The Commonwealth Short Story Prize has announced five regional winners for this year’s edition, with Mauritian writer Reena Usha Rungoo emerging as the winner in the African region.

The other winners are India’s Sanjana Thakur for Asia, Canada’s Julie Bouchard for the Canada & Europe Region, Trinidad and Tobago’s Portia Subran for the Caribbean Region, and New Zealand’s Pip Robertson for the Pacific Region.

Rungoo, who had been shortlisted for the Prize with 22 other writers (four of whom were African), clinched the regional award for her story “Dite”, an exploration of a Mauritian woman’s love of tea and her ties to the colonial history of tea. Each tea in her collection contains an olfactory memory in which her relationship with education, language, sex and other women is captured.

According to South African writer Keletso (judge for the African region), “From the first time I read it, ‘Dite’ stayed with me. Its brilliance is distinguishable on first reading and even better when read once more. It is intentional and carefully layered. A masterful blend of memories alongside the protagonist’s love for tea. The story demonstrates skill, shifting between points of view and time, depicting generations of women and the strain left behind by colonialism.”

Reena Usha Rungoo is a Mauritian writer, scholar, teacher, speaker, and mother. As an islander, an African and a diasporic South Asian, she uses the language of fiction (whether as a writer or a literary critic) to speak on how colonial violence infiltrates our beings, our languages and our desires, and on the creative ways in which we resist. She is an assistant professor of literature at Harvard University.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from any of the Commonwealth’s 56 Member States. The Prize is administered by the Commonwealth Foundation. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £5,000.

Chaired by Ugandan-British writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, this year’s judging panel includes South African writer Keletso Mopai, Singaporean novelist O Thiam Chin, Canadian writer Shashi Bhat, poet Richard Georges from the British Virgin Islands, and Australian Bundjalung writer Melissa Lucashenko.

“The short story form has neither the luxury of time nor the comfort of space. It is an impatient form; it does not dance around. The punch of a good short story leaves you breathless. As the judging panel, we enjoyed, sorrowed, celebrated and eventually agreed that these stories came up on top of the different regions”, said Makumbi, commenting on the winning stories.

This year’s prize attracted the highest-ever number of entrants (7,359 in total), and the regional winners are writers who are being nominated for the first time. These winners will go through to the final round of judging and the overall winner will be announced on 26 June 2024. Their stories will be published online by the literary magazine Granta.

Click here to read more about this year’s winners.

The 2024 edition of the All African Women Poetry Festival (AAWP Festival) is scheduled to take place in Ghana this week from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 May, 2024. 

In this four-day thread of events, specifically curated to educate and enhance playfulness, the festival will celebrate the legacy of Ghanaian playwright Efua Theodora Sutherland under the theme “Poetry & Play.” The events will be hosted at the W.E.B Dubois Memorial Centre and the Foundation for Contemporary Art in Accra.

Some of the scheduled guests, panellists and performers at this year’s festival include Moyosola Olowokure, Winnie Madoro, Nyangari Macharia, Claudia Owusu, Deborah Johnson, Effie Nkrumah, Titilope Sonuga, Maryam Bukar Hassan (Alhanislam), Mo’Africa Wa Mokgathi (born Muriel Mokgathi-Mvubu), vangile gantsho, Theresa Ankomah, Agness Panfred and Vivian Boateng, among others.

The noteworthy events in this year’s showcase include an exclusive listening of Sonuga’s latest album SIS (scheduled for Thursday 23 May), the “Writing as an African” panel which features literary experts Prof. Helen Yitah and Prof Anne Adams, and the “Publish Her Inked Realities” panel which features literary experts Ama Dadson, Akoss Ofori-Mensah and Akuvi Agueze. There is also the Voice On Words (VOW) competition, a poetry contest featuring high school students.

 The AAWP Festival seeks to celebrate African literature and literary legends, empower African women, women of African descent and the African Diaspora, educate the youth, and engage with marginalised communities through sustainable events, programming, and projects. The festival hosts poets, spoken word artists and stakeholders in shaping the African narrative from across the continent and the African diaspora, in a bid to foster collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. 

