This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
1. Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE Prize for Creative Non-Fiction 2024
The Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE Creative Non-Fiction Prize looks to encourage exploration into the non-fiction genre among writers, while celebrating Mrs Eugenia Abu, one of Nigeria’s cherished broadcast journalists. Like the ALINEA Prize, a sister prize, this prize looks “for work that reaches beyond truth.”
Deadline: 29th Aug 2024 | Prize: N750,000
Things to note
Entrants can submit only one original and unpublished creative non-fiction piece.
No simultaneous submissions.
Word count: 500 – 2000 words
CNF here refers to factual stories or writeups that are well written. As Sean Glatch notes, creative nonfiction (CNF) is a form of storytelling that employs the creative writing techniques of literature, such as poetry and fiction, to retell a true story. Creative nonfiction writers don’t just share pithy anecdotes, they use craft and technique to situate the reader into their own personal lives.
All entries should be sent in a single Microsoft Word document. (format: Times New Roman font, single line spacing, font 12).
Do not include your name in the attached document. Any entry that violates this guideline will be automatically disqualified.
You can only make one entry, which cannot be resubmitted or changed. So, make all changes before you submit.
For emphasis, no mention or reference to the author or the author’s personal details should be made in the attached story or it will be disqualified.
Shortlisted writers might be required to produce evidence of country of origin.
They will be publishing the shortlisted entries for this short story competition before the announcement of the award. Therefore, only those who are okay with having their works published should enter for the award.
2. The E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism 2024
In celebrating and making more visible the culture of criticism, SEVHAGE will award the E. E. SULE/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism for an outstanding well-researched work of literary criticism or critical appraisal in form of the essay. This prize is in honour of Nigeria’s prominent scholar and literary critic, Prof. Sule Emmanuel Egya (aka E. E. Sule), an outstanding writer, whose lifelong works in criticism are visionary and inspiring.
Deadline: 29th Aug 2024 | Prize: N285,000
Things to note:
Submissions will only be accepted via this link.
Entrants can submit only one original critical essay.
The essay should be a well-researched piece on African Literature and/or African literary theory focusing on a specific contemporary text or area of literature.
Word count is 4500-6000 words.
All entries should be sent in a single Microsoft Word document. (format: Times New Roman font, single line spacing, font 12).
Do not include your name in the attached document. Any entry that violates this guideline will be automatically disqualified.
You can only make one entry, which cannot be resubmitted or changed. So, make all changes before you submit. Be sure before you submit.
For emphasis, no mention or reference to the author or the author’s personal details should be made in the attached story or it will be disqualified.
Shortlisted writers might be required to produce evidence of country of origin.
The judges’ decisions are final and not open to debate.
Shortlisted writers will be contacted by September.
We will be publishing the shortlisted entries for this competition before the announcement of the award. Therefore, only those who are okay with having their works published should enter for the award.
3. Call for Submissions: K & L Fiction Prize
The SEVHAGE Prizes category for Short Fiction 2024, is open to African writers globally. This year, they are open to stories that focus on mental health and reduce stigma while encouraging positive stories to promote well-being. This is open to the interpretation of the writer.
Deadline: 29th Aug 2024 | Prize: N500,000
Things to note:
Entrants can submit only one original unpublished story and ONLY via this link.
Ensure that your story is within the word count (800 – 2000 words).
All entries should be sent in a single Microsoft Word document. (format: Times New Roman font, single line spacing, font 12).
Do not include your name in the attached document. Any entry that violates this guideline will be automatically disqualified.
You can only make one entry, which cannot be resubmitted or changed. So, make all changes before you submit. Be sure before you submit.
For emphasis, no mention or reference to the author or the author’s personal details should be made in the attached story or it will be disqualified.
Shortlisted writers might be required to produce evidence of country of origin.
Shortlisted writers will be contacted by September. If any entrant does not hear from us by then, it might be safe for them to assume that their work did not make it to the short list or long-list.
We will be publishing the shortlisted entries for this short story competition before the announcement of the award. Therefore, only those who are okay with having their works published should enter for the award.
Winners will be announced latest November 2024.
