About ARIBP
The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize (ARIBP) is awarded annually for the best independently published book (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction). The Prize is open to African independent writers resident on the continent and in the diaspora.
The Prize aims to recognise quality self-published books with unique and extraordinary stories addressing current and future Africa (Afro-currency and Afro-futurism) for books not more than three (3) years old since publication.
The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is managed by Mystery Publishers, a Kenyan premier pan-African independent publisher with a bias toward African speculative fiction and genre/pop literature stories.
Key Highlights
2022 – The 2022 Prize was open only to books & authors published by Mystery Publishers.
2023 – The 2023 edition of the Prize was open to Kenyan writers resident in Africa or in the Diaspora.
2024 – The Prize onwards is open to African writers resident in the continent or in the Diaspora.
The Prize, designed by Xhuma Maseeti, Usanii Mashariki Gallery
Prize Criteria
- Selection of submitted books by Mystery Publishers. We look for professionally published books (whether a book is well presented—cover, pictures [if relevant] and layout) following industry standards.
- The selected books are then taken through public voting, where readers vote for the book with the most extraordinary story to produce a shortlist of ten books. (Public voting accounts for 10% of the overall evaluation.)
- The shortlisted books are forwarded to a judges’ panel comprising beta readers, editors, authors, and publishers. The most important aspects they will be looking for are: whether a book is well written (including structure and style), and Afro-currency and Afro-futurism in the themes.
- The winning book is announced at an award ceremony, and the winner is awarded the prize money, a trophy, and a certificate.
- The first and second runners-up will be awarded a certificate.
Ksh.20,000
2025 Submissions Open
2025 Eligibility Criteria
- Self-published authors only. (Proof of self-publishing to be provided.) A book or author is self-published if:
- It is DIY publishing (author does all the publishing process by themselves);
- They engage professional author services providers/companies to provide the services for them (invoices and receipts for such services to be provided);
- They publish their books using self-publishing companies (a publishing agreement in addition to invoices and receipts to be provided); or
- Self-publishing companies may submit books on behalf of their authors (copies of publishing agreements, invoices and receipts issued to authors, and business registration/incorporation certificate to be provided).
Participate Submit Your Book
Submission Guidelines
Five (5) hard copy books for every title submitted are to be dropped at/sent to Nuria Bookstore, The Bazaar Building, Moi Avenue, 1st Floor, Room A12, Nairobi, addressed as follows:
To Mystery Publishers Limited
Tel: +254 718 429 184
Book Prize Submission
By [Your Name and Contact Details]
Once you send or drop your books at Nuria Bookstore, please let us know via email at bookprize@mysterypublisherslimited.com CC afrikaredefinedbookprize@gmail.com
eBook submissions should be through email (bookprize@mysterypublisherslimited.com) as follows:
- subject heading: ‘Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize submission by YOUR NAME’;
- Cover email and the eBook attached.
Eligible Books & Fees
- Print (hard copies) and eBooks (PDF only).
- Books submitted should be published in English or translated into English.
- Not more than three (3) years since publication (only books published in 2022 and later).
- Traditionally published books are not eligible.
- eBooks should not be a gift to download from Amazon. This is because the gift goes to just one person. Because of the judging process, the ebook may need to be read by multiple people.
- We will not accept invitations to download files from websites.
Submission Fees
Paperbacks – Ksh.3,000
EBooks – Ksh.1,500
Prize Timelines
ARIBP Supports Reading Culture
Schools & Libraries
Mystery Publishers aims to print (depending on the available funding, if any):
- 1,000 copies of the prize-winning book, and
- 200 copies each of the first and second runners-up books.
and donate them to schools and community libraries.
What You Get For Participating
- Prestige as a publisher is one of the many benefits of being named a winner of this distinguished award. In addition, all shortlisted writers receive:
- Recognition before the awards ceremony on the ARIBP website.
- Archived listing after the awards ceremony on the ARIBP website.
- Personalised award certificate for the winner and first and second runner-up.
- Engraved trophy marking their achievement (Winner only).
- Free marketing and promotion of the book/winner during the winning year.
- A press release template to use when personally announcing the winning book.
- Special award digital stickers to affix to the winning, runner-up, and shortlisted book(s).
- Inclusion in the announcement to the media, Mystery Publishers’ events and activities, Mystery Publishers’ and ARIBP’s social media channels (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), and more.
- Distribution of the winning book through all the channels available to Mystery Publishers.