One key element of the festival is the annual honouring of one female literary legend. This year, the focus is on Efua Theodora Sutherland (1924-1996), playwright, director, dramatist, children’s author, poet, educationalist, researcher, child advocate, and cultural activist. Sutherland’s works include the plays Foriwa (1962), Edufa (1967) and The Marriage Of Anansewa (1975).

Visit the festival’s official website to learn more about this year’s lineup of events.

Nigerian-born author Atinuke’s book Brilliant Black British History has clinched the prize for Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year at this year’s British Book Awards.

This was revealed at the award ceremony held on 13 May 2024 at Grosvenor House, London.

Illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi, the book saw off stiff competition from the likes of Sathnam Sanghera’s Stolen History, Leon Diop’s Black and Irish, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara’s King Charles Volume 97 and Adam Kay’s Kay Incredible Inventions.

Celebrating her win, Atinuke stressed the importance of documentation and owning narratives:

“For hundreds of years, people, children, men, women, were sold in Britain on the equivalent of eBay, with the excuse being the colour of their skin, and we have stories of children in London being dragged by their hair through the streets when they tried to escape. Me standing here and winning this award for a Black history of Britain would’ve been beyond the wildest dreams of those enslaved people. One of the things that has made this possible is books. The autobiographies of Prince [Olaudah] Equiano and [Frederick] Douglass changed the minds of the British public about the institution of slavery. So, books are incredibly important, stories are incredibly important and we still don’t live in an equal and fair and safe society. But if we keep writing our books and keep telling our stories then maybe one day we will and all our wildest dreams will come true.”

Born in Ibadan and raised in Lagos, Atinuke is an author of children’s books and an oral storyteller of traditional African folktales. She is an award-winning author of over 20 children’s books based on her life in Nigeria and other African stories. Some of her books include Anna Hibiscus, Baby Goes to Market, Too Small Tola, Catch That Chicken and The No. 1 Car Spotter, among others. She lives in Wales

Brilliant Black British History is an eye-opening story of Britain, focusing on parts of British culture that have mostly been left out of history books. The incredible journey through time is brought to life through Atinuke’s fascinating storytelling and illustrated scenes, detailed maps, and timelines. Through her eyes, readers get to learn that the first Britons were Black and that some of the Roman soldiers who ruled Britain were Black, among other previously suppressed facts.

Covering a range of topics from science and sport to literature and law, Atinuke celebrates the brilliant Black people who have helped build Britain. Children can learn about key historical topics such as the world wars, slavery, the Industrial Revolution, Windrush, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The British Book Awards, also known as “the Nibbies”, has been the book trade’s leading awards since 1990. These awards celebrate authors and illustrators, and showcase the industry behind the scenes that help bring the books to readers. Judged by leading industry experts, authors, journalists and celebrities, the Nibbies are regarded as “the BAFTAs of the book trade.’’

Click here to see the full list of winners.

The longlist for this year’s edition of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize has been announced …

Two books published by African authors are up for consideration.

The twelve-strong longlist, selected by a panel of librarians and library staff from across the UK, includes works by British, Australian, American, Canadian, Georgian, Indian, Nigerian and South Korean authors. Five of the titles are debut works.

The African books are Blessings by Nigerian writer Chukwuebuka Ibeh, and Shigidi and The Brass Head of Obalufon by Nigerian writer Wole Talabi.

Chukwuebuka Ibeh was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His writing has appeared in McSweeneys Quarterly Review, The New England Review of Books, Dappled Things, and Lolwe. He was Runner-up for the 2021 J.F Powers Prize for Fiction, a finalist for the 2019 Gerald Kraak Award and 2020 Morland Foundation Scholarship and was profiled as one of the “Most Promising New Voices of Nigerian Fiction” in Electric Literature. His debut novel, Blessings, is a coming-of-age story about a queer teenage boy who has to navigate a hostile society while striving to live his truth.

Wole Talabi is a Nigerian speculative fiction writer, editor and engineer. His fiction has appeared in speculative fiction magazines and anthologies globally and has been translated into 3 languages. He has been shortlisted for several awards including the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Nommo Award, and has won the latter twice – in 2018 (for “The Regression Test”) and 2020 (for “Incompleteness Theories”). His fantasy novel, Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, features a disgruntled god and a succubus who team up for a heist across two worlds.

