This newsletter is published every Wednesday
1. Hiring Writers: J.O Comms, UK
J.O. CONSULTANCY & PARTNERS is a communications agency working between the Global North and Africa. Their work builds reputations, shapes narratives and drives the success of corporate and government projects. They are currently seeking Writers or Content Creators.
Deadline: 19th April 2024. | Pay: Unstated | Location: remote
How to apply:
Send CV and a 250 word cover letter to info@jocomms.co.uk
2. BelleVue Literary Review is Open to Submissions
Bellevue Literary Review (BLR) is an award-winning, independent literary magazine that features poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that connect writers and readers in the most human of themes: health, healing, illness, and disease. They are currently open to fiction, nonfiction and poetry submissions.
Deadline: unstated. | Renumeration: $75-150
Things to note:
For Fiction they want character-driven fiction with original voices and strong settings. No genre fiction (romance, sci-fi, horror). They lean toward classic short stories. Word limit: 5000 words
For Non-fiction they would like essays that reach beyond the standard ‘illness narrative’ to develop a topic in an engaging and original manner. Incorporate thoughtful and creative analysis that allows anecdotes to serve a larger purpose. (Please note that they do not publish graphic narratives, academic discourses, or works with footnotes.) Word limit: 5000 words
For Poetry they prefer poems that are accessible to a wide audience. Characteristics we look for are vivid writing, strong narrative, and rendering the familiar new. We encourage you to peruse back issues in our archive to get a sense of our ethos. Limit: 3 poems per submission
For more guidelines and to submit, click here.
3. WRITE-A-THON by Pyros Academy
The April edition of Pyros Performance Art Academy’s Write-A-Thon is inviting poets to write a poem beginning with the line “On things that you think should be left unsaid…”. The poem must be rendered in a video not exceeding one-minute, and posted on Instagarm.
Deadline: 25th April 2024. | Prize: N20,000
Rules:
The poem must be originally written by the poet who posts the video for consideration.
Animated text videos are invalid.
Entry must use the hashtag #writeathonapril to be considered.
Entries should be posted on Instagram and must not exceed one minute.
Entries will be judged based on both poetic and visual content.
4.African Liberty Writing Fellowship 2024/2025
The African Liberty Writing Fellowship program is a year-long program designed to train young Africans interested in academia, media, public policy, or any other critical-and-analytical-writing-related career, in opinion article writing. Accepted applicants will complete a five-week mandatory online course. The top thirty-five candidates from the five-week training will be admitted as African Liberty writing fellows.
Deadline: 30th of April 2024. | Prize: Training + mentorship + stipend + industry placement
To be considered:
An applicant has to be enrolled in, or must have graduated from, an African institution of higher learning. Or, be an African pursuing higher education outside the continent.
Availability during the 5-week online training which runs from 21 May 2024 to 18 June 2024. The writing fellowship starts on July 8, 2024, and ends on July 8, 2025.
Further questions: Please contact the editor, Ibrahim Anoba (ianoba@africanliberty.org). To read the experiences of previous fellows, click here
5. 4. Afrocritik 2024 Prize for Criticism
In recognition of Africa’s literary landscape which has grown over the years to acclaim both on the continent and abroad, the inaugural edition of the Afrocritik Prize for Criticism will spotlight discourse within the works of contemporary African writers. The books to be reviewed include: Affection and Other Accidents by Dami Ajayi, Dreaming of Ways to Understand You by Jerry Chiemeke, His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie.
Deadline: 30th April 2024. | Prize: Total of $600
How to submit:
Submit a 600 to 800-word review each, covering all three books under review.
Entries must be submitted as a single document (doc. or pdf file) within the entry period.
Multiple submissions are discouraged.
Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24.
Applicants must be African citizens residing in Africa.
Proof of age and citizenship may be required during submission.
6. Kuda Bank is hiring a CopyWriter
Kuda is a money app for Africans on a mission to make financial services accessible, affordable, and rewarding for every African on the planet. They are looking for a creative Copywriter to write clear and concise copy for ads, publications and websites. Your words will inform and engage target audiences.
