GLOBAL – A new literary prize offering £15,000 (approximately KSh 2.4 million) and a publishing deal has been launched, creating a significant opportunity for Kenyan and other East African diaspora writers based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The award, announced on Thursday, 27 November 2025, EAT, is a collaboration between Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts.

The Footnote x Counterpoints prize for fiction is specifically aimed at writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds currently residing in the UK or Ireland. While this geographic restriction excludes writers based in Kenya, it opens a crucial door for the substantial Kenyan community abroad, which the 2021/22 UK Census estimated at over 138,000 Kenya-born residents. The prize explicitly welcomes submissions from both new and established writers, whether they have an agent or not.

The award focuses on fiction manuscripts centred on themes of “displacement, courage and belonging,” according to a statement from the organisers. These themes resonate deeply within the context of East Africa, a region that both hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations and has a long history of migration.

Prize Structure and Submission Details

The total prize value is £15,000. The winner will receive a £7,500 cash prize, along with a £7,500 advance as part of a publication agreement with Footnote Press, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK. This marks the second collaboration between the two organisations; their inaugural 2023 prize focused on narrative non-fiction.

Prospective applicants are required to submit a sample of their work, between 8,000 and 10,000 words, accompanied by a synopsis of at least 1,500 words. Submissions are now open and will close on Thursday, 13 February 2025, EAT. A shortlist is scheduled to be announced in May 2025, with the winner being revealed during the UK's Refugee Week in June 2025.

The judging panel features prominent literary figures, including author Dina Nayeri, whose book The Ungrateful Refugee deals with similar themes; Bea Carvalho, head of books at major retailer Waterstones; Serena Arthur, a commissioning editor at Footnote Press; and Almir Koldzic, the director and co-founder of Counterpoints Arts.

“In a time marked by deepening divisions and intolerance, the prize feels especially necessary and urgent,” Koldzic stated. “We hope it will help us amplify remarkable new literary voices and lived experiences of displacement.”

Local Context and Global Significance

While this prize provides a vital platform for the diaspora, similar large-scale opportunities specifically for refugee and migrant writers within Kenya remain limited. Organisations like UNHCR Kenya have initiated arts projects, such as the 'Artists for Refugees' program, to mentor and promote refugee talent in music and visual arts. Initiatives like the 'Hands On' art workshops in Kakuma refugee camp also provide creative outlets for young refugees. However, a dedicated, high-value literary prize for fiction of this nature is not currently established locally.

Kenya has a rich literary tradition, with established awards like the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature celebrating local authors. The emergence of the Footnote x Counterpoints prize highlights a growing global recognition of the importance of migrant and refugee narratives in contemporary literature. Counterpoints Arts, a leading UK organisation, has a long history of supporting artists from these backgrounds to ensure their contributions are recognised within mainstream culture. The prize, therefore, not only offers a career-changing opportunity for an individual writer but also serves to enrich the global literary landscape with diverse perspectives that are often underrepresented.