On the 22nd April the 2025 shortlist was announced for the Jhalak Prize. The shortlist reflects the extraordinary quality of work being produced by writers of colour in the UK and Ireland with writing that is heartfelt, inventive and powerful.

What is the Jhalak Prize?

The Jhalak Prize was established in 2017 to highlight the work of books by writers of colour in the UK and Ireland. The Jhalak Prize started off as a single prize which is now called the Jhalak Prose Prize and expanded in 2020 to launch a dedicated Jhalak Children’s YA Prize.

This year the Jhalak Poetry Prize has been added to their portfolio.

The prizes are also open to self-published writers. The Prize annually awards £1000 to each winner along with a unique work of art created by artists chosen for the annual Jhalak Art Residency.

The Jhalak Prize 2025 Shortlist

The titles that form this year's shortlists have been chosen for the ways that the authors use exceptional storytelling to meet the moment. The three shortlists deliver emotional impact and literary innovation and cover a breadth of subjects such as exile, music, addiction, friendships and love while remaining universally resonant. Readers are taken across Britain, to Imperial Japan and 90s Ghana and beyond. 

In this year's shortlists there are seven debuts and eleven of the titles have been published by independent publishers. 

Discover the selected titles for the 2025 Jhalak Prize shortlists below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to shop the titles. 

Jhalak Prose Prize Shortlist

Everest by Ashani Lewis 

Manny and the Baby by Varaidzo

My Friends by Hisham Matar

Namesake: Reflections on a Warrior Woman by N.S. Nuseibeh

The Rest of You by Maame Blue

Where We Come From: Rap, Home & Hope in Modern Britain by Aniefiok Ekpoudom 

Jhalak Poetry Prize Shortlist

Adam by Gboyega Odubanjo 

Boiled Owls by Azad Ashim Sharma 

Collected Poems by Mimi Khalvati 

Horse by Rushika Wick 

Self-Portrait with Family by Amaan Hyder 

Top Doll by Karen McCarthy Woolf 

Jhalak Children's & YA Prize Shortlist

Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield & Hoang Giang

King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore

Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo 

The Boy to Beat the Gods by Ashley Thorpe

The Thread That Connects Us by Ayaan Mohamud

Prize founder Sunny Singh comments: ‘The authors on our 2025 shortlists do not flinch from harsh realities of our histories, times and lives. Yet each of these books is an exquisitely crafted, stunning work of literature that is full of love, hope and joy.’

This year, the Jhalak Prize expands its lists to honour poetry with a dedicated award. Jhalak Poetry Prize judge Malika Booker comments: ‘The varied rich quality of work is a testament to the publishers, who are not averse to taking risks, particularly the small presses unearthing fresh unique voices pushing the boundaries of poetry.’

The Jhalak Prize 2025 Winners 

The winners for the 2025 Jhalak Prize will be announced at an event on Wednesday 4th June at the British Library. This event will be in person and live streamed to a global audience.

To find out more about The Jhalak Prizes visit https://www.jhalakprize.com/

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