Francesca Ekwuyasi

Francesca Ekwuyasi
Born
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
EducationQueen's College, Lagos (WASSCE)
University of King's College (MFA)
OccupationNovelist
Writing career
Years active2020–present
GenreLiterary fiction
Notable workButter Honey Pig Bread
Notable awardsDayne Ogilvie Prize
2022
Websiteekwuyasi.com

Francesca Ekwuyasi is a Nigerian Canadian writer and director.[1][2] She is most noted for her debut novel Butter Honey Pig Bread, which was published in 2020.

Ekwuyasi is also a mentor in the Master of Fine Arts in Fiction program at the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[3] Her works explores themes of faith, family, queerness, consumption, loneliness, and belonging.[4]

Personal life

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria,[5] Ekwuyasi is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1] She is queer.[5]

Career

Butter Honey Pig Bread was selected for the 2021 edition of Canada Reads, where it was defended by Roger Mooking.[6][7] The book was longlisted for the 2020 Giller Prize.[8] It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction,[9] the 2021 ReLit Award for Novel,[10] the 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award,[11] and the 2020 Governor General's Award for English-language fiction.[12] In 2022, it won the Dayne Ogilvie Prize.[13]

In 2023, she collaborated with Roger Mooking on the non-fiction book Curious Sounds: A Dialogue in Three Movements.[2]

In addition to her writing, she had an exhibition of papercut art at Halifax's The Khyber in 2019[1] and has directed short documentary films including Reconcile[1] and Black & Belonging.[5]

Awards

YearBookAwardCategoryResultRef
2020 Butter Honey Pig BreadGiller Prize—Longlisted[8]
Governor General's AwardEnglish-language fictionShortlisted[12]
2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award—Shortlisted[11]
Canada Reads—Nominated[6][7]
Lambda Literary AwardLesbian FictionShortlisted[9]
ReLit AwardNovelShortlisted[10]
2022 Dayne Ogilvie Prize—Won[13]

Biblio

  • —— (2020). Butter Honey Pig Bread. Arsenal Pulp Press. ISBN 9781551528236.
  • ——; Mooking, Roger (2023). Curious Sounds: A Dialogue in Three Movements. Arsenal Pulp Press. ISBN 978-1-55152-929-5.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nauss, Jade (2019-11-28). "Francesca Omolara Ekwuyasi moves from Penance to reconciliation". The Coast. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  2. 1 2 "francesca ekwuyasi Reflects On Her New Book Curious Sounds, Collaborating With Roger Mooking, And Starting A Creative Journey". IN Magazine. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  3. ↑ "francesca ekwuyasi". University of King's College. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Francesca Ekwuyasi". Ouida Books. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  5. 1 2 3 "Proud to Shine on the East Coast". CBC News. 2020-07-16.
  6. 1 2 Meredith (March 8, 2021). "Entertainment: Butter Honey Pig Bread review". The Suburban Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  7. 1 2 "Roger Mooking thinks Canada Reads will be like 'Reading Rainbow Gladiator'". CBC Books. January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  8. 1 2 "14 books make longlist for $100K Scotiabank Giller Prize". CBC Books. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  9. 1 2 "Lammys Directory: 1988-Present". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  10. 1 2 "38 books shortlisted for 2021 ReLit Awards". CBC Books. 2021-04-19.
  11. 1 2 Qiao, Vicky (May 28, 2021). "Five Little Indians by Michelle Good wins $60K Amazon First Novel Award". CBC Books. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  12. 1 2 "Past GGBooks winners and finalists". Governor General's Literary Awards. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  13. 1 2 Dundas, Deborah (2022-11-02). "Writers' Trust 2022 book award winners collect $270,000 in prizes". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
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