Banwo wins the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2023 for ‘radiant’ debut

Ayanna Lloyd Banwo has been crowned winner of the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2023 for her “radiant and powerful” debut novel, When We Were Birds (Hamish Hamilton), a mythic love story set in Trinidad and Tobago.

Founded in 2017 by David Headley, the co-founder and m.d. of Goldsboro Books, the Glass Bell is awarded annually to a novel of any genre with "brilliant characterisation and a distinct voice that is confidently written and assuredly realised".

Banwo was announced as the winner at a party held at Goldsboro Books’ London store on 28th September. She wins £2,000 and a handmade glass bell.

When We Were Birds, which follows two outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead, beat Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Chatto & Windus); The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews (Raven Books); Metronome by Tom Watson (Bloomsbury); Notes On An Execution by Danya Kukafka (Phoenix), and Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman (Harvill Secker), to the prize.

Headley said: “I don’t think our judging table has ever been so lively before this year. The shortlist was so incredibly strong, and there was a strong advocate for each book. However, I distinctly remember there being a collective sigh of admiration when we came to discussing When We Were Birds, and from the conversation that followed, it was crystal clear that Ayanna’s debut was the undeniable winner of this year’s award.

“Not only is the book utterly radiant and powerful, but Ayanna is one of my favourite ever guests I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing on my podcast, ‘Confessions of a Bookseller’. Her talent and personality shine through on the pages. Congratulations to Ayanna, from the whole Goldsboro team.”

Last year, Elodie Harper took home the award for The Wolf Den (Head of Zeus), the first in her Wolf Den Trilogy. The book was hailed by the judging team for being “rich and immersive”.