2025 Opportunities for African Writers

Up to $25,000, Travel, Workshops, Digital & Print Publication, Contests etc

Jan 01, 2025

Happy new year! This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm, WAT

1. Enter Ma Kẹkẹ Writing Contest

Gemspread Publishing have announced the December edition of the Ma Kẹkẹ Writing Contest. Ma Kẹkẹ is a periodic publication of Gemspread Publishing in print and digital formats. It aims to promote a healthy literary writing culture with a system of compensation for aspiring and emerging African writers. The prompt for this edition is: "The 2024 season has come to an end."

Deadline: 4th January 2025, 3pm (GMT +1) | Prize: $30

Things to note:

Word count is exactly 1,000 words (excluding the title)
Only African writers are invited to submit previously unpublished original work.
Follow them on Instagram (@gemspread.publishing), X (@gemspread_pub), TikTok (@gemspread.publishing), and Facebook (@gemspread.publishing).
Share the post about the contest to your Instagram story and repost on X so they can take note that you met this condition.
Enter your story

2. Apply to Vera List Center Fellowship

Vera List Center Fellowships support the development and presentation of ambitious art and research projects by national and international early or mid-career artists, writers, scholars, and activists who struggle to find support because of the experimental, political, and/or research-intensive nature of their practice. This first phase welcomes project proposals responding to the Focus Theme: Matter of Intelligence.

Deadline: 6th January 2025 | Compensation: $25,000 + funded travel

Things to note:

With Matter of Intelligence, and an emphasis on forms of collective intelligence, this cycle of the Open Call places artists and their ideas at the forefront of our exploration from the outset, continually highlighting these voices and perspectives throughout the two-year inquiry.
Candidates must not be enrolled in a degree-granting program.
Projects focused on promotion, funding business operations, or curating/documenting existing work are not eligible.
Strong encouragement is given to candidates from diverse backgrounds worldwide, especially those lacking significant institutional support.
Required Documents:
- A detailed project proposal outlining the fellowship project.
- Evidence of experience in researching and executing similar projects.
- Professional CV or resume.
- Samples of past work relevant to the proposed project.
Submit your application here.
Source: After School Africa

3. 2025 Sprinng Writing Fellowship (Info Session)

The Sprinng Writing Fellowship (SWF) is an intensive 6-week online mentorship program for developing Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian, and South African writers with great potential and willingness to learn. This fellowship focuses on 4 genres of literature: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Book Review.

This panel session, including alumni from the program and Sprinng’s staff, will answer all your questions to ensure you submit a successful application.

Date: 12th January 2025, 5pm WAT | Prize: Free session

Things to note:

The Sprinng Writing Fellowship is only open to writers (18-25) who have not published a book before (eBook/hardcopy).
Register for the session here.

4. Writers Space Africa: Pets

Writers Space Africa (WSA) magazine is accepting submissions for its 99th edition (March 2025 Edition) under the theme: Pets

Deadline: 15th January 2025 | Pay: Unstated

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
Please edit your work and submit it to one category only.
Do include the title and category in your submission.
Editors will reach out to all authors by December 2024.
All selected and published entries will be uploaded to our website in the days after the magazine is released.
The author retains the copyright.
To submit, please click here.

Send this to a writer who wants to publish more ❤️.

5. Submit to The Shallow Tales Review’s 21st Edition

The Shallow Tales Review accepts fiction, creative non-fiction, book reviews, poems, one-act plays, cultural and social essays, and translations that touch on the sensibilities of the African.

Literary criticisms must concern texts that are of modern and African temperament. For essays, they expect themes to be tackled logically and as clearly as possible. By “modern,” they refer to books published at most 5 years before.

Deadline: 20th January 2025 | Compensation: Award nominations

Things to note:

Only previously unpublished works would be reviewed and considered.
Files should be saved with the title of the work, and in the case of a body of poems, with the first poem in the file.
Only one submission per writer is allowed.
Entries must be sent single-spaced in 12 point, Times New Roman font.
In the body of the mail, include a short cover letter describing the genre of the work, word count (for prose), number of poems included (for poetry), short author bio, and any other relevant information relating to the piece.
Do not add any identifying information in the document with the entry.
Note that selected pieces rarely get published the way they come, so please be ready to work through the revisions recommended by the assigned editors towards publication. They are free, and your piece would be better for it.
They DO NOT publish horror, sci-fi, travellogues or any sociological piece without the slightest literary tilt. However, rules may be broken for exceptionally great pieces that reflect the African/human condition.
Entries should be sent in by mail to:
poetry.tstr@gmail.com (poetry)
essays.tstr@gmail.com (Essays & Creative Nonfiction)
theshallowtalesreview@gmail.com (Fiction/Plays)

6. Necessary Fiction: Return

Necessary Fiction is inviting submissions on the theme: Return. “What does it mean to turn back towards something or someone? A return can be a homecoming, a homegoing, or a gesture of affection (as in returning a hug from another). In literature, Odysseus returned after a long absence and sea voyage…Balls are returned in sports; juries return judgments. People, money, and objects come back to us. We return unwanted or defective purchases. We come back, again and again, to ourselves and to the places we have tried to leave.”—NF

Deadline: 23rd January 2025 | Pay: Unstated

Things to note:

3,000 words max.
include 1-2 sentences in your cover letter telling us how your piece touches on the theme.
Simultaneous submissions are fine. Do not send multiple submissions.
Double space your submission. Use an unobtrusive font.
Submit as a .doc or .docx file
They will gladly consider new translations on the theme of stories not widely available in English, with all rights the responsibility of the translator. Please indicate prominently in your submission that it is a translation.
Submit your story

6. Small Harbor Publishing: The Laureate Prize

Small Harbor Publishing seeks unique and diverse voices. They are a feminist press, and we are committed to diversity and inclusion. The Laureate Prize is a print publication contest for poetry.

