Press release 20 February 2025 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is this year’s recipient of Sjöjungfrun/The Mermaid Award
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is awarded Sjöjungfrun (The Mermaid Award), Gothenburg Book Fair’s literary prize, which will be presented for the second time in 2025. The award was established in 2024 as part of the Book Fair’s 40th anniversary and is given annually to a fiction writer who has moved Swedish readers. The first recipient was Joyce Carol Oates. The 2025 Sjöjungfrun/Mermaid Award goes to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose stories have captivated readers worldwide with their sharp portrayals of identity, feminism, and migration.
“I am grateful for this award that recognizes my vocation, for that is what writing fiction has always been for me: a vocation, the defining center of my life. I am as moved by the rich literary symbolism of the mermaid as I am by the knowledge that my work has deeply touched Swedish readers,” says Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, born in 1977 in Nigeria, is one of the world’s most influential contemporary authors. She made her breakthrough with Purple Hibiscus (2003), followed by Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) – a gripping portrayal of the Biafra War that was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction. With Americanah (2013), which became an international bestseller, she deepened her exploration of themes such as race, migration, and belonging. Her feminist manifesto, We Should All Be Feminists (2014), has had a global impact and has been cited in everything from UN speeches to popular culture.
“Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the most influential storytellers of our time and a dream guest for Gothenburg Book Fair. It is an honour to present her with Sjöjungfrun/The Mermaid Award. Her literature sparks important conversations and engages readers across the world,” says Oskar Ekström, Programme Director of Gothenburg Book Fair.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a remarkable storyteller and a dream guest for Gothenburg Book Fair. Her literature captivates and engages readers worldwide, both by exposing power dynamics and traumas and by bringing the world to life. It is an honour to present her with 'The Mermaid'," says Oskar Ekström, Programme Director of the Gothenburg Book Fair.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will receive Sjöjungfrun/The Mermaid Award during Gothenburg Book Fair, taking place on 25–28 September, 2025, where her presence will be one of the fair’s major highlights. The award will be presented during a special seminar dedicated to honouring Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her literary work.
The motivation for the award reads: "Since her debut in 2003, she has brought new perspectives on identity, feminism, and belonging into contemporary literature. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie bridges the personal and the political, portraying issues of power, gender, migration, and postcolonialism. Beyoncé and Barack Obama have praised her, Dior has printed her words on t-shirts – but her work echoes ancient storytelling traditions and highlights those who are often overlooked. The 2025 Sjöjungfrun/Mermaid Award is presented to a writer whose voice is both urgent and timeless."
Why a Literary Award? Sjöjungfrun/The Mermaid Award was established in 2024 and is presented annually to a fiction writer whose works have moved Swedish readers. Through this award, Gothenburg Book Fair aims to honour authors whose writing resonates, inspires, and engages.
Why a Mermaid? The reading mermaid first appeared as an illustration in the first book printed in Sweden in 1483. To mark the book’s 500th anniversary in 1983, the mermaid was chosen as the symbol for the celebration. When Gothenburg Book Fair was founded two years later, it became its official logo. Since then, the mermaid has remained a recognizable symbol of the Book Fair and the power of literature.
Gothenburg Book Fair in brief
The Gothenburg Book Fair is the largest cultural event in the Nordic region and will take place in 2025 from September 25–28 at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre. Our vision is to stir the soul by delivering the most thought-provoking experience of the year. By promoting reading, education, and the role of literature in society, we make the world a better place. This year's themes are Love and Lust and Drama.
