10 OPEN Opportunities for African Writers

This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.

Hello! I hope your pitching and submissions have been going well. To everyone who signed up for African Writer Match, I’m happy to inform you that you’ll receive an onboarding email on Sunday at 3pm WAT. Thank you for your patience.

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Esohe

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1. The Lagos Review: Call for Essays on Loss and Grief

Grief and loss are as universal as life and death. They are footnotes punctuating our moments of joy and happiness and love. “So, what losses have shaped you? What grief has remade you? What painful moments still throb beneath the surface, waiting to be named? The Lagos Review invites you to write them – boldly, honestly, unflinchingly, powerfully.”—TLR

Deadline: 22nd June 2026 | Pay: Up to $750

Things to note:

• They are calling for essays up to 1,500 words on loss and grief in all their forms. Not just the grief of death, but the grief of living:

  • The loss of freedom through incarceration, kidnapping, or injustice.

  • The ache of migration: leaving home, losing home, searching for home.

  • The sting of missed opportunities, failed chances, vanished dreams.

  • The devastation of pregnancy loss, domestic or intimate partner violence.

  • Systemic discrimination based on race, tribe or ethnicity.

  • The heartbreak of losing a parent, a child, a partner, a friend or even a stranger whose story pierced you.

• AI produced essays will not be considered

• Fiction will not be considered.

• Email submissions to: submissions@thelagosreview.ng

• Submissions will be received on a rolling basis from June to December 2026

• Payment: $250 per published essay (paid 1 month after publication)

• Additional opportunity: The top 12 published essays may be compiled into a collection and published in book form with a one-off royalty of $500 dollars.

2. Call: Botswana Filmmakers

The Alliance Française de Gaborone is pleased to offer Botswana filmmakers a platform to showcase their work at the European Film Festival. Three (3) Botswana short films will be selected and screened in September 2026. If you’re a screenwriter, consider submitting your work.

Deadline: 20th June 2026 | Pay: Unstated

Things to note:

• Criteria:

  • The director must be a Motswana.

  • Two categories are open for submissions:

    — Very Short Films: under 6 minutes

    — Short Films: between 6 and 20 minutes

• Films will be assessed based on creativity, cinematography, originality, and overall potential.

• Particular attention will be given to films exploring the following themes:

  • Family as a Space of Conflict and Reconciliation

  • Coming-of-Age and Youth in Transition

  • Personal Stories Reflecting Political or Social Realities

  • Art as a Form of Resistance, Redemption, or Transformation

  • Ambitious and Philosophical Approaches to Animation

  • Rural–Urban Transitions and Questions of Belonging

  • Evolving Masculinities and Identity

  • Tradition in Dialogue with Modernity

• Films must be submitted in digital format.

• English subtitles are required for films not in English.

• Please submit the following:

  • Completed online application form (including director’s details, film title, genre, synopsis, year of release, and production information)

  • Provide a Google Drive link, through the form, with the following documents:

  • Director’s profile / biography

  • Resume / CV

  • Copy of ID

  • Film

  • Background/Profile (1-page biography)

  • Press review (if applicable)

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3. Pius Oleghe Poetry and Literary Award (Nigeria)

Pius Enahoro Oleghe devoted his life to education, language, and the quiet formation of young minds. Beyond his formal roles, Pius Enahoro Oleghe was known for his love of poetry, language, and the humanities, and for the countless students and colleagues he inspired through his teaching, mentorship, and quiet intellectual generosity.

This award honours his legacy by inviting emerging Nigerian poets to enter previously unpublished poetry, under the theme “The Nigeria of Our Dreams”, for a chance to win a prize and support.

Deadline: 24th June 2026 | Prize: Up to N1,000,000 + Publication

Things to note:

• The Emerging Poets category is:

  • Open to Nigerian poets aged 18-35 years

  • Mature, thoughtful responses

  • Any form: lyrical, narrative, experimental

  • Original engagement with the theme

• Send only original, unpublished poem

• 40-60 lines

• Format: PDF or DOCX only (Max. 5MB)

• English or any Nigerian language (English translation required for Nigerian languages)

• Submit ID (Passport or Driver’s License) for age verification (Max. 3MB)

• One poem per entrant

• Prize:

  • Cash

  • Certificate of Recognition

  • Publication in POPALS Literary Anthology

  • Featured Profile on POPALS Website

  • Invitation to Literary Reading

• To submit, click here.

4. The Shuttle: Call for Submissions

The Shuttle is a journal published annually by students of the Department of English at the University of Lagos. The journal primarily comprises essays on language, grammar, literary reviews, album review and cultural topics. For its 2025/2026 edition, the theme is Echoes on the Routes We Call Home: The Nigerian in Motion, and they are looking for creative and critical work that engages with the Nigerian experience of migration, economic uncertainty, identity and belonging.

Deadline: 30th June 2026 | Pay: None

Things to note:

• They invite poetry, short fiction, drama, essays, think pieces, and analytical articles on language and literature that engages with the following questions and themes:

  • What does it mean to be Nigerian, at home or abroad, in this moment of heightened migration and economic uncertainty?

  • How are Nigerian writers, speakers and artists reshaping language to carry the weight of displacement, longing, adaptation and return?

  • What literary and cultural forms, old and emergent, are Nigerians reaching for to make sense of movement and its aftermath?

  • How does diaspora experience, cultural hybridity and economic precarity inflect Nigerian English, Pidgin and indigenous languages?

  • What is the relationship between who stays and who leaves, and what does literature have to say about that asymmetry?

• To submit:

  • Email submissions to shuttlesubmissions.naselsunilag@gmail.com with the subject ‘Shuttle Journal Submission’.

  • Name your document as Author’s Name — Title of Work (Genre)

  • Include in the body of your email: full name, school, short biography, abstract (for essay or paper), or genre (for creative work).

  • For poetry, send 1-3 poems attached in a single file (docx.)

  • Short stories (1,000-1,500 words).

  • Essays (1,500-2,000)

  • Simultaneous submission is not allowed.

5. Submit to The Ana

In 2020, The Ana was founded as a place where people can express their full, nuanced selves. Expectations be damned. Yet, despite this, they have ground rules. Nuance does not mean they tolerate hate speech. (See the Paradox of Tolerance). They are now inviting submissions of fiction, poetry, cross-genre work, poetry-in-translation, non-fiction and essays

Deadline: 1st July 2026, 8:00am WAT | Pay: Unstated

Things to note:

• Please submit each work individually. (i.e. two poems mean two individual submissions.)

• Please include an author/artist’s bio written in the third person.

• Submit only .docx

• Cross-genre literature

  • Submit up to 3 works of prose.

  • Each prose work must be up to 4,000 words max.

• Fiction

  • Submit up to 5 works of prose.

  • Each prose work must be 4,000 words max.

• Non-Fiction or Essay

  • Submit up to 3 works of prose.

  • Each prose work must be up to 4,000 words max.

  • In the bio, please specify if the work is Non-fiction or Essay

• Poetry: submit up to 3 poems.

• Poetry-in-translation:

  • Submit up to 3 poems.

  • If you submit Poetry in Translation, please include context for the translation and the original poem.

• To submit, click here.

6. Call for Submissions: Red

For this quarterly issue of Isele Magazine, they are seeking red-themed submissions. Roses, ladybugs, love, blood, sacrifice, Taylor Swift’s similarly-titled album… “We want all things red. We welcome fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography, visual art, and hybrid works that explore this theme.”—Isele

Deadline: 7th July 2026 | Pay: Unstated amount

Things to note:

• All submissions for the quarterly issue should be submitted to quarterly@iselemagazine.com. The email subject line should read Genre: Lastname (e.g. Poetry: Angelou).

• They DO NOT accept multiple submissions. Please submit to one genre only.

• They DO NOT accept AI-generated work.

• For fiction and nonfiction, submit max. 5000 words of prose.

• For poetry, submit max. 3 poems in a single document.

• For prose (fiction and nonfiction) and poetry, they DO NOT publish previously published works (by this, we mean any piece that has appeared on the web or in print, including your personal blog). However, they will consider a translated version of the work if the original language wasn’t English.

• They accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify them as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere so that they can withdraw it from consideration.

• All accepted submissions are automatically considered for The Isele Prizes.

• They will respond to every submission no later than two months from the submission deadline.

7. The ZODML Poetry Prize for Public Institution Voices (Nigeria)

The ZODML Poetry Prize was established to discover, celebrate, and preserve the literary voices emerging from Nigeria's public institutions — giving poets the recognition, platform, and resources they deserve. The Prize is open to submissions on the theme 'Stories We Carry', from currently enrolled students (undergraduate or postgraduate) at a public tertiary institution in Nigeria.

Deadline: 15th August 2026 | Prize: Total of N1,200,000

Things to note:

• Entries must be one poem per participant only.

• Each poem must have a title, maximum length - 50 lines (excluding title).

• Entries may be in English or any Nigerian language. If the poem is written in a Nigerian language, the participant must also provide an English translation.

• Entries must be the participant’s own. AI-generated work is prohibited.

• Entries must not have been previously published in any form, nor have won a prize in another competition.

• The top ten finalists will be notified via email and WhatsApp. Please ensure you provide a valid email address and WhatsApp number. Finalists will be required to submit a short biography and a photograph.

• The copyright of each poem remains with the author. However, by entering the contest, authors of the top ten poems grant ZODML the perpetual right to publish and/or broadcast their poems. Use of these poems elsewhere for one year from January 2027 requires prior permission from ZODML.

• Submissions will not be returned. Please retain a copy for yourself.

• Winners will be announced in December.

• To submit, click here

8. Biyi Bándélé Award for Emerging Writers of the African Diaspora

Emerging writers of African diaspora heritage living in the United Kingdom now have an exciting new opportunity to advance their creative careers through the Biyi Bándélé Bursary for Emerging Writers of the African Diaspora.

Established by the family of the late Nigerian writer and filmmaker Biyi Bándélé in partnership with Brixton House and Curtis Brown, the annual award seeks to celebrate Bándélé’s remarkable legacy while supporting the next generation of storytellers working across literature, theatre, film, and other creative forms.

Deadline: 28th August 2026 | Stipend: N150,000 each

Things to note:

• Three selected writers will receive comprehensive support designed to nurture their creative development, including:

  • A cash bursary to support their writing practice

  • A tailored mentorship programme

  • Access to creative development support and rehearsal space at Brixton House

  • Creative clinics and professional workshops

  • Curated networking opportunities

  • A table read or scratch performance

  • Agent consultation sessions

  • Script development and editorial feedback

• Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.

  • Identify as being of African diaspora heritage

  • Be based in the United Kingdom

  • Be actively engaged in writing across fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, spoken word, or hybrid forms

  • Have had at least one previous work published and/or publicly produced

  • Submit original work created through substantial human authorship

• The organisers note that self-identification is sufficient and applicants are not required to provide genealogical documentation.

• To apply, fill this form.

9. Call for Submissions: Echoes of the Digital Age

This issue of Mini Plays Review explores how human connection, conflict, identity, and memory are being rewritten in a hyper-connected yet deeply isolated world. They are looking for sharp, short scripts that capture the friction between our physical lives and our digital existence. Accepted pieces may be published in print or electronically.

Deadline: 31st August 2026 | Pay: Unstated

Things to note:

• Subthemes for Submission:

  • Phantom Vibrations: The psychological weight, anxiety, or obsession of waiting for a notification that never comes.

  • The Glitch in the Routine: A comedic or absurdist take on what happens when smart tech, algorithms, or AI assistants go entirely off-script.

  • Data Dust: A monologue or dialogue centering on a character confronting their digital legacy or a past online version of themselves.

  • Analog Hearts: Stories of people trying to find genuine, old-school intimacy, romance, or a quiet space to unplug in a world that demands constant presence.

  • The Algorithm Knows Best: A conflict where a major life decision (romance, career, ethics) is dictated entirely by predictive data.

  • Ghosted: The sudden, haunting silence of an abrupt digital disappearance and the struggle for closure in the real world.

  • Two Screens, One Couch: The invisible distance between two people physically close but entirely separated by their respective digital worlds.

  • The Deepfake: A high-stakes confrontation involving stolen identity, altered reality, or the blurring line between truth and digital fabrication.

  • Curated Lives: The dramatic tension behind the camera lens—what happens the second the “perfect” livestream or social media recording stops.

  • Sentience on the Line: A sharp dialogue between a human and an AI that is beginning to exhibit unexpectedly human traits or emotions.

  • The Comments Section: A play taking place entirely within the ecosystem of online anonymity, trolls, or internet fame.

  • Doomscrolling at Midnight: A micro-drama capturing the internal or external chaos of consuming endless global crisis updates in the dark.

  • Out of Network: The survivalist drama or unexpected freedom experienced when a character is completely disconnected from cellular service or power.

  • Digital Inheritance: A family or legal dispute over ownership of a deceased loved one’s passwords, data, cloud storage, or online avatar.

  • The Echo Chamber: Two characters trapped in an escalating argument where they are incapable of hearing any perspective outside their own programmed biases.

• Submission Guidelines:

  • Length: Maximum of 2 pages per mini play/soliloquy/monologue.

  • Format: Standard playwriting format (PDF or Word document preferred).

  • Limit: Maximum of 5 submissions per playwright.

  • Originality: Works must be original and unproduced in print format. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, provided you notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

• How to Submit:

  • Email: Send your script as an attachment to miniplaysmag@gmail.com

  • Subject Line: Submission: [Play Title] - [Your Name]

  • In the Body: Include a brief 50-word biography and your contact details.

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10. Submit to Doek!

Doek! Literary Magazine is a free, independent, and Pan-African online literary magazine produced in Windhoek, Namibia. They are currently seeking poetry, fiction and non-fiction, for their 18th issue.

Date: 30th September 2026 | Pay: unstated

Things to note:

• Only Namibians or foreign nationals living in Namibia are welcome to submit.

• Writers must be 18 and above.

• Fiction can be of any genre but must be narrative-driven .

• All submissions must be in English but writers and poets may use words or phrases from any of Namibia’s indigenous languages provided their meaning can be understood within the text (without resort to glossaries or footnotes).

• Submissions, including poetry, may not exceed 4500 words. The minimum word count for fiction is 1500 words; there is no minimum word count for poetry.

• Fiction writers can only submit one (1) piece of writing per submission window.

• Poets may submit up to five (5) poems in one document per submission window.

• Submissions must be typed: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 2.0 line spacing.

• The submitted document should only contain the title and the body text of the submission. No identifying details (name, contact number, or email address) may be used in the filename or be placed anywhere in the submission document.

• Submissions can be sent in any of the following formats: Microsoft Word (.docx and .doc), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and plain text (.txt).

• Writers and poets cannot submit to or be considered for two or more categories at any given point in time.

• To fiction and poetry submit, kindly fill this form.

• To submit non-fiction, kindly fill this form.

Click here to submit an opportunity.

If you did not receive a reply to a previous editorial inquiry by 31st January 2026, please send a query to editor.afww@gmail.com.

Prose of the Week

Anything Is Nothing Where We Come From | Marian Bebia (Nigeria)

Dear You,

I am looking at you through a fog of harmattan on a December afternoon. The living room is a shadow of itself. Some corners are covered in Christmas decorations your mother bought before she even had you. The others are covered in grains of rice, some in shoes. The air is thick with the smell of fried chicken and the warmth of family you haven’t seen in years.

Everyone is loud and sweaty. Plates and spoons collide at a pace that is almost perfect. Every now and then, the hiss of a bottle being opened greets you. It’s a kind of dissonant symphony you find soothing. Your cousins are a riot on legs. Their voices clash like waves slapping onto rocks—a comforting chaos. They busy themselves with colorful catalogues and recount promises made to them by parents who are either already on the far left of exhaustion or too engrossed in their meals.

Then there is you. You are sitting on the edge of the sofa with your knees pressed together. Why do you feel the need to occupy as little space as possible?…

Read more

If you’d like your already PUBLISHED prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ please fill this form.

Poetry of the Week

Church of The Informally Settled | Ndaundika Shefeni (Namibia)

These streets are more pious than fresh converts.

Rows of mesmerised tin congregations sit in quiet rows
inside a holy house that is filled to capacity,
devotees pour out of entrances and exits
tired hands reach out for salvation
hopeful eyes gaze towards the light.

These streets eat prayer for breakfast (Pray she is safe! )
These streets eat prayer for lunch ( Pray the drought away! )
These streets eat prayer for dinner (Pray for the crops’ yield this year!)…

Read more

If you’d like your already PUBLISHED poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ please fill this form.

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Abasi o diong fi (May God bless you - Efik, Nigeria)