning debut novel Stay With Me (2017), this book is set in South-Western Nigeria, and has been praised for its use of language that is rich in cultural nuances.
Small Worlds (2023, Penguin Books) is a follow-up to Nelson’s debut effort Open Water (2021). It is an exhilarating and expansive novel that explores the intricacies of fatherhood, faith and friendship. It has been praised for being “vulnerable” and “expertly “written.”
Launched in 2004, The Dylan Thomas Prize is an annual award named in honour of the Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953, and it comes with a remuneration of £30,000. It is open to published writers in the English language under the age of forty. The prize honours writers for published work in the broad range of literary forms in which Dylan Thomas excelled, including poetry, prose, fictional drama, short story collections, novels, novellas, stage plays and screenplays. Previous winners include Arinze Ifeakandu’s God’s Children Are Little Broken Things (2023), Patricia Lockwood’s No One is Talking About This (2022), and Raven Leilani’s Luster (2021).
The winner for the 2024 edition will be awarded on May 16 in Swansea, coinciding with the celebration of International Dylan Thomas Day on May 14.