ALTOONA, Pa. — Yaw Agawu-Kakraba, professor of Spanish and African studies at Penn State Altoona, has won an award from the African Literature Association (ALA) for his debut novel, “The Restless Crucible.”

The novel received the 2024 Book of the Year Award for an outstanding book of African literature by an African writer in the creative writing category.

Agawu-Kakraba accepted his award at the annual African Literature Association conference held in May in Louisville, Kentucky.

The ALA is an independent non-profit professional society open to scholars, teachers, and writers from every country. It facilitates an appreciation of African writers and artists.