The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, first awarded in 2016, is an international prize that supports and celebrates “the best adventure writing today.” The prize is named after South African novelist Wilbur Smith and is open to writers of any nationality, writing in English. Awards are presented in three categories: Best Published Novel, New Voices, and Author of Tomorrow. This year, the judging panel features Matt Barr, Lee Craigie, Alasdair Harris, Sarah Outen and Emma Styles.

The prize is powered by the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to empowering young writers, the advancement of the adventure writing genre and the promotion of literacy. Previous winners include Emma Styles, Giles Kristian, Rachel Joyce and Henry Porter.

The prize for the Award is £10,000, and the Foundation defines adventure writing as “a story that conveys the feeling of being on an epic journey.”

The shortlist for the 2024 Best Published Novel award will be announced on Thursday 30th May, and the winning Work will be announced at the Foundation’s Award Ceremony on Thursday 19th September.

Visit the Foundation’s official website to read more about their work and the awards.

Angela Morris is a Specialist Business Coach with over 25 years of experience in the Health and Social Care sector.

Specialising in supporting providers catering to children and adults in need of care and support she has a master’s degree in Applied Psychology and diplomas in Child Development, Life Coaching, and Financial Advice. A proud mother of three sons and a devoted grandmother, Morris draws from her personal and professional experiences to address the challenges mothers encounter regardless of cultural backgrounds in her latest book Don’t Let Them Stop You … It’s Personal!

Please introduce yourself …
My name is Angela Morris, I am a mother of 3. I am a business coach and author. I am of Afro-Caribbean heritage, born to Jamaican parents and raised in London.

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
I am on a journey of understanding the power of letting go of that which no longer serves me.

What made you want to add ‘author’ to your list of achievements?
I have always wanted to write a book. I have loved reading from an early age and finally decided that I would write a book for my 60th birthday for myself and future generations. Call it a legacy piece if you will.

Tell us about your debut book Don’t Let Them Stop You … It’s Personal!
This book is about how as individuals we find our personal freedom whilst navigating the complex relationships with the people in our lives and how we can manage them in order to become our authentic selves. It is written to those who come from a diverse background who may have faced challenges with culture-bound approaches to every day life or who may be stuck in unhealthy relationships with friends, family or significant others.

How much do you feel your experiences as a Child Development specialist have shaped your views compared to the influence of your upbringing as a black child?
I have worked in Health and Social Care for over 25 years. I have learned that the system in the UK still has some way to go in understanding the journey of acculturation and how children are impacted by this in their life experiences. My book helps to address some of those experiences we had as children by exploring where we are now and how we are functioning as adults. I believe in order to understand adults we also need to understand children. As a child growing up our culture dictated that “children should be seen and not heard”, we now live in a time that identifies that children should be both seen and heard. The outcomes for our future generations will probably look quite different to ours.

Highs, lows, solutions …
I thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing and the main challenge was creating a structure where I could ensure that I completed the book based on my deadline (which was my 61st birthday). I decided to allocate two evenings per week for two hours of dedicated writing. I was elated when the final draft was completed three months before my deadline. As I follow the concept of being a “strengths-based” individual, I did not put myself through the challenges that I could get assistance with e.g. editing or proofreading. In other words, I try to avoid spending time on things I am not good at.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

What are you working on right now? I am writing my second book which is quite different to the last one but hopefully as interesting to the right audience.

What are you watching? The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den. As a small business owner, I am fascinated by these types of programmes and find them fun entertainment. I can also get some useful tips from them.

What are you reading? I am currently reading two books. One is Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform … by Jamie Kern Lima who is a female billionaire and the other is The Price of Money: How to Prosper in a Financial World … by Rob Dix. I am a believer in lifelong learning. I don’t think we can ever say “I know it all“.

What are you listening to? I use the app Headway regularly to hear summaries of books. I love music and will go to places where they play the genre I like.

Last thing you saw on stage? Hamilton the musical last year. I was very familiar with the soundtrack and it was great to go to the live performance. I go to the theatre three or four times a year.

Whose footsteps are you following in? No one in particular. I prefer to follow principles rather than people. Everyone has their own challenges no matter how great they appear to us, however a principle either works or it doesn’t.

