Nigerian-born author Abi Daré has been announced as the first-ever winner of the prestigious Climate Fiction Prize for her latest novel, And So I Roar. The award, which celebrates compelling storytelling around the global climate crisis, was presented at a ceremony in London, where Daré received a £10,000 prize.
A law graduate from the University of Wolverhampton, Daré is best known for her debut bestseller The Girl with the Louding Voice. Her new novel, And So I Roar, serves as a powerful sequel that explores the environmental struggles faced by rural women and girls in Nigeria. The story delves into the real-life consequences of climate collapse, highlighting how vulnerable communities, particularly women and children, are disproportionately affected.
Daré, who now resides in Essex, expressed gratitude and pride in receiving the award. “As a Black British-Nigerian woman, receiving this prize is a reminder that we do not need to wait for permission to step into global conversations or to contort our stories to fit a certain lens,” she said.
Chair of the judging panel, author Madeleine Bunting, praised the novel as “a book of real energy and passion, which both horrifies and entertains with a cast of compelling characters.” Bunting noted the book’s honest portrayal of climate-induced social crises and commended its underlying message of resilience and hope. “Despite the tragedy, Abi Daré holds faith in the strength of individuals and relationships, and her hopefulness leaves us inspired,” she said.
The Climate Fiction Prize aims to highlight the most inspiring novels that tackle climate change by focusing on human experience and societal responses. A spokesperson for the prize emphasized the role of fiction in climate awareness, stating, “For societies to fully grasp the climate change threat and to embrace its solutions, we need better stories. Fiction can help us imagine what change can look like.”
And So I Roar was selected from a competitive shortlist that included The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Briefly Very Beautiful by Roz Dineen, The Morningside by Téa Obreht, and Orbital by Samantha Harvey, which also won the 2024 Booker Prize.
David Wedge, head of alumni relations at the University of Wolverhampton, expressed immense pride in Daré’s achievement. “We are incredibly proud of Abi for winning this groundbreaking award. It’s a fantastic testament to her talent and the importance of her writing,” he said.
Abi Daré is also scheduled to speak at the University of Wolverhampton’s upcoming inclusivity conference, Authentic Allyship, on Thursday, 12 June.
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