British-Nigerian author Abi Daré has clinched the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize with her novel And So I Roar, a sequel to her acclaimed debut, The Girl with the Louding Voice.
The award, which includes a £10,000 cash prize, was presented on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, during a ceremony in London.
The novel continues the story of 14-year-old Adunni, a Nigerian girl striving for education amid the challenges of poverty and gender inequality. Set against the backdrop of environmental degradation in rural Nigeria, the book explores how climate change exacerbates social hardships.
Daré, who initially aimed to highlight the struggles of women and girls in rural communities, discovered during her writing process that environmental issues are deeply intertwined with these social challenges.
Chair of the judging panel, author Madeleine Bunting, described. So I Roar is a work that “both horrifies and entertains,” connecting the climate crisis to social issues where women and children often bear the brunt.
She commended Daré for her faith in individual strength and relationships, noting that the novel’s hopeful tone inspires readers.
The Climate Fiction Prize, launched in June 2024 at the Hay Festival in Wales, aims to recognise novels that engage with themes related to the climate crisis.
Daré was one of five authors shortlisted for the award, alongside Kaliane Bradley, Roz Dineen, Samantha Harvey, and Téa Obreht.
In her acceptance speech, Daré spoke about African narratives in climate fiction, noting that while Africa contributes only 4% of global carbon emissions, it faces some of the harshest effects of the climate crisis. She hoped this recognition would encourage more writers from underrepresented backgrounds to explore the connections between environment, identity, and justice.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Daré holds degrees in law from the University of Wolverhampton, an MSc in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University, and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London.
In 2023, she founded The Louding Voice Foundation, which provides educational scholarships and empowerment programmes for women and girls in underserved Nigerian communities.