Chimamanda Adichie Wins Prestigious 2025 Sjöjungfrun Literary Prize In Sweden

Nigeria’s celebrated writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has added another feather to her
illustrious cap, clinching the 2025 Sjöjungfrun (The Mermaid) Literary Prize at the Gothenburg
Book Fair in Sweden, Europe’s largest cultural gathering.

The award, presented on Monday, recognizes Adichie’s outstanding contribution to world
literature and her powerful storytelling, which has continued to resonate across cultures and
generations. The Sjöjungfrun Prize, one of Scandinavia’s most respected literary honors,
celebrates authors whose works inspire critical thought and broaden global conversations.
Adichie, acclaimed for novels such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus, and Americanah,
has become a global voice not only for literature but also for feminism, equality, and social
justice.

In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude to the jury and dedicated the prize to
African writers striving to tell authentic stories of their people.
“This award is not just about me, it is about the stories that remind us of our shared humanity,”
she said to resounding applause at the fair.
The Gothenburg Book Fair attracts tens of thousands of readers, publishers, and cultural
enthusiasts annually, and this year’s edition saw Adichie headline several panels, where she
discussed themes of identity, migration, and the power of narrative in shaping societies.

Her win has been widely celebrated across Nigeria and the global literary community, with
commentators hailing it as yet another milestone that cements her status as one of the most
influential voices of contemporary literature.
With this recognition, Adichie joins the ranks of previous laureates who have shaped the world’s
literary and cultural landscape, reaffirming Nigeria’s place on the global literary map.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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