What’s next? To create a podcast. I think it is a great positive way of sharing information and helping people. I already have some interesting people lined up.

Where can we find you? I can be reached on LinkedIn Angela R Morris MSc.

Where can we read Don’t Let Them Fool You … It’s Personal!? My book is out on Amazon in paperback and Kindle (Amazon Prime customers get a discount too!) it is also available in paperback on many other online book platforms.

Five African writers have made it to the shortlist for the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, including writers from Mauritius and Rwanda for the first time in history.

The 23 stories on the 2024 shortlist were selected from a total of 7,359 entries from 53 Commonwealth countries—a ten per cent increase compared to 2023.

The African stories that made the cut include:

• “Fadi” by Azags Agandaa (Ghana)
• “Dite” by Reena Usha Rungoo (Mauritius)
• “House No. 49” by Olajide Omojarabi (Nigeria)
• “The Goat” by Jean Pierre Nikuze (Rwanda)
• “A Song Sung in Secret” by Jayne Bauling (South Africa)

Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, noted: “The Short Story Prize is legendary for unearthing and nurturing the rich creative talent of our Commonwealth. This year is no exception. Congratulations to the 23 writers whose stories will now secure a truly global audience.”

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from any of the Commonwealth’s 56 Member States. The Prize is administered by the Commonwealth Foundation. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £5,000. The winning stories are published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink.

Chaired by Ugandan-British writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, this year’s judging panel includes South African writer Keletso Mopai, Singaporean novelist O Thiam Chin, Canadian writer Shashi Bhat, poet Richard Georges from the British Virgin Islands, and Australian Bundjalung writer Melissa Lucashenko.

“This is a dream list for lovers of the short story form. You’ll be amazed and thrilled, startled and shocked, and heartbroken and humbled in equal measure by the skill and talent, imagination and creativity”, said Makumbi, commenting on the shortlist.

The 2024 shortlisted stories will be published online in adda, featuring new writing from around the Commonwealth. Regional winners will be announced on 29 May, while the overall winner will be announced on 26 June.

Read more about the shortlisted writers on the Commonwealth Foundation’s official website.

Check out our recommended reads for the month of May …

Our selection of books this month includes releases from playwright, poet, and novelist Jackie Kay and spoken-word artist, poet, rapper George The Poet for you to add to your reading list.

It Waits In The Forest by Sarah Dass

Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean Island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving the island to study Pharmacology—until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma.

Now her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to conning gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the centre of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be there is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s ex-boyfriend Gabriel, newly employed at the local newspaper and eager to put his investigative skills to use.

Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s family, these two former lovers race to find answers. But evil bides it’s time. As long-buried feelings and long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family’s past begin to reveal themselves, only one answer remains—and it waits in the forest.

Publication Date: Tuesday 14th May 2024 (UK)
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli

Every second of Anuri’s life has been documented on social media. Now, it’s time to take back control.
Anuri’s stepmother, Ophelia, is the ultimate ‘mumfluencer’. Throughout Anuri’s childhood, she catalogued every minute, milestone and carefully curated family outings on social media, cultivating a devoted – and sizeable – following. Now twenty-five years old, life looks pretty perfect on the outside. Ophelia’s fans could be forgiven for wondering why Anuri spends much of her time insulting men online for money, battling the call of alcohol, running from a PhD application, and reminding herself that she is now allowed to choose her own outfits. But when she sees her little sister being pushed down the same rocky path by Ophelia, she decides to take back control. Her stepmother, however, isn’t giving up without a fight.

Put away your phone and get ready to rethink your ‘harmless’ social media habit, in this darkly hilarious page-turner from an exciting new voice.

‘Nwabineli is magic with words‘ Bolu Babalola
‘Nwabineli is one to watch‘ Red Magazine

Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Publish Date: Thursday 23rd May 2024

Like Water, Like Sea by Olumide Popoola

Sometimes we swim, sometimes we float, other times we are drowning. It’s not always easy to know which is which.

It is the tenth anniversary of her sister’s death, and Nia is grappling with her grief, and balancing the complicated relationships weaving through her life. There is smart and sexy Temi; Melvin, her teenage love; and her new yet intimate friendship with Rahul and Crystal. But looming large over everything is her mother SuSu, whose battle with bipolar disorder continues to cast a profound shadow over Nia.

