Nigerian-born author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel has been voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in the one-off award to mark the 25th anniversary of the prize, formerly known as the Orange Prize and the Bailey’s Prize.

Adichie, who won the prize in 2007 for her ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, was selected in a public vote from a list of 25 winners.

Half of a Yellow Sun is set in Nigeria during the Biafran War. The novel explored the end of colonialism, ethnic allegiances, class, race and female empowerment.

“I’m especially moved to be voted Winner of Winners because this is the prize that first brought a wide readership to my work, and has also introduced me to the work of many talented writers”, Adichie said.

Other past winners include Zadie Smith, the late Andrea Levy, Lionel Shriver, Rose Tremain and Maggie O’Farrell.

The book garnered global acclaim when it was published in 2006.