This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
Across Africa, women support economies through land cultivation, informal and formal work, and the often-unseen labour of social reproduction. However, they remain mostly excluded from macroeconomic decision-making and global financial governance.
The Biennial Weavers Forum addresses this contradiction by establishing a Pan-African feminist political economy space that prioritises African epistemologies, movement knowledge, and creative practice in shaping economic futures. They are inviting: thought pieces, research papers, video essays, podcasts, poetry, spoken word, performance, and theatre etc
Deadline: 24th April 2026 | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
The 2026 edition will be held in Windhoek, Namibia. 5-8th August 2026.
Themes for exploration include:
Feminist macro-level economic frameworks and methodologies
Debt Justice: Debt and Austerity
Feminist perspectives on tax reforms
Trade, industrial policy, and regional integration
Feminist budgeting, public services, and social protection
Labour, informal economies and the future of work
Care economies and social reproduction
Land, extractives, and natural resource governance
Climate finance, just transitions, and ecological justice
Feminist data, indicators, and metrics of well-being
Movement funding and feminist resource mobilisation
Food sovereignty/Seed justice
Creative and cultural works welcome:
Murals, visual art, and installations
Short films, animations, and video essays
Sound pieces, music, podcasts, and soundscapes
Poetry, spoken word, performance, and theatre
Comics, graphic essays, and other experimental formats
Who is Eligible to Submit?
African feminist and women’s rights organisations and movements
Grassroots organisers, community leaders, and movement strategists
Heterodox and feminist (political) economists, as well as legal and policy specialists
Artists, cultural practitioners, and narrators
Journalists, narrative designers, and media professionals
Public-sector reformers who are aligned with feminist political economy.
For Creative and cultural submissions:
Audio Visual piece or Concept note: 250–300 words describing:
Medium and format
The key idea or story
How it connects to the convening theme
Technical needs (space, equipment, permissions, etc.)
Portfolio/sample: 1–3 links or low-resolution files (where available) of previous or proposed work.
Where works are language-based (spoken word, theatre, film), please indicate the language(s) and whether subtitles, translations, or transcripts are available or can be developed.
Paper Proposals
Abstract length: 300–400 words
Include:
Title
Author(s) name(s), affiliation(s) and country/countries
Stream and key theme(s)
Core question(s), methodology/approach, and anticipated contribution
Up to 5 keywords
Bio: Up to 150 words per author, including activist/organising affiliations.
Full papers (6,000–8,000 words) will be requested from selected authors ahead of the convening to enable rich discussion and potential inclusion in post-convening outputs, i.e, journal.
Interested parties are invited to submit their Expression of Interest via email to femnetprog@gmail.com, clearly indicating the subject line: “Call for Papers – The Weavers Forum.”
Dynoyzine is a creative arts and literary magazine currently seeking submissions for their sixth issue: Second Helpings. They are requesting entries with the following themes: FOOD; A meal is never just a meal”; “We are what we eat, how we eat, and who we choose to feed”
Deadline: 28th April 2026 | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
The following kinds of works are welcome: poetry, prose, scripts, screenplays, short stories, articles, essays, creative nonfiction, photography, visual art, drawings, paintings, printmaking, ceramics, graphic design, vignettes, letters, digital illustrations, multimedia works, comics, illustration, and other works alike.
Max number of submissions: 3 entries.
Self-published pieces (on your own Medium, Instagram, Substack, book, etc) are welcomed.
Work published by another magazine or company (on their Medium, magazine issue, Instagram, Substack, etc) is PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED and WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE.
Works submitted must not exceed 3 pages
Written pieces must be legible and sent in doc, docx, or PDF form with ONLY THE TEXT
Screenshots or images are automatically rejected
If the piece is written in a language other than English, please send an English translation alongside the original piece
Visual pieces must be sent in JPG or PNG form
Multiple works may not be submitted on the same document; please submit a new application per submission!
No AI works!
No works that promote, glorify, or romanticize hate speech!
The Roaring Lion Newcastle (TRLN) is proud to announce dRAFTED, a new initiative designed to support Nigerian creative writers experiencing financial hardship. dRAFTED delivers a lifeline for storytellers—fiction writers, essayists, poets, and spoken-word artists- and provides assistance to help them meet basic expenses.
