Nigerian-British author Abi Daré has won the first-ever Climate Fiction Prize for her novel And So I Roar, a sequel to her acclaimed debut, The Girl with the Louding Voice. The award, announced at a ceremony in London, includes a £10,000 prize and celebrates powerful storytelling that explores the human dimensions of climate change. The novel follows the lives of rural Nigerian women and girls confronting the harsh realities of environmental degradation and climate-induced social upheaval. Judges praised the book for its vivid characters and emotional depth, calling it both “horrifying and inspiring.”
Daré, a University of Wolverhampton law graduate who now lives in Essex, said the win affirms the power of authentic storytelling “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.” The judging panel, led by author Madeleine Bunting, selected Daré’s novel from a shortlist of five works, including Booker Prize-winning Orbital by Samantha Harvey, and novels by Kaliane Bradley, Roz Dineen, and Téa Obreht.
The Climate Fiction Prize, established to spotlight narratives that illuminate the climate crisis, aims to help audiences emotionally connect with the urgency of environmental issues through fiction. A spokesperson noted, “Fiction helps us imagine what change can look like. We need better stories to understand that change is urgent—but possible.”
University of Wolverhampton’s head of alumni relations, David Wedge, lauded Daré’s achievement as a testament to her literary impact. She is also set to speak at the university’s Authentic Allyship conference on June 12, focusing on inclusivity and global engagement.
