The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa was inaugurated by Afreximbank in November 2023 and aims to promote and celebrate excellence in African and Caribbean publishing. Beginning this year, the prize now reaches beyond the African continent into the wider African diaspora via the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its environs (Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Panama). Delivered as part of CANEX Book Factory 2026, the prize contributes to long-term intellectual property development, intra-African cultural trade, and the sustainability of Africa-Caribbean’s creative economy.
By Editor
AFREXIMBANK has announced the third edition of the CANEX Prize for Publishing 2026, an arm of the CANEX Book Factory, with the support of Narrative Landscape Press Limited as the resource partner. Narrative Landscape Press is returning as resource partner after successfully midwifing the inaugural edition but missing out in the second edition. Launched in 2020 by Afreximbank, the CANEX Book Factory spotlights and elevates the African book value chain through a Pan-African writing workshop, an e-newsletter highlighting African literature and the prize for publishing.
The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa was inaugurated by Afreximbank in November 2023 and aims to promote and celebrate excellence in African and Caribbean publishing. Beginning this year, the prize now reaches beyond the African continent into the wider African diaspora via the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its environs (Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Panama). Delivered as part of CANEX Book Factory 2026, the prize contributes to long-term intellectual property development, intra-African cultural trade, and the sustainability of Africa-Caribbean’s creative economy.
The prize is for trade books first published by African and Caribbean publishers on the continents in the preceding year. Thus, for this third edition, only the books published in 2025 are eligible.
Submissions will be judged on the quality of writing, editing and production. A USD$20,000 prize will be awarded to the publisher of the best trade book in 2025. Trade books refer to books published for a general audience, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry and excludes textbooks and academic books. Additionally, four finalists will each receive USD$2,000 in prize money. The winner will be awarded during the CANEX WKND to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, between 5-8 November, 2026. Cassava Republic Press (Nigeria & UK) won the inaugural edition with Female Fear Factory by Pumla Dineo Gqola while last year’s winner was Karavan Press with In Silence My Heart Speaks by Thobeka Yose.
By supporting the enabling environment for various creative sectors like fashion, music, film, art, literature, gastronomy, and sport, CANEX seeks to aid the advancement and expansion of the creative and cultural economy, both within Africa and the diaspora, utilising various financial and non-financial tools and initiatives.
CANEX therefore invites publishers in Africa to submit published trade books for the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa. To submit your entry, please visit: https://bookfactory2026.evalato.com/. And for enquiries, please email: [email protected].
- https://thearthubng.com/afreximbank-announces-3rd-canex-prize-for-publishing-in-africa-2026/
