Aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to hone their craft with some of Africa’s most celebrated voices, as Lolwe Academy unveils its 2025 slate of online creative writing classes, workshops, and masterclasses.
Featuring luminaries like Maaza Mengiste, Zukiswa Wanner, and Rémy Ngamije, the program promises to connect young writers with top-tier talent while prioritizing critical engagement and mastery of craft.
Since its inception in 2021, Lolwe Academy has offered over 60 courses, collaborated with more than 40 tutors, and welcomed nearly 400 writers from across the globe. This year’s offerings span fiction, poetry, nonfiction, editing, and publishing, catering to a wide range of creative ambitions. “Our goal is to provide unparalleled guidance from the best African authors,” the academy stated, emphasizing its commitment to fostering literary talent.
The 2025 masterclass lineup is a standout, kicking off with Historical Fiction led by Booker-shortlisted author Maaza Mengiste (The Shadow King) on February 22. Other highlights include Exploring Language and Style with Angolan writer Ondjaki (Transparent City), a José Saramago Prize winner, on March 1; Prose Poetry with Nick Makoha (Kingdom of Gravity) on March 15; and The Art of Storytelling with Chuma Nwokolo (The Extinction of Menai) on April 5. Suspense aficionados won’t want to miss Building Suspense in Fiction with Femi Kayode (Lightseekers) on April 12.
Later in the year, masterclasses delve into diverse topics: Writing Drama with Olubunmi Familoni (The Road Does Not End) on May 3, Pushing Formal Boundaries with poet and critic Dami Ajayi (Clinical Blues) on May 31, and Writing a Memoir with Chiké Frankie Edozien (Lives of Great Men) on June 14. Additional sessions cover tension-building with Novuyo Rosa Tshuma (June 21), character development with Onyi Nwabineli (Someday, Maybe) on June 28, nonfiction crafting with Emmanuel Iduma (A Stranger’s Pose) on June 28, and dialogue mastery with Linda Musita (Mtama Road) on July 19.
The program also explores settings with T.L. Huchu (The Library of the Dead) on July 26 and wraps with a deep dive into Editing and Publishing led by industry titan Ellah P. Wakatama on August 2. For those seeking intensive courses, Rémy Ngamije (The Eternal Audience of One) leads The Art of the Short Story from March 8-29, while Troy Onyango, Lolwe’s founder and editor-in-chief (For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings), guides a 12-week Fiction Workshop from March 2 to May 11. Poet Nkateko Masinga (Daughter Wound) rounds out the offerings with a Poetry Workshop from March 2 to May 18.
Interested writers can sign up at the Lolwe Academy website or email classes@lolwe.org for more details.
With such a rich array of talent and topics, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for the next generation of literary voices!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