4. Essay Contest: Women in Sports Inclusion
Seventy7soccer is inviting Nigerian women aged 18-25 to submit essays on the topic: Challenges Faced by Women Interested in Pursuing a Career in Sports.
Deadline: 30th August 2024. | Prize: Total of N450,000
Guidelines:
Writers must follow Seventy7soccer’s Twitter and Instagram pages.
Essays must be original and sent as a PDF file to submission@seventy7soccer.com
Formating: Times New Roman, 12pt Font size and double line spacing.
Kindly Include our name age. phone numbers) and location in the title page of your essay.
No plagiarism allowed (including Al-generated text). Previously published works will be disqualified.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS: 11th October, 2024.
Winners must prove their age by means of either a Birth Certificate. Driver's Licence or a valid Nigerian Passport.
5. Agbowó Magazine Call for Submissions
Agbowo invites you to its unthemed issue. “The editors and I are looking for new voices, and we are enthusiastic about established writers. We want pieces of writing that rock the continent. We want to understand your politics and share your personal and collective trauma. We want a snapshot of your geography. We are very interested in writings that are cursory, tasty, musical, careful, and written with love. We love narratives, really-good-but-not-overly-done metaphors, direct verses, brilliant rhymes, truth, and well-edited writing.”
Deadline: 30th August 2024 | Compensation: from N20,000
Things to note:
Poems should be a maximum of 3 poems attached as Microsoft Word (Please format it as you want it to be published). Each poem should be titled and every new poem should begin on a new page.
For fiction, while you are welcome to send flash fiction, they usually publish stories with the 1500 – 5000 word range. Stories should be attached as Microsoft Word documents.
For Non-fiction, they are on a particular lookout for essays with roots wholly or partly lodged within the context of Africa, either through subjects under focus or case studies.
Include a cover letter and a biography ranging between 100 and 200 words
Essays must be written in the English language. Broken English is also acceptable.
Word count is 750-3500 words
For One-Act Plays, running times must be between 10 and 30 minutes and have a maximum of 7 cast. Include a cover letter with a summary of the play, the name and location of the playwright, the running time, performance history (if it has been performed before), and awards (if it has won any awards). They accept previously plays.
For all submissions, font should be Times New Roman font with a 1.5 spacing.
Also, attach a portrait picture, a short bio of fewer than 100 words, and your social media handles.
They accept only unpublished work.
To submit, please click your desired category: Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, One-Act Plays.
6. TechCabal: Hiring Managing Editor (Lagos)
TechCabal is dedicated to helping the world understand the forces shaping technology and its impact across Africa. The Managing Editor will be responsible for shaping the editorial direction of TechCabal. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of editorial excellence, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of Africa’s tech landscape.
Deadline: 31st August 2024. | Type: Hybrid | Pay: Unstated
Requirements:
At least 6 years of experience shaping stories and narrative, with at least 2 of those in editorial or storytelling leadership.
A deep understanding of the African tech ecosystem and where it intersects with global tech trends.
Great taste and craft – in writing, editing, and storytelling. You have a strong sense of narrative and attention to detail.
Comfortable with working in a fast-paced environment, have excellent communication skills and collaborate well with people.
Excited about doing groundbreaking work that will shape the future of technology reporting in Africa.
To apply, click here
7. Submit to The Shore
The Shore is an online poetry publication seeking cutting, strange, and daring work from new and established poets alike. We want poems that explore the worlds of things and ideas, that recognize the liminality, the shifting of everything around us and our ability to name a thing whole. We want poems that press and push and ache and recede.
Deadline: 1st Sept 2024. | Compensation: Unstated
Things to note:
Email 3-5 poems in a single document in .doc or .docx format to theshorepoetry@gmail.com
The subject line should be: “Last Name_First Name THE SHORE submission”.
Include a cover letter and third-person bio included in the body of the email.
They accept simultaneous submissions as long as you notify them if the piece is accepted elsewhere, but they do not accept reprints.
8. Call For Applications: Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition 2025
The Yale Drama Series is an annual, international competition for emerging playwrights, funded by generous support from the David Charles Horn Foundation. The winner will receive a monetary prize their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a celebratory event.
