An innovative literary initiative, the Narratives Against Poverty in Africa Writing-Literary Prize 2025, has been unveiled, offering African writers a bold platform to tell their continent’s stories through a prose, poetry, essay, and hybrid narratives that dig into heavy hitters like poverty, hunger, injustice, climate change, corruption, pandemics, war, and violence.
Spearheaded by executive curator Mbizo Chirasha, this multi-genre competition aims to unearth and celebrate talent from across Africa’s 52 nations and its diaspora, focusing on the theme “Narratives Against Poverty in Africa.”
The prize seeks to empower African voices to narrate their own histories and realities—both the continent’s rich heritage and its contemporary struggles with the aim to highlight the deep well of African writing talent while tackling the beautiful and dark present of a continent defined by resilience amid adversity.
Writers aged 18 and above are eligible, with a submission window running until June 30, 2025. Participants may submit up to two works per genre: poetry (max 40 lines), short stories (max 4 pages), and essays or hybrid narratives (max 4 pages).
Entries must be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font and sent as Word document attachments to africanwritingprogram@gmail.com. Each submission requires a title, genre, and the author’s name in the subject line and on every page, accompanied by a 15-line bio and a headshot photo.
Three winners will be awarded cash prizes along with opportunities and accolades, to be announced in July 2025. Additionally, 52 standout submissions, including those of winners and special mentions, will be compiled into a book anthology slated for publication in August 2025. Participants will receive PDF copies, with paperback versions available for online order.
Submissions will close on 30th of June, 2025.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
