Deadline: 24-Jul-2026
The ASSAf Humanities Book Prize Award recognizes outstanding scholarly non-fiction books that make significant contributions to the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts in South Africa. The biennial award is open to books published between 2023 and 2025, with separate categories for Established Scholars and Emerging Scholars.
Eligible books must have an ISBN, be published in any official South African language, and meet the award’s scholarly criteria. Winners receive a certificate of recognition and cash prizes of up to R30,000.
About the ASSAf Humanities Book Prize Award
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Humanities Book Prize Award celebrates excellence in scholarly publishing by recognizing books that advance knowledge, research, and intellectual inquiry in the humanities.
The award highlights the important role that scholarly books play in generating new ideas, contributing to academic debate, and expanding understanding across the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts.
The prize is awarded every two years and encourages high-quality academic writing that has a lasting impact on scholarship in South Africa.
Award Objectives
The award aims to:
- Recognize outstanding scholarly books.
- Promote excellence in humanities research.
- Encourage high-quality academic publishing.
- Support knowledge production in South Africa.
- Celebrate intellectual contributions by established and emerging scholars.
- Increase the visibility of humanities scholarship.
Award Categories
Applications are invited under two categories:
Established Scholar Award
This category recognizes experienced researchers who have made significant scholarly contributions through an outstanding academic book.
Award includes:
- Certificate of acknowledgement
- Cash prize of R30,000
Emerging Scholar Award
This category recognizes promising early-career researchers whose scholarly work demonstrates originality and academic excellence.
Award includes:
- Certificate of acknowledgement
- Cash prize of R20,000
If a winning publication has multiple authors, the prize money will be shared equally among all authors.
ASSAf reserves the right not to make an award if no submission meets the required standard.
Eligible Books
Eligible books must:
- Be scholarly non-fiction works.
- Be published between 2023 and 2025.
- Have a valid ISBN.
- Be published either in South Africa or internationally.
- Be written in any officially recognized South African language.
- Contribute significantly to the humanities, social sciences, or performing arts.
Eligible Subject Areas
Books may cover topics within:
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Performing Arts
- Related interdisciplinary humanities fields
Who Is Eligible?
Single-Authored Books
Applicants must:
- Be employed by or affiliated with a South African institution of higher learning or research institution.
- Be affiliated regardless of nationality.
Co-Authored Books
Co-authored books are eligible if:
- At least one author is employed by or affiliated with a South African university or research institution.
Ineligible Books
The following are not eligible:
- Edited volumes consisting of chapters by multiple contributors.
- Essay collections edited by one or more editors.
- Books that do not meet the publication period.
- Books without an ISBN.
Publication Requirements
Eligible books must:
- Have been published between 2023 and 2025.
- Be scholarly in nature.
- Be well-written.
- Present original academic contributions.
- Advance understanding of a humanities-related topic.
A book may be nominated more than once, provided the subsequent nomination is submitted within three years of its first publication.
Nomination Requirements
Each nomination must include:
- A completed nomination form.
- A motivation of no more than 500 words.
- Details explaining the significance of the book.
- Justification for nominating the author as an Established Scholar or Emerging Scholar.
- An explanation of how the book contributes new knowledge or insights within the humanities.
Who Can Submit a Nomination?
Nominations must be submitted by:
- An individual from the nominee’s institution, or
- A person with specialist knowledge of the nominee’s academic discipline or research field.
Self-nominations are not indicated under the programme requirements.
Prize Information
The awards include:
- Established Scholar: R30,000 and a certificate of acknowledgement.
- Emerging Scholar: R20,000 and a certificate of acknowledgement.
For co-authored books, the prize money is divided equally among the authors.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure the book:
- Is scholarly non-fiction.
- Was published between 2023 and 2025.
- Has an ISBN.
- Meets all eligibility requirements.
Step 2: Identify a Nominator
Ask a qualified individual from:
- Your institution, or
- Your academic field
to prepare the nomination.
Step 3: Complete the Nomination Form
Fill in all required information accurately.
Step 4: Prepare the Motivation
Submit a motivation (maximum 500 words) explaining:
- The scholarly importance of the book.
- The author’s academic contribution.
- Why the nominee fits the selected category.
- The book’s contribution to advancing humanities knowledge.
Step 5: Submit the Nomination
Submit the completed nomination and supporting documents before the official deadline.
Tips for a Strong Nomination
Applicants and nominators should:
- Clearly explain the book’s scholarly contribution.
- Highlight originality and innovation.
- Demonstrate academic impact.
- Show how the work advances knowledge.
- Provide strong evidence supporting the nominee’s category.
- Write a focused and persuasive motivation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Submitting edited collections instead of scholarly books.
- Nominating books published outside the eligible period.
- Exceeding the 500-word motivation limit.
- Omitting required nomination documents.
- Choosing the incorrect award category.
- Submitting books without an ISBN.
Why This Award Matters
The ASSAf Humanities Book Prize Award:
- Celebrates excellence in humanities scholarship.
- Encourages high-quality academic publishing.
- Supports emerging researchers.
- Recognizes influential scholarly books.
- Strengthens humanities research in South Africa.
- Promotes intellectual leadership and knowledge creation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the ASSAf Humanities Book Prize Award?
It is a biennial award recognizing outstanding scholarly non-fiction books in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts.
Who can be nominated?
Authors affiliated with South African universities or research institutions may be nominated. For co-authored books, at least one author must have such an affiliation.
What books are eligible?
Books must:
- Be scholarly non-fiction.
- Have an ISBN.
- Be published between 2023 and 2025.
- Be written in an officially recognized South African language or otherwise meet the programme requirements.
What are the prize amounts?
- Established Scholar Award: R30,000
- Emerging Scholar Award: R20,000
Both categories also include a certificate of acknowledgement.
Can co-authored books be nominated?
Yes. However, edited books containing essays by multiple authors are not eligible.
Can the same book be nominated again?
Yes. A book may be nominated more than once if the second nomination is submitted within three years of its first publication.
Who can submit a nomination?
A nomination must be submitted by someone from the nominee’s institution or an individual with specialist knowledge of the nominee’s academic discipline or field.
Conclusion
The ASSAf Humanities Book Prize Award recognizes exceptional scholarly books that enrich the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts while advancing academic knowledge in South Africa.
By honoring both Established Scholars and Emerging Scholars, the award encourages excellence in research, scholarly publishing, and intellectual leadership, highlighting the enduring importance of academic books in shaping knowledge and public understanding.
For more information, visit ASSAf.