Deadline: 30th April 2026 | Pay: N100,000
Things to note:
This fund is restricted to Nigerians
To apply, click here to fill the form.
The Iska Book Prize celebrates outstanding prose and hybrid manuscripts. We seek work that is irreverent, nonconforming, and experimental—manuscripts that challenge stereotypes about African writing, celebrate diverse voices, and offer nuanced stories about African immigrants and minorities. The prize is open to both emerging and established African writers worldwide.
Deadline: 30th April 2026 | Prize: $1000 + Book Deal
Things to note:
Manuscript Format: Submit a completed prose or hybrid manuscript in PDF or Word (.doc/.docx) format
Include a short writer’s bio (max 150 words) in the body of your email
Email Subject: “Iska Book Prize Submission” (This allows us to track and read all your submissions. Submissions without this subject line may be lost).
Multiple Submissions are not allowed. Send only one Manuscript.Simultaneous Submissions: Allowed, but notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Language: English or translations (with permissions).
Submit to: Submissions@Iskanchi.com
The Fieldstone Review is now accepting submissions for their 2026 issue! This year, they invite writers and artists to explore the theme WILD SPACES in imaginative and creative ways. Wild spaces might be jungles, rivers, prairies, or shorelines, but they might also be interior landscapes: kitchens, bars, back stairwells, a football stadium, or a Mardi Gras party on the pool deck of a cruise ship on a hot afternoon.
They welcome original, previously unpublished work across a wide range of genres, including poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art and photography
Deadline: 30th April 2026 | Pay: $100
Things to note:
Please send all submissions as attachments. Documents should be attached in .doc/.docx format. However, .pdf is suitable for poems with unique formatting. Please submit visual art in .JPG format.
Please do not indicate your name or identifying information anywhere on the attachment containing your submission. Instead, please include the following in the body of your e-mail:
full name
contact information
a biography of 50 to 100 words
the title(s) of the work(s) submitted
notification if the work is a simultaneous submission
Submission documents should be formatted in 12pt Times New Roman font
All submissions except for poetry should be double-spaced.
FICTION: One submission per author to a max of 4,000 words.
fsr.fictioneditor@usask.ca | 2026 Editor: Anna Gow (she/her)
POETRY: One submission per author to a max of six pages, sent as a single attachment.
fsr.poetryeditor@usask.ca | 2026 Editor: Van Osborne (they/them)
CREATIVE NONFICTION: One submission per author to a max of 2,500 words, OR two submissions to a max of 1,000 words each.
fsr.reviewseditor@usask.ca | 2026 Editor: Bonnie Heilman (she/her)
Haven Spec is a speculative fiction magazine featuring stories and poems for a 21st century audience. They love stories with a sense of adventure, stories that teach us, that touch us, that leave us wanting more. They especially like writing that is subtle in its telling and that sticks with readers long after they’ve finished, and they’re more likely to buy stories that balance a sense of wonder with a bold plot and emotional depth. For poetry, most important to them is vivid imagery, clever lyricism, and a strong emotional core. They are now accepting submissions from underrepresented writers
Deadline: 30th April 2026 | Pay: $20-$500
Things to note:
Fiction: Word limit: 5000 words
Poetry : Five poems, submitted in a single submission
Language: English
File type: .doc, .docx, .rtf
You may submit under their ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ themes:
Wet: focus on stories of water—monsoons and the rising tides, hurricanes and the disappearing coast—we’ll center stories by authors directly affected by the climate crisis, though we’ll consider anything that fits the theme, even vaguely!
Dry: Here they’re looking for content that focuses on the dry aspects of climate change—desertification and falling reservoirs, rising temperatures and endless droughts—they’ll center stories by authors directly affected by the climate crisis.
To submit a story for either theme, make sure to mention in your cover letter how your submission relates to the theme and, if you’d like, how you’ve been personally affected by the crisis at hand. Submissions by climate refugees are very welcome.
Rights: We buy first serial print and electronic rights for publication of the story in the English language and throughout the world. We also buy non-exclusive archival rights for our website and non-exclusive anthology rights.
For more details, see here.
To submit, click here.
