The Business Council for Africa (BCA), in partnership with BrandComms and African Business magazine, has unveiled the shortlist for the 2025 edition of the African Business Book of the Year Awards.
Now in its third year, the prestigious awards aim to spotlight impactful business literature that highlights Africa’s economic transformation and entrepreneurial spirit.
In a statement announcing the shortlist, the organizers noted that the awards seek to celebrate the authors and publishers telling Africa’s evolving business story—capturing narratives of resilience, innovation, and growth across the continent.
“This year’s selection ranges from biographies of notable business figures to explorations of key sectors like manufacturing, capital markets, intra-African travel, skit-based digital content, economic reform, infrastructure, and even Africa’s strategic handling of the COVID-19 crisis,” the statement read.
The judging panel includes distinguished figures in business, media, and academia such as Arnold Ekpe, Chair of the BCA and head of the judging committee; Chris Ogbechie, former Dean of the Lagos Business School; Moky Makura, CEO of AfricaNoFilter; Terhas Berhe, founder of Brand Communications; Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Business and New African magazines; and Anver Versi, Editor of New African and African Banker.
Commenting on the importance of the awards, Arnold Ekpe emphasized the need for Africans to take ownership of their narratives.
“Research shows we pay a high risk premium partly because we’re not doing enough to tell our business stories. While the number of business publications is growing, it still falls short given the explosion of innovation across sectors like fintech, fashion, film, and mining,” he said.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for July 4, 2025, at the Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London.
The winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of $10,000, while the first and second runners-up will earn $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
Last year’s top titles included How Africa Trades by Professor David Luke, Africa Is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin, and Ethiopian Airlines: The African Aviation Powerhouse by Jozef Mols.
This year’s shortlisted books are:
• A West African Entrepreneur’s Challenging Path to Financial Freedom by Ike Onyema Obi and Janine de Nyssche
• Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance and African Economics by Bronwen Everill
• Essentials of Leadership in Africa by Bella L. Galperin and Caren B. Scheepers
• In Her Hands: Shaping the Future of Manufacturing in Africa by Demi Samande
• Africa’s Global Infrastructures by Jana Honke, Eric Cezne, and Yifan Yang
• Skit Economy: How Nigeria’s Comedy Skit-Makers Are Redefining Africa’s Digital Content Landscape by Dr. Bell Ihua
• The Traveller: Crossing Borders and Connecting Africa by Thebe Ikalafeng
• All Hands on Deck for Capital Markets Reform by Arunma Oteh
• Riding the Storm: The Untold Story of Africa’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic by Toni Kan
• The Rise of Gas by Engineer Charles A. Osezua
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