By Amy Joan Sayner and Maisie George
In the seventeen years since its launch, Cassava Republic Press has become a leading Global Black Publisher of award-winning fiction, non-fiction, and children's books from Africa and its Diasporas, selling over six million books in more than sixty countries. They are committed to ensuring the story of the Global Black World is told in its historical and contemporary diversity. Their standout authors include Teju Cole, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and Helon Habila.
Cassava Republic Press have founded the Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize in order to amplify the voices of Black female writers in the non-fiction space as knowledge producers and critical thinkers. Funded by Alitheia Capital and the Open Society Foundations Africa, the winner will secure a publishing contract with Cassava Republic along with a substantial $20,000 advance. There will also be two runners-up who will receive a publishing deal, along with a $5,000 advance.
Submissions have been received from thirty-six countries, from both established and emerging writers. The shortlist will be announced on 13 November, and the winner will be announced on 4 December.
As a member of the inaugural judging panel, Booker Prize recipient Bernardine Evaristo stated, "The longlisted titles for this prize are a wonderful revelation in terms of originality, creativity, intellectual scope and diversity of interests. We are looking forward to the next stage whereby six of the manuscripts will rise to the surface."
The Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize Longlist:
1. African Feminist Reflections on State Sponsored Backlash in Kenya by Marilyn Kamuru (Kenya)
2. Anxiolytic Notes by Daniela Rodrigues Damaceno (Brazil)
3. Being Here in This Body by Mildred Barya (Uganda)
4. Black Beauty Model Agency by Desta Haile (Eritrea)
5. Elemental Solidarity: The Climate Crisis and Contemporary African And Diasporic Art by Sindi-Leigh McBride (South Africa)
6. Sweetness Is No Guarantee by Breanna McDaniel (United States)
7. The Black Packer by Ebony Francis (UK)
8. The Cosmic Matter of Blackness by Cherise Morris (United States)
9. Through the Lens of Food: A Decolonized Exploration of Black Middle-Class Identity Expression by Pamella Gysman (South Africa)
Commenting on the longlist, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Founder and Publishing Director of Cassava Republic said, “We are incredibly excited to see such a rich array of voices represented in the longlist. This prize not only celebrates the talents of Black women writers but also underscores their essential role in shaping critical discourse across various fields.”
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