Deadline: 9th September 2024 | Prize: $10,000
To enter:
This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
Plays must be typed/word-processed and page-numbered.
Please omit your name and contact information from your manuscript and submission file name.
The manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play’s title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes.
Enter the title of your play, your name and contact information (including address, phone number, and email address), and a brief biography where indicated in the electronic submission form.
9. Call for Submissions: Identity Barriers
Writers Space Africa (WSA) is accepting submissions for its 95th edition (November 2024 Edition). They accept children’s literature, creative non-fiction, flash fiction, poetry and short stories.
Deadline: 15th Sept 2024. | Compensation: Unstated
How to submit:
Please edit your work and submit it to one category only.
Do include the title and category in your submission.
Editors will revert to both selected writers and those whose works are not selected by October 2024.
All selected and published entries will be uploaded to their website in the days after the magazine is released.
The author retains the copyright.
Creative Non-Fiction – 1,200 Words maximum
Children’s Literature – 700 words maximum (illustrations may be attached and poems not longer than 24 lines)
Flash Fiction – 300 words maximum
Poetry – 1 poem, a maximum of 24 lines
Short Stories – 1,500 words maximum
10. Pitch to Hidden Compass
Hidden Compass is an award-winning online publication that showcases the frontiers of human exploration and knowledge through powerful storytelling. If you have an original, compelling, and true story — told in words, photos, artwork, or a combination of media — consider submitting to Hidden Compass.
Deadline: Rolling basis | Compensation: from $550
Things to note:
Your story should convey a strong sense of place, connect a journey to a broader issue or conversation, and capture our distinct, cinematic voice.
They accept pieces of 2,500-3,500 words, and fits into one of their 5 themes:
Quest: A journey alongside characters in pursuit of elusive truths. Bring readers into extreme landscapes, to far reaches of the planet, and into the unknown.
Portrait: Introduction to extraordinary characters around the world — individuals, cultures, places, creatures, and even objects.
Human and Nature: Investigate the relationship between humankind and the planet. Bring readers face-to-face with nature as an unpredictable danger, a wise teacher, and a precarious organism.
Chasing Demons: Delve into the dark and difficult aspects of a place, even (especially!) when the darkness exists only in the narrator — investigative pieces, historical exposés, and tales of narrators immersed in danger.
Time Travel: Inhabit the past, present, and future of a place. Unearth layers of ancient legends and traditions; probe the transient nature of the current moment; adventure out into prediction, peril, and possibility.
Photo Feature: One story in every issue is a story told through the arc of 8-10 photographs and an accompanying narrative. The word count for these pieces is also 2,500-3,500 words.
Email your pitch or submission to submissions@hiddencompass.net
11. The Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature
Founded in 2014 by Dr. Lizzy Attree (Short Story Day Africa) and Dr. Mukoma wa Ngugi (Cornell University) as The Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for Africa Literature, the prize was established to recognise writing in African languages and encourage translation from, between, and into African languages. For the 8th edition they are calling for prose manuscripts from writers of East Africa and anywhere worldwide who write in Kiswahili, especially women writers.
Deadline: 30th Nov. 2024 | Prize: Total of $15,000
How to enter:
Please send unpublished manuscripts (fiction, poetry, plays, memoir and graphic novels) to: kiswahiliprize@kiswahiliprize.org.
Prose submissions should be limited to between 40,000 – 60,000 words.
Source: Brittle Paper
Prose of The Week
Fọ̀nàhànmí | Ọrẹolúwa Oyinlọlá
Better than anyone, Làbákẹ́ knew the repercussions of a name. Her husband was living proof. Alhaja, his mother, had named him Gbénró without a prefix, declaring him a man standing howbeit with a dangling anchor. He was water without an identifiable source. She had made his life a quest; all his years were an experiment in finding a head…
Poetry of The Week
Siren Song | Vuma Phiri
I uproot a conch shell
from the seabed
press my open mouth
to its earnest ear –
I am a siren song,
I whisper. A symphony
of beauty
and madness…
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Nakutakia kila la heri(I wish you goodluck and blessings—Swahili, Tanzania)