Debut Nigerian novelist makes Bailey’s Women Prize shortlist
Nigerian novelist Ayobami Adebayo has been shortlisted for the Bailey’s Women Prize for Fiction. Adebayo made the shortlist of six for her debut novel, Stay With Me, published by Penguin Random House, having been in the 16-book long list released earlier in the year.
Adebayo is the only debut novelist in the shortlist and becomes only the fourth African to be shortlisted for the prize which Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie won in 2007 for her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun.
Speaking on the shortlist, Chair of Judges for 2017 Tessa Ross said, “It has been a great privilege to Chair the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction in a year which has proved exceptional for writing of both quality and originality,”
She added, “It was therefore quite a challenge to whittle this fantastic longlist of 16 books down to only six… These were the six novels that stayed with all of us well beyond the final page.” The shortlisted books below: Stay With Me by Ayọbámi Adébáyọ The Power Naomi Alderman The Dark Circle by Linda Grant The Sport of Kings by C.E. Morgan
First Love by Gwendoline Riley
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall of London on June 7.