Chimamanda Adichie Makes History: Three Major European Awards in Three Weeks!
Celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has made history by winning three major European literary awards in Germany, Sweden, and the UK, all within just three weeks.
The incredible achievement highlights her lasting influence on world literature and her reputation as one of today’s most powerful and inspiring storytellers.
Felix Jud Prize, Germany
Adichie’s winning streak began in Germany on September 20, 2025, when she received the first-ever Felix Jud Prize for Defiant Thinking.
The award, named after a Hamburg bookseller who stood up to the Nazi regime, honors people who fight for intellectual freedom and moral courage.
The judges praised Adichie for her bold commitment to truth, equality, and human values in a time that “demands moral clarity.”
The Mermaid Literary Prize, Sweden
A week later, on September 28, Adichie was honored in Sweden with the Sjöjungfrun (The Mermaid) Literary Prize at the Gothenburg Book Fair, the largest cultural event in the Nordic region.
The award celebrates writers whose work has deeply touched Swedish readers. The excitement was huge, organizers said the line to see her speech stretched nearly a kilometer long!
Receiving her hand-carved mermaid statuette, Adichie said:
“Writing has always been my calling — the central and defining part of my life. I’m touched that my stories have connected with Swedish readers.”
The jury praised her for beautifully blending personal and political themes and giving new depth to ideas about identity, feminism, and belonging.
Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence, UK
Finally, on October 11, Adichie received The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in the UK.
The prestigious award recognizes an author’s entire body of work, not just one book and past winners include Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Salman Rushdie.
The judges described Adichie’s 42-year writing journey as one that has “redefined modern storytelling,” praising her for combining clarity, beauty, and emotional power in her work.
From Purple Hibiscus to Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and her newest novel Dream Count (2025), Adichie continues to inspire readers across the globe with her honest, human stories about identity, migration, womanhood, and love.
These three awards — the Felix Jud Prize (Germany), the Mermaid Literary Prize (Sweden), and the Sunday Times Award (UK) — mark a milestone in Adichie’s incredible career.
They also show how Europe and the world are increasingly recognizing African voices as central to global literature, not on the sidelines.
Already named a THISDAY Woman of the Decade, Adichie’s latest achievements cement her status as a world storyteller, a voice that continues to inspire, challenge, and unite people across cultures.