Deadline: February 1st 2025 | Prize: $500, Publication + 20 author copies

Things to note:

Full length books should be between 50-80 pages. Include a title page, table of contents, and a list of acknowledgments for previously published poems. Books centered around a unifying theme will be given preference.
Individual poems from the manuscript may have been published previously in magazines or chapbooks but not full length books. The collection as a whole must be unpublished.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Please indicate if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under consideration. No translations.
People of ‘colour’ are exempt from the $25 submission fee.
Include in a cover letter your name, contact information, and a brief bio.
Attach your manuscript as a word or pdf attachment. Please use the title of your book as your document name. Do not include your name or identifying information on your manuscript.
Harbor Editions will publish 1 book from the contest. Finalists may be considered for publication.
All rights revert to the author after publication.
Submit your manuscript here.

7. Small Harbor Publishing: The Editor’s Prize

This prize is awarded once a year for a micro chapbook by Small Harbor Publishing, which seeks to publish unique and diverse voices.

Deadline: 1st February 2025, 9am | Prize: $200 + Publication

Things to note:

Micro chapbooks should be exactly 10 poems long. (Manuscripts over 10 poems will be marked "Declined").
Manuscripts should include a title page, table of contents, and use 12 point font.
Individual poems from the manuscript may have been published previously in magazines but not books or chapbooks. The collection as a whole must be unpublished.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Please indicate immediately if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under consideration.
No translations but they’d love to see collaborations.
All rights revert to the author after publication.
Submit your chapbook here.

9. Nnaabagereka Nagginda Women’s Fund (NNWF) 2025 Mental Health Essay Competition

The Nnaabagereka Nagginda Women's Fund's is holding an essay competition to raise mental health awareness and understand how different demographics deal with mental health and its challenges. Adults aged (19-23) are welcome to address the following questions: How can young adults balance academic or work pressures with maintaining good mental health? What role does stigma play in mental health and how can it be overcome?

Deadline: 15th February 2025. | Prize: Up to UGX 3 million

Things to note:

Contest is only open to Ugandans
Word count: 750-1,000
Submissions must be in English.
Only one submission per participant is allowed
All submissions must be original work by the participant. Plagiarised content will result in disqualification.
Essays will be evaluated based on relevance to the topic, originality, creativity, and clarity.
Submit your essay

10. Submit to Psaltery & Lyre

Psaltery & Lyre is seeking essays, stories, poetry, and hybrid works that expand the borders of sacred and secular. They are particularly interested in works that speak from a place of embodiment—the lived experiences that touch belief and doubt.

Deadline: 15th February 2025 | Pay: None

Things to note:

Simultaenous submissions are welcome, please indicate if accepted elsewhere.
They do not accept previously published material
Name the .doc or .docx “Genre-Title- FirstNameLastName.” For example, “Poetry-Ode-JaneDoe.docx”
Poetry: send up to 3 poems
- A single poem should be attached as a .doc or .docx (if the form requires it, you may also use .pdf)
- Submit poetry here.
Creative non-fiction: Flash CNF (1000 words max), regular (up to 7000 words0
- Submit only one piece
- use standard formatting and fonts
- Submit CNF here.
Fiction: Flash fiction (1000 words max), regular (up to 7000 words0
- Submit only one piece
- use standard formatting and fonts
- Submit fiction here.

11. Call For Submissions: Amberfields

For their eighth issue, Moss Puppy, is looking to journey into the golden and bittersweet theme of "Amberfields." “We are seeking prose, poetry, and visual artworks that capture the warmth and nostalgia of fields bathed in amber light, as well as the longing, transience, and beauty that lie beneath their glow. We invite you to interpret this theme both literally and abstractly” MP

Deadline: 1st April 2025 | Pay: None

Things to note:

Poetry: 12 point font, Times New Roman, single-spaced
- Submit up to three poems separately using this Google Form.
- Poems can appear within one document, but should be submitted separately for organizational purposes.
Prose: 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, indented
- Submit up to 3,000 words of prose using this Google Form.
- Prose can appear within one document, but should be submitted separately for organizational purposes.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, please withdraw if accepted elsewhere.
Only unpublished work is welcome.

Prose of the Week

Keffi House | Jola Naibi

JÕAO DE OLIVEIRA looked at the sky above him and observed the birds flying in formation. He believed in the significance of signs, and this was a good one. It had been nearly a week since the Oba had assigned him his portion of Lagos, and now, he was standing where the majestic home he planned to construct would be. He took a deep breath. The light wind had travelled from the nearby port, and the familiar smell of the sea elicited all sorts of emotions within him. It was the sea that separated him from Pernambuco. It was the sea that had carried him to Lagos…

Keep reading

If you’d like your prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ send an email to editor.afww@gmail.com.

Poetry of the Week

Please Don’t Hear It Racist | Christian Lozada

My tongue slides into Southern with ease,

by that, I mean it lays flat and fat and resists

hard consonants while loving soft syllables.

It slips into Southern, normally for emphasis.

I take up my White Grandma’s tongue to rage…

If you’d like your poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ send an email to editor.afww@gmail.com.

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Afọ a ga-agara gị mma (this year will go well for you —Igbo, Southeastern Nigeria)