Delving deep into the intricate tapestry of Nia’s life, Like Water Like Sea is a poignant tale of self-discovery and resilience, sexuality and motherhood, and falling apart to become truly whole.

“…full of so much heart, the compelling cast and the vibrant plot line will keep you turning the page.” – Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Trees

“…a beautiful exploration of love, sex, lurve and luv in the many permutations life presents us with, it is surprising, seductive and ultimately satisfying.” – Yewande Omotoso, author of An Unusual Grief

Publisher: Cassava Republic
Publish Date: Tuesday 28th May 2024

Track Record: Me, Music and the War on Blackness by George the Poet

George unveils the power dynamics that shape our world, shedding light on the forces that restrict Black creativity and put limits on Black excellence. By interrogating the history of colonialism and exploring capitalism’s racist legacy, George offers a fresh perspective on the world around us.

Delving into the music scene and iconic films from his childhood, as well as crucial political and economic moments in history, this book provides the backstory of where we are today. Honest, thought-provoking, and passionate, Track Record is a ground-breaking memoir by one of the UK’s most unique voice.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publish Date: Thursday 25th April 2024

May Day by Jackie Kay

The long-awaited collection from one of Britain’s finest poets, and a chronicle of activism in the UK over six decades.

Kay brings to life a cast of influential figures, delving beneath the surfaces of received narratives: the Jamaican model Fanny Eaton, for example, muse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in England; Paul Robeson, Angela Davis and the poet Audre Lorde; and a ‘what-if’ poem concerning Rabbie Burns and a road-not-taken towards the West Indian slave trade. Woven through the collection is a suite of lyric poems concerning the recent losses of Kay’s parents: poems of grief and profound change that are infused with the light of love and celebration.

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publish Date: Thursday 25th 2024

The African Book Festival Berlin, the first festival in the German capital that focuses on literature from Africa and the diaspora, returns for another edition.

The stars of contemporary African literature will be gathered at Alte Münze in Berlin-Mitte from 28th to 30th June 2024.

This year, the festival will be the Queer Edition, focusing on African and Afro-diasporic authors from the LGBTQI+ community and showcasing literature in which homosexuality and queerness in Africa play a role.

As part of a three-day festival program consisting of readings, discussions, music, poetry performances and interactive, modern event formats, the audience will have the opportunity to experience stars and newcomers live and engage in conversation with them. The program is accompanied by a large outdoor market offering a variety of food, goods and, of course, plenty of books.

The African Book Festival offers its festival guests a brave space for their writing, experiences and perspectives. It addresses the persecution of homo-, bi-, trans and intersex people as well as genderqueer people worldwide and raises awareness. At the same time, the festival presents writers who in their writing celebrate one thing above all: Love.

The African Book Festival Berlin is organised by InterKontinental eV,  a state-approved non-profit association based in Berlin since 2018. The association’s goal is to promote literature from Africa and writers from African countries in Germany. It designs writing workshops to foster new talent and sets up small publication projects in exchange for donations to support its activities. 

This year’s guest list includes A. Igoni Barrett, Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, Ayodele Olofintuade, Francesca Ekwuyasi, Jude Dibia, Stella Nyanzi and Tlotlo Tsamaase, among others.

 The African Book Festival Berlin runs from 28th – 30th June. A 3-day festival pass costs 38€, while a day pass is 20€. Find out more here.

Motswana author Gothataone Moeng has been announced as one of ten emerging authors who have been declared winners at this year’s Whiting Awards. 

Each writer will receive $50,000 to help support their craft — one of the largest awards granted to new authors.

Moeng earned the award for Call and Response, a collection of nine stories set in contemporary Botswana. The other winners include: Aaliyah Bilal (Temple Folk, Fiction), Yook Choi (Skinship, Fiction), Shayok Misha Chowdhury (Public Obscenities, Drama), Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig (The China Plays, Drama), Elisa Gonzalez (The Iliad, Poetry), Taylor Johnson (Inheritance, Poetry), Charif Shanahan (Trace Evidence, Poetry), Javier Zamora (Solito – Nonfiction, Unaccompanied – Poetry) & Ada Zhang (The Sorrows of Others, Fiction).