Deadline: unstated. | Renumeration: unstated. | Type: Full-time
Requirements
5 years experience as a copywriter or related role
Knowledge of online content strategy and creation
Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
Experience with SEO
Strong research skills
Collaborative spirit
Excellent time-management and organizational skills.
Click here to apply
7. Communa Magazine: Call for Short Stories
Communa is a digital and print publication interested in exploring sociocultural stories with curiosity and insight. For their first call for submissions they are seeking short stories under the theme “The house the people built”. “We want to be surprised, we want to be moved and most of all, we want to publish you.”—Communa
Deadline: 8th May 2024. | Prize: Total of $325
Guidelines for submissions
They accept only fiction that has not been published on any platform.
They also accept simultaneous submissions, but kindly inform them if your submission has been accepted by another publication.
Submissions should be via this LINK a minimum length of 1,500 words and maximum of 5000 words is required.
Save the attached document with the category and title of your work only. For example; “Fiction. A time to cry”. Please do not save the attached document with your name.
A brief introduction about yourself with your social media handles should be included in your submission.
Winners will be announced on their social media pages.
8. Africa Institute 2024 Global Africa Translation Fellowship
The Africa Institute invites applications to the fourth cohort of the Global Africa Translation Fellowship. This is a non-residential fellowship that allows the recipient scholar to complete the work outside of The Africa Institute (Sharjah, UAE). The aim of the fellowship is to make important texts in African and African Diaspora studies accessible to a wider readership across the world.
Deadline: 1st June 2024. | Prize: $1000-$5000
To apply:
A two-page CV/résumé including institutional affiliation, educational qualifications, including highest degree received, and key publications/works produced
A two-page narrative explaining the translation to be undertaken during the fellowship period, an explanation of the importance of the work, a justification for a re-translation, if applicable, and proposed dates of completion. The project may be a work-in-progress or a new project that fits within the timeframe of the grant.
A 4–5-page (double-spaced) sample of the original text(s) and translation.
An explanation of the work’s copyright status: If the work is not in the public domain, please include a copy of the copyright notice from the original text, and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English language rights to the work are available.
Submitted applications must include a statement, sample, copyright status (if applicable), and CV, in that order into a single PDF file.
Name the file with the applicant’s name in this format: LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME.pdf. Use the same name in the email subject heading LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME application and send PDF as an email attachment to applications@theafricainstitute.org.
8. LongReads is Accepting Submissions
Longreads accepts submissions and pitches for original work from writers and journalists around the world. They currently do not accept fiction, and are not considering investigative or deeply reported features at this time.
Deadline: rolling basis. | Compensation: From $500
How to submit:
Essays and columns typically run between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Pieces may be longer or broken up into a series depending on the length and subject matter. They work with established, emerging, and unpublished writers and journalists.
They will not accept any submission or pitch written or edited using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Please email essay submissions, story pitches, reading list ideas, and other queries to our main editorial inbox at hello@longreads.com.
Technical Writing
9. Job: UX Writer for Kuda Bank
Kuda is a money app for Africans on a mission to make financial services accessible, affordable and rewarding for every African on the planet. They are looking for an excellent UX writer with experience working on fintech apps and websites. If you pay attention to detail and you're keen on doing user research, simplifying user interaction flows, and helping users understand products, you'll be a great fit at Kuda.
Deadline: unstated. | Renumeration: unstated. | Type: Full time, Lagos Nigeria
Requirements
Three years of experience writing user-facing UX copy for apps and websites, preferably at a fintech.
A portfolio of writing and content samples
A passion for apps and simple user journeys
Experience working with customer research
A collaborative approach to work
Some experience working with interaction and visual design would be a bonus.
Prose of the Week
Low Key | Glenda Makumbe
You killed him, you killed your father, I killed my father!! I, Chau killed the most important person in my life with that vaccine, that Influenza Vaccine that I took him to get. I killed him, I am made to understand, I stand in the middle of the room, numb, I killed Shoriwa. I go to…
Poetry of the Week
A Lazy Poet | Immanuel Táiyéwò Fáwọlé
How brightly the heavens choose to smile on me
and don me with the brightest and most colorful regalia
by adorning me with a priceless covering as you.
Even nature pitches its tent to my side…
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Eme nenyo (Best of luck—Ewe, Ghana)