Dexter Loko Wins Chinua Achebe Prize for his 170,000-word fantasy novel, The Bako of Zereshé, at the 2026 ANA convention in Abuja
Nigerian-Irish writer Dexter Loko has secured one of Nigeria’s notable literary honours for his ambitious fantasy novel, The Bako of Zereshé, receiving the ₦1 million award at the Association of Nigerian Authors’ 45th Annual International Convention in Abuja on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Nigerian-born, Ireland-based author Dexter Loko has won the 2026 Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature, earning recognition for a work that brings Nigerian cultural heritage, mythology and contemporary realities into an expansive fantasy world.
The award was presented by award-winning writer and Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Vice-President Obari Gomba during the association’s annual convention.
Sponsored by United Nigeria Airlines, the prize carries a cash reward of ₦1 million, alongside a plaque and certificate.
Loko’s second book, The Bako of Zereshé, emerged ahead of two other shortlisted works: No Place Like Home by Henry Akubuiro and Chiko baby Onyedikachi Uzozie Nmezi.
Published in July 2026 by Lagos-based GrandTouch Press, the 170,000-word novel represents a considerable undertaking in contemporary Nigerian fantasy fiction.
Its narrative combines political intrigue, magic, adventure and elements of Nigerian history and cultural identity.
At the centre of the story is Jeremy Fletcher, a young British journalist sent to Nigeria to report on the insurgency in the North-East.
An unexpected turn of events leads him to Zereshé, an imagined secret 37th state of Nigeria where magic is an accepted part of everyday life.
What begins as a journalistic assignment gradually becomes an adventure involving unfamiliar cultures, competing loyalties and an unfolding struggle between good and evil.
Beyond its fantastical setting, the novel explores questions of identity, belonging, courage and the experience of navigating an unfamiliar society.
Through Jeremy’s journey as an outsider, Loko creates a narrative with themes that extend beyond its Nigerian setting.
In an earlier interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Loko described the creative demands of producing a fantasy novel of such considerable length.
“Writing a fantasy novel of this scale demanded hundreds of hours of concentration,” he said, explaining his ambition to create an immersive fictional environment in which readers could become absorbed in its characters, mythology and magical systems.
He also reflected on the personal experiences that shaped the book, particularly his upbringing in Nigeria and the encouragement he received from his parents.
“My father filled our home with books,” Loko recalled, describing the influence of his childhood reading experiences on his development as a storyteller.
The author’s literary journey began with _The Day the Sun Vanished_, an independently published collection of 15 short stories released in November 2023.
The collection explored several genres, including fantasy, science fiction, romance and dystopian fiction, establishing an early indication of Loko’s interest in imaginative storytelling.
His latest achievement is particularly notable given the relatively limited representation of African-inspired fantasy in Nigeria’s major literary award conversations.
Rather than separating fantasy from the realities of Nigerian life, _The Bako of Zereshé_ draws on familiar cultural influences while building an entirely fictional society.
The approach reflects a broader creative possibility for African writers seeking to explore indigenous experiences through speculative fiction.
The novel has also attracted attention beyond Nigeria. Following its Abuja launch in July, Loko introduced the book to readers in Dublin in August, at an event hosted by The Winding Stair bookstore.
The occasion included a reading, an interactive question-and-answer session and a book-signing opportunity.
The Abuja launch also carried a charitable dimension. Loko announced that 50 per cent of the proceeds from the event would be donated to internally displaced people at the Durumi camp in the Federal Capital Territory, including people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking about the decision, he said: “I plan to continue to help various IDP camps around Nigeria in whatever little way I can.”
The gesture added a humanitarian element to the book’s release, reflecting the author’s continuing interest in the experiences of vulnerable communities in his country of birth.
Loko’s award also places his achievement within the growing history of the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature. Established in 2021, the award recognises excellence and outstanding achievement in Nigerian fiction and is administered by the Association of Nigerian Authors.
Previous recipients include Obinna Ndenwe, who won the inaugural 2021 edition for _Colours of Hatred_; Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, whose _Believers and Hustlers_ received the 2022 award; and Nikė Campbell, who won in 2023 for _Saro_.
Ifeoma Chinwuba received the honour in 2024 for Sons of the East, while Ndidi Chiazor Enenmor won the 2025 edition with See Morocco, See Spain.
The 2026 competition was open to Nigerian writers at home and abroad, with eligible novels required to have been published in 2025 or 2026.
ANA stated that entries would be assessed on literary quality, originality, creativity, language, narrative craft, characterisation and thematic depth.
United Nigeria Airlines has also committed ₦10 million towards prize money and administrative costs for the 2026 to 2030 period, providing financial support for the continued development of the award.
Loko’s victory came during ANA’s 45th Annual International Convention, held from 29 October to 1 November at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja.
The gathering brought together writers, academics, literary enthusiasts and other stakeholders under the theme, Literature, National Security, and the Place of Nigeria in the World_.
For the author, the recognition represents a significant step in a literary career shaped by Nigerian storytelling traditions and broadened by his experiences living in Ireland.
His success also offers an encouraging moment for Nigerian fantasy writers and publishers, demonstrating that imaginative fiction rooted in African cultural experiences can find recognition within the country’s established literary institutions.
As _The Bako of Zereshé_ receives national recognition, Loko’s achievement highlights the value of stories that draw confidently from local histories and traditions while embracing the creative freedom of fantasy.
It is a promising development for a literary landscape in which Nigerian writers continue to expand the boundaries of storytelling, introducing readers to new worlds without losing sight of the cultures and experiences that inspire them.
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