Irenosen Okojie joins a diverse group of writers including Yvonne Battle-Felton, Satinder Chohan, Suji Kwock Kim, Tom Newlands, Emma Norry, Hanna Silva, Claudine Toutoungi, Ralf Webb, and Claire Wilson.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Nigerian-British writer, Irenosen Okojie, has been announced as one of the first ten winners of the inaugural RSL Scriptorium Awards, a new residency programme established by the Royal Society of Literature (RSL). The announcement was made on Monday, with Okojie standing out as the only African voice in the 2025 cohort.
The awards provide free writing residencies at a cottage on the Kent coast, generously donated by RSL President, Bernardine Evaristo, alongside a bursary to support each recipient. Okojie joins a diverse group of writers, including Yvonne Battle-Felton, Satinder Chohan, Suji Kwock Kim, Tom Newlands, Emma Norry, Hanna Silva, Claudine Toutoungi, Ralf Webb, and Claire Wilson.
Born in Nigeria and raised in England, Irenosen Okojie has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most distinctive literary voices. She won the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for her short story Grace Jones and was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to literature. Her works include the novels Butterfly Fish and Curandera (longlisted for the Ondaatje Prize), as well as the short story collection Speak Gigantular. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, and on the BBC, with endorsements from figures such as Margaret Atwood.
Reacting to her selection, Okojie noted that being part of the inaugural group was “an honour that affirms the importance of diverse voices in shaping contemporary literature”. Over the years, she has also contributed to the wider literary community by serving as a judge for major awards, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the BBC National Short Story Award, and the International Dylan Thomas Prize.
The RSL Scriptorium Awards were created to address structural barriers facing writers in the UK today. Winners were selected by a panel of RSL Fellows, Sarah Sanders, Kayo Chingonyi, and Victoria Hislop, with priority given to writers lacking a dedicated writing space and those navigating systemic obstacles in their careers.
“I was delighted to lead the panel to choose the first-ever winners of the RSL Scriptorium Awards”, said Sarah Sanders. “This is a unique opportunity that demonstrates a deep understanding of the practical challenges facing many writers, offering that often elusive but essential space and time to create without distraction or financial worry”.
The first residencies will begin in Autumn 2025. For Irenosen Okojie, the award marks another milestone in her decorated career and also a recognition of her role in expanding the possibilities for African and diasporic voices within global literature.