Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s Blessings Is Nominated for the Netherlands’ Best Book for Young Adults 2026
Chukwuebuka Ibeh's debut novel is making moves across Europe. The Dutch translation of his book, published under the title Zegeningen, has been nominated for the Beste Boek voor Jongeren 2026, the Netherlands' annual prize celebrating the best book for readers between the ages of fifteen and eighteen.
Ibeh, a Nigerian writer and former Brittle Paper staff writer, first introduced the world to Blessings in its original English form. Now, with this nomination, the novel is finding a whole new audience among Dutch-speaking young adults.
This kind of cross-continental recognition for African literary voices is something worth watching closely. The winner of the Beste Boek voor Jongeren is chosen by the very readers the prize is meant to celebrate, which means young people in the Netherlands are actively engaging with Ibeh's story. We will be keeping our eyes on the results.
Originally published by Brittle Paper.