Africa-focused Bookshop Wins German Prize Again

Berlin-based independent bookshop Buchhandlung InterKontinental has once again been awarded the coveted Deutscher Buchhandlungspreis for 2025, marking its third recognition (previously honoured in 2021 and 2023). The award, announced on Tuesday, underscores InterKontinental’s continuing influence in Germany’s cultural and literary landscape.

Located in the heart of Friedrichshain, InterKontinental has built a unique reputation as Germany’s only bookstore exclusively dedicated to African and Afro-diasporic literature. The bookshop is owned by InterKontinental Verlag, the publishing arm of the Berlin-based literary agency InterKontinental, organisers of the African Book Festival Berlin. The shop doubles as a cultural hub where Berlin’s global literary community finds both texts and conversations often absent in mainstream German bookselling.

Responding to the award, co-owner Stefanie Hirsbrunner described the honour with “a laughing and a crying eye,” celebrating the distinction while acknowledging fierce competition — nearly 500 bookshops applied this year. She emphasised how independent stores labour with passion despite tight margins and limited structural support.

Beyond celebration, InterKontinental used the spotlight to make a broader cultural appeal. The team urged that literary prizes should be recognitions of artistic merit rather than financial lifelines — noting that both authors and bookshops often depend desperately on prize money just to survive. This dual message reflects ongoing challenges in Germany’s cultural infrastructure as rising costs and market pressures squeeze independent players.

Contact:
Buchhandlung InterKontinental
Sonntagstr. 26, 10245 Berlin
+49 30 58 73 94 61
https://www.interkontinental.org/