Omar Musa wins Miles Franklin literary award for ‘tour de force’ novel Fierceland
Author and rapper Omar Musa has won the 2026 Miles Franklin literary award for his novel 'Fierceland'. The book explores themes of family legacy and colonialism through the story of two siblings returning to Malaysian Borneo.
Why it matters
The Miles Franklin is Australia's most prestigious fiction prize, significantly impacting the cultural relevance and sales of the winning work.
Omar Musa said his Miles Franklin award-winning novel Fierceland was ‘the most ambitious thing I’ve ever done’, having spent six years writing and rewriting to get its particular vernacular, blending everything from ‘the rhythms of rap to Malay ghost storytelling’. Photograph: Cole Bennetts Omar Musa said his Miles Franklin award-winning novel Fierceland was ‘the most ambitious thing I’ve ever done’, having spent six years writing and rewriting to get its particular vernacular, blending everything from ‘the rhythms of rap to Malay ghost storytelling’. Photograph: Cole Bennetts Miles Franklin literary award 2026 Omar Musa wins Miles Franklin literary award for ‘tour de force’ novel Fierceland The novelist, poet and rapper won $60,000 for his novel about two siblings who reckon with the legacy of their late father, a palm oil baron in Malaysian Borneo
Fierceland by Omar Musa review – poet and rapper’s second novel pulses with life
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