The Cave Canem Prize is awarded annually to the best debut collection of poems submitted by a Black poet. The Prize recipient receives a monetary award, as well as having their manuscript published by one of our partner publishers, Graywolf Press; University of Pittsburgh Press; or University of Georgia Press. The judge for the 2027 Cave Canem Prize will be poet and scholar Jericho Brown.
Deadline: 30th April 2026, 11:59PM ET | Prize: $10,000 + Book Deal + 15 Author Copies
Things to note:
All unpublished, original collections of poems written in English by Black poets who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press, are eligible.
Black authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but they request immediate notification should your work be accepted elsewhere.
One manuscript per poet.
Upload manuscript as a .doc or .pdf document. Include a title page with the title only and table of contents. Author’s name should not appear on any pages within the uploaded document.
Include a cover letter in the Submittable text box—DO NOT include within the .doc or .pdf document of the manuscript. Cover letter should include author’s brief bio (200 words, maximum) and list of acknowledgments of previously published poems.
Manuscript must be paginated, 60-75 pages in length, inclusive of title page and table of contents. A poem may be multiple pages, but no more than one poem per page is permitted.
Post-submission revisions or corrections are not permitted.
To submit, click here.
Applications for the 2026/2027 African Liberty Writing Fellowship are now officially open! This fellowship is designed for emerging African writers passionate about influencing public policy debates and shaping conversations that matter.
Through structured mentorship and editorial support, fellows refine their voice, strengthen their analysis, and position their work for publication in leading African and international media outlets.
Deadline: 30th April 2026, 11:59 PM GMT | Pay: Unstated Stipend
Things to note:
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.
This fellowship offers
A five-week intensive online training program (25 May 2026 to 22 June 2026) that will equip you with essential writing and analytical skills.
The 12-month fellowship (13 July 2025, and ends on 13 July 2027) provides exclusive access to publishing opportunities in major African and international media outlets. Fellows and editors have appeared in Voice of America, The Guardian Nigeria, Forbes, BBC, The Star Kenya, Newsday Zimbabwe, Al Jazeera, and several more.
Fellows also have opportunities to feature as expert guests on top television stations across Africa, contributing meaningfully to policy discussions shaping the continent.
Compensation is contingent upon a monthly assessment. Please be aware that they do not consider financial compensation until a fellow is inducted.
To read FAQs click here.
To apply, click here
This prize invites poets from Sub-Saharan Africa and its diaspora to submit an original poem on the theme OUTSIDER. This prize is judged by Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto, author of The Naming (University of Nebraska Press, 2025); Dr Jive Lubbungu of Kwame Nkrumah University, Zambia; and Gary W. Bryant.
Deadline: 30th April 2026 | Prize: Total of $130
Things to note:
Submissions should be written in the first person, no longer than forty lines, and submitted as a Word document.
Entrants Must be From Sub-Saharan Africa or its Diaspora. To check if you are eligible, click here.
You Must Include a 50-Word Author’s Bio as Proof of Publication History.
You may also submit to The Best African Traditional Poem Category with the theme: I am an Outsider
Please Email an original poem written in your Language + its translation of not more than 40 lines included in the Word document)
Poem must be written in the traditional, cultural style of any African language, example Igbo, Yoruba, Chichewa, Xhosa, Zulu.
Poem may employ rhythmic patterns, repetition, and/or incorporate other musical elements into the body of the work.
Poem should contain symbolism and rich imagery from your language or culture or traditional beliefs used to convey meaning, example a local proverb
To submit use forms on these pages:
By entering the competition, you are automatically agreeing to subscribe free of charge to the website, in order to receive updates about the competition shortlist/winner/s & our quarterly journal.
Please Do Not Include Bank Details Or Confidential Information In Your Submitted Document As Some Previous Entrants Have Done
The winners will be paid in their local currency.
Source: Brittle Paper
Send this to a writer who needs it ❤️
The Offing is an online literary magazine publishing creative writing in all genres and art in all media. They are currently accepting submissions under three categories: Back of the Envelope, Insight, and Translated Poetry.
Earliest Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: Up to $100
Things to note:
Back of The Envelope
Writing of any length and genre which relates to, or draws on, science and the natural world. Sharing its wonder or its horrors, relating the untold stories of discovery, or toying with everyday curiosities, they’re interested in hearing from those inside and outside the scientific community.
