The international prize, founded in Moscow in November last year, seeks to celebrate contemporary authors whose works embody the cultural and spiritual values of the Brics nations. It also aims to encourage translation and publishing across the bloc’s many languages.

The selection process has already spanned two continents, beginning with the longlist announcement in Brasília and culminating in the shortlist unveiling at the H.B. Jassin Literary Documentation Centre in Jakarta on Monday (27/10). The final winner will be announced on Thursday, 27 November, in Khabarovsk, Russia.

The 2025 shortlist includes ten authors representing Brics nations. Photo supplied

Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta – a writer, poet, and cultural advocate – is best known for her poetic and cultural initiative Free State of Mind, which celebrates identity, language, and creativity rooted in the Free State province. 

She served as vice president of the National Writers Association of South Africa and has received multiple awards for promoting multilingualism. Her poetry, translated into several languages, explores themes rooted in Africa’s spiritual and cultural landscapes.

“The award supports contemporary authors whose works reflect the cultural and spiritual values of Brics nations, while promoting the development of translation and publishing in Brics languages,” said Brics Literature Award PR manager Tatyana Goncharova.

The shortlist for the BRICS Literature Award was officially announced at the H.B. Jassin Literary Documentation Centre in Jakarta. Photo supplied

Vadim Teryokhin, co-chairman of the Brics Literature Network, highlighted the award’s diplomatic significance, noting that it fosters deeper literary exchange and understanding among member countries.

“The Brics award allows contemporary writers to engage with each other’s works. It fosters cultural cooperation, mutual literary influence, stronger fraternal ties, mutual understanding, and people’s diplomacy,” said Teryokhin.

The 2025 Brics Literature Award shortlist features ten authors representing Brics and partner nations: Ana Maria Gonçalves (Brazil), Alexey Varlamov (Russia), Sonu Saini (India), Ma Boyong (China), Jafta (South Africa), Reem Al Kamali (United Arab Emirates), Abere Adamu (Ethiopia), Mansour Alimoradi (Iran), Denny JA (Indonesia), and Salwa Bakr (Egypt).

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