Poets from the East African region are invited to contribute to Suppressed Realities, an experimental digital anthology exploring the theme of suppressed realities.
This anthology challenges poets to confront and creatively engage with what is often concealed or overlooked in society. Submissions are sought that respond directly to news stories, headlines, images, videos, or any form of media that represents a form of ‘reality.’ Poets are encouraged to explore cultural expectations, tensions between generations, identity, and belonging, as well as the obstacles to self-expression and fulfilment.
Submission Guidelines
- Poems that have previously been published are not accepted. Your poem should be your original work in response to this theme.
- Annotate the event that you are responding to at the beginning of the poem. An example of how you can approach this, is a poem by Michael Imossan: What Strength Lives in Poetry, responding to: Unknown Gunmen Shoot 5 in Imo Community [Leadership Newspaper, June 2022]
- Use a 12-point serif font. Single spaced lines, double spaced stanzas.
- Submit 1-3 poems. Poems should be attached as a doc., docx., pdf.
- DO NOT copy and paste your work in the body of the email.
- Each poem should start on a new page.
- Do not put your name or bio information in the submission document containing your poems.
- Each poem should have a clear title.
- In the body of the email, provide a short bio with contact details (phone number & email address) and your country of origin.
- Send in your best work, but do not self-reject. Explore the theme and sub-themes as widely as possible.
- Submissions should be sent to suppressedrealities@gmail.com and cc: hisiayard@gmail.com . The email subject line should be: Suppressed Realities, Poem Title, Name eg: Suppressed Realities: What Strength Lives in Poetry: Michael Imossan. If you are sending multiple poems, input the title of your first poem.
Selected poems will receive a compensation of Ksh. 1500, