Uganda’s Zabu Wamara and South Africa’s Kristien Potgieter have been named joint winners of the 2025 Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa, marking a triumphant milestone in the careers of both authors and a proud moment for the African literary community.
The announcement was made on Monday, May 19, by Holland House Books (UK), in collaboration with Karavan Press (South Africa) and author Karen Jennings, the Booker Prize-longlisted writer and co-founder of the prize. This year’s competition saw nearly 200 submissions from across the continent, a reflection of the growing vibrancy and diversity of African fiction.
“It’s a great year for Uganda’s literary family!” tweeted author and FEMRITE leader Hilda J. Twongyeirwe, celebrating Wamara’s win. “Hearty congratulations to Zabu Wamara for scooping The Island Prize 2025. I know the tough dynamics in that room!”
Wamara’s winning novel, “Night Dancer,” is set in contemporary Kampala and follows Amani, a young trainee therapist dealing with the loss of her best friend. As she returns to work, Amani becomes entangled in the emotional life of Kay, a mysterious patient whose story forces her to confront her own trauma, as well as cultural and ethical tensions within the world of therapy and belief.
In contrast, Potgieter’s “In the Valley of Bones” is a gothic tale of dread and forbidden love set in 1940s rural South Africa. Told through haunting letters, it explores themes of exile, secrecy, and menace, as a young nurse named Mina begins to suspect sinister intentions behind her new employers’ kindness.
“I still almost can’t believe it’s real,” said Potgieter in a statement. “I’ve been working on this book for years with no clue whether it would ever be published. To win alongside Zabu Wamara is an absolute honour.”
The prize, now in its fourth year, aims to spotlight promising African fiction writers and support their journey toward publication. Winners receive feedback, mentorship, agent meetings, and potential publication in both the UK and South Africa. Previous winners include Reem Gaafar (2023) and Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza (2024).
The judges noted that both novels stood out for their distinctive voices and important themes, saying, “Rather than one winner, we had to name two. Zabu Wamara’s ‘Night Dancer’ and Kristien Potgieter’s ‘In the Valley of Bones’ are two very different novels — each powerful and original in its way.”
Wamara, a member of Uganda’s FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association, has been widely praised for her literary voice and storytelling rooted in modern-day social and psychological realities. With this double win, both writers are expected to join a growing list of African literary voices reshaping global fiction.
Credit: Africanwriting.com