Award winners Cherise Morris and Desta Haile. Photos | Courtesy
Cassava Republic Press has announced Cherise Morris (United States) as the winner of the inaugural Global Black Women’s Non-fiction Manuscript Prize for her work The Cosmic Matter of Black Lives, with Desta Haile (Eritrea) and Pamella Gysman (South Africa) recognised as runners-up.
Emerging from a pool of more than 100 manuscripts from 36 countries, three manuscripts that contested for the overall prize were lauded for showcasing thought-provoking and critical non-fiction with an engaging and distinct voice.
The winning manuscript is a multi-layered exploration of Blackness by writer and interdisciplinary performance artist, Cherise Morris. Consequently, it will be published by Cassava Republic Press, with Morris receiving a $20,000 (Shs73m) advance.
Written in a bold, experimental form, The Cosmic Matter of Black Lives impressed the judges with its powerful exploration of the ways both Blackness and the environment have been shaped and shifted by structures of White supremacy. Morris’s manuscript is an evocative collection of lyric essays, poetic interludes, and rituals that delves into the intricate philosophical, political, cosmological, and spiritual layers of Blackness. This compelling work converges at the intersections of enduring and evolving anti-Black violence, systemic inequities, environmental injustices, and ecological disruptions.
Reflecting on her achievement, Morris shared: “I am incredibly humbled and honoured to have my work recognised with this prize. I began this manuscript six years ago, and it has been a long road to get to this point. I am beyond grateful Cassava Republic has embraced my work in all of its uniqueness, and I am excited to share it with the world.”
Runners-up
The two runners-up will also receive publishing deals with Cassava Republic Press, with each author receiving a $5,000 (Shs18m) advance. A captivating read, Haile’s Black Beauty Model Agency takes us behind the doors of the eponymous agency in 1960s New York, peeling back the layers of glamour to explore its cultural, historical, and political impact, through a personal lens.
What do the iconic Grace Jones, a trailblazing Liberian diplomat, a striking Mormon supermodel, the legendary Richard Roundtree, a Buddhist visionary from Harlem, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Eritrea’s revered Poet Laureate have in common? Black Beauty Model Agency. This vivid and reflective journey through 1960s New York City invites readers into an Afro-diasporic world of elegance and transformation. Haile introduces the extraordinary women who founded it and the remarkable individuals they signed, each reshaping fashion and culture.
Through The Lens of Food: A Decolonised Exploration of Black, Middle-Class Identity by Gysman stands out for its clarity and cultural depth, effectively capturing the significance of food as a lens for understanding identity and social dynamics.
“These manuscripts showcase originality, and depth across narratives, and stand as a testament to the power of Black women as critical thinkers and writers,” Cassava Republic Press said in a statement.
Reflecting on her recognition, Haile shared: “I am so grateful to be a finalist for the Global Black Women’s Non-fiction Manuscript Prize, for a project that has been so close to my heart for many years, in such inspiring company, by such inspiring judges. Cassava Republic Press has always been in the business of ground-breaking and representation; this prize is a brilliant and generous extension of that vital work, and it aligns perfectly with the historic and diasporic vision of Black Beauty Model Agency.”
Gysman said: “I want to thank Cassava Republic, the judges, and the sponsors of the Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize. Winning this prize is a deeply affirming moment for me, as it not only recognises my work but also honours the people I write about. The Black middle class, often treated as an anomaly— ‘too white to be Black’ or ‘too Black to be truly middle class’—has long been overlooked.”
He added: “This prize gives us the space to tell our stories, in our own voices, and showcase new knowledge drawn from these narratives. I’m grateful to Cassava Republic Press and the sponsors for this opportunity, which allows me to contribute to a broader understanding of our experiences.”
Judges’ two cents
Chair of Judges and Booker Prize award-winning author, Bernardine Evaristo, commented on the judging experience stating, “Chairing this prize has been a richly rewarding experience and process of discovery of a wonderful range of manuscripts that reveal the breadth of black women’s intellectual and creative enquiry. The talented winning writers show us that the universe of black women's ideas, experiences and perspectives is full of talent, promise and adventure.”
Supported by Alitheia Capital, a female-led private equity fund that manages the largest Gender-Smart fund in Africa and the Open Society Foundations Africa, The Global Black Women’s Non-fiction Manuscript Prize was created to spotlight exceptional non-fiction works by Black women and make space for Black women in a traditionally male-dominated field. The prize is dedicated to fostering literary excellence and providing a platform for transformative narratives that inspire, educate, and challenge global audiences.
Operating out of Abuja and London, Cassava Republic Press, is a leading Global Black Publisher of award-winning fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books from Africa and its diasporas. In 17 years, it has sold over six million books in more than 60 countries and published award-winning writers such as Teju Cole, Sarah Ladipo Manyika and Helon Habila.
As a Global Black Publishing House, Cassava is committed to ensuring that the story of the Global Black World is told in its historical and contemporary diversity from Benin to Bahia, Lagos to Lima, Kingston to Kinshasa, Nairobi to New York.
Winners’ bios
CHERISE MORRIS
Winners’ bios Cherise Morris is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and spirit worker born and raised in rural Virginia and living in Detroit, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Iowa Review, Scalawag, and Harvard Divinity Bulletin, among others. Her essays have twice been recognised as notable works of literary nonfiction in The Best American Essays Series 2018 and 2019 and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Desta Haile
Desta Haile is a British-Eritrean writer, educator, and mu- sician. She is the founder and director of Languages through Music, an award-winning creative learning platform. As deputy director of the Royal African Society (2021-2023), she helped deliver the 10th anniversary editions of Film Africa and Africa Writes. Her work has been published by Specimen Press, Afritondo, and Bad Form Review. Desta holds an MA in Black British Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London.
PAMELLA GYSMAN
She is an independent resear- cher at Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, has a Master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and a Bache- lor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Specialising in identity politics, belonging, and social/cultural phenomena, she has authored peer-reviewed publications and presented at various conferences. Her research expertise encompasses phenomenology, feminist studies, food as an analytical lens, interdisciplinary approaches, and intersectional analysis.