Courtney Hodell, Whiting’s director of literary programs, said in a statement: “This year’s winners have made liminal space their own — that place of potential that exists between states, whether those are genres, languages, countries, or definitions of self.”

Born in Serowe, Botswana, Gothataone Moeng is a Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing (UW-Madison), a former Fiction Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and a former Fiction Fellow in the Wallace Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University. She has also received fellowships and support from Tin House, where she was a Summer Workshop Scholar, and from A Public Space, where she was an Emerging Writer Fellow. Her writing has appeared in or is forthcoming in Ploughshares, Virginia Quarterly Review, American Short Fiction, One Story, A Public Space, and the Oxford American, among others. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Mississippi.

Her book Call and Response has been described as capable of “enthralling leaps in time and point of view” and “written with a deft hand.”

Since 1985, the Whiting Awards, powered by The Whiting Foundation,  is given annually to ten emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The awards, of $50,000 each, are based on early accomplishment and the promise of great work to come. Though the writers may not necessarily be young (talent may emerge at any age), the grant ideally offers recipients a first opportunity to devote themselves fully to writing, and the recognition has a significant impact.  Whiting winners have gone on to win numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Pulitzer Prize.

Writers are shortlisted by a pool of nominators which changes annually, and usually includes writers, professors, editors, agents, critics, booksellers, artistic directors of theatres, dramaturgs, and directors of literary festivals or reading series. Winners are chosen by a selection committee, a small group of recognised writers, literary scholars, and editors appointed every year by the Foundation. 

The Whiting Foundation was created by the late Flora Ettlinger Whiting, a New York investor, collector, and philanthropist with a lifelong commitment to culture. She was a founding member of the Friends of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Foundation endeavours to honour Mrs. Whiting’s astute judgment and her love of the arts and humanities.

Find out more about the Whiting Awards and the works of this year’s winners here.

As part of its African Languages and Translation Programme, The Africa Institute, located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, opens applications for its third cohort of the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-In-Residence Fellowship for the 2024 Academic Year.

The residency programme welcomes applications from creative writers including novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets and scriptwriters related to Africa and the African diaspora for a grant of 45,000 AED (about  £9,773) in total. The proposed project can be in Arabic or English, though other languages will be considered.. The residency invites recipients to Sharjah, UAE for a period of three months to complete their work. Typically the cohort begins in Autumn of every year.

Recipients will have the opportunity to publish their texts through The Africa Institute’s publications programme. Projects relating to theatre and film scripts can also be published as texts or receive support in facilitating productions. The project could be new or a work-in-progress, and should be feasible for completion within the timeframe of the residency.

All applications will be reviewed by The Africa Institute through a committee of peers of well-known writers. Three recipients will be chosen based on the quality of their proposal, and the demonstrated feasibility of completion within the timeframe of the residency.

Applications must include: 

• CV/résumé of the applicant
• A two-page narrative of the project to be undertaken during the residency period, its significance, and a proposed completion date.
• A sample of published or unpublished writings.

The deadline to submit is Saturday 1 June, 2024.

To submit applications, compile all application materials; CV/résumé, two-page narrative and writing sample (in case of a book, please attach separately) into one PDF file in the mentioned order. Please name the file with the residency title abbreviation and the applicant’s name in the format TOCWRP_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME. Use the same name in the email subject and send the PDF as an attachment to applications@theafricainstitute.org.

This residency programme is created in honour of the late Nigerian Professor Tejumola Olaniyan and his remarkable intellectual legacy in the field of African literature and critical theory. Olaniyan, a Nigerian academic, was the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Cultural Studies, and the Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin. His primary research interests focused on Africa and its diaspora, African-Americans, the Caribbean, African literature, criticism, post-cultural studies, history, theory and the sociology of drama and pop culture.

Established in 2018, The Africa Institute is an interdisciplinary academic research institute dedicated to the study, research, and documentation of Africa and the African diaspora. The Institute’s curriculum of postgraduate studies is designed to train the next generation of critical thinkers in African and African diaspora studies. It strives to do this via international symposia and conferences, visual art exhibitions and artist commissions, film and performance series, community classes and outreach events.

Find out more about the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-In-Residence Fellowship, here.