Insight
Creative nonfiction (usually personal essay) that centers one’s personal experience against the backdrop of art, literature, and culture. These essays generally fuse together two topics that don’t typically belong together, weaving—and investigating—what is perceived versus what is true. Ultimately, these essays explore the ways in which interacting with this aspect of culture or ideology changed you or made a lasting impression.
Word limit: 5,000.
Translated Works of Poetry
You may submit up to six poems, unless you have a reason for submitting a larger set (in which case, please let us know).
Please title your submission with the author’s last name and the title of the piece; or for poetry, please indicate the number of poems. (e.g., “Five poems by [Author]”)
In your cover letter, please include:
the original language,
the year of original publication if previously published,
brief biographical statements for both the translator and author,
and any contextual information for the work that might be helpful for our editorial staff.
It is the translator’s responsibility to obtain permission from the author/rights-holder prior to submitting the piece.
All pieces should be original, and previously unpublished in any format in English.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please be sure to withdraw your piece promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere.
Please don’t send more than one submission per department; wait until your work is accepted or declined before submitting again.
They respond within six months
For 40 years, Wasafiri has published the very best international contemporary writing, placing critics alongside leading novelists, poets, and playwrights to generate exciting cross-genre and inter-regional conversations. They are inviting fiction, non-fiction, criticial articles, and reviews that, in form, focus, or theme, seeks to expand the boundaries of global literary culture
Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: Up to £150
Things to note:
The work must be in English — either originally written in or translated to English.’
Fiction and life writing: 3,000 – 5,000 words
Critical essays and articles: 6,000 – 9,000 words
Click here to submit either or the above
Book reviews of one or two titles: 900 – 1,100 words
send pitches for book reviews to Reviews Editor, Farah Ali: wasafiri.reviews@qmul.ac.uk
Chicken Soup for the Soul has been the world’s favorite storyteller since the first book was published in 1993. They are currently seeking submissions for their upcoming anthologies on holidays.
Deadline: 1st May 2026 | Pay: From $250
Things to note:
Stories about November & December holidays
Please submit your true stories about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities too.
Keep your story to 1200 words or less.
They accept poems that tell a story. A Chicken Soup for the Soul poem does the same job as a story.
To find Suggested topics this theme includes:
What celebrating the holidays means to me
Holiday traditions
Memories of holiday seasons past
The love of family
Family reunions
Holiday humor
Gift giving
Gift receiving
Regifting - oh no!
Decorating... oh how we love to do that!
Un-decorating... oh how we hate to do that!
Eat, Eat, Eat... and be merry
Bah Humbug - the grump who stole the holidays
Christmas through the eyes of a child
Elf on the Shelf fun and games
Here comes Santa Claus
Secret Santa fun
Things that went wrong!
Holiday food and traditions
Neighborhood competition for house decorations
The spontaneous things your family has done
To submit, 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.
UP | Jonathan Watuulo (Uganda)
“I am up alright, bloody alarm waking me to another bloody day! Well I guess that is just how it is, for a boy to be a man is to stay up, urgh!” said Wakoli as he dreaded the realization of waking to a new day in Banda.
He scratched his eyes rapidly like he had been struck by an eye infection, one sent as a punishment from the gods. His feet kicked about the sheets covering him before gracing the ground space. The silence he arose to was rather uncomfortable even when he quashed the idea stretching and moving forth towards the washroom to take a piss . He walks out back to the the single room speaking to himself.
“Where the hell are they?” His feet then led him to the living room space just next to the bed where he walked about to one end that served as the kitchen area. He moved in agony to respond to a call of his grumbling belly ache down below. He lifted his legs up by the toes such that the heels were about the air to grant him a fair chance to reach for the cupboards above. He waved his hands in a motion in cupboard one, not a thing to be found. He moved aside to open Cupboard two, it was one full of nothing. And when he raised his toes on to cupboard three only a box of cornflakes flipped over falling to the floor with it’s own…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ please fill this form.
As If | Gabriel Awuah Mainoo (Ghana)
the bloodline will not end but
begin with us again— overtly;
the same way sunset crawls out
of the graveyard. our chants have
become injuries on skullcaps
of ancestors. alone. that misty
morning, the harsh rub of…
If you’d like your already PUBLISHED poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ please fill this form.
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Byoosi bikuzile bulayi( May all be well with you- Lugisu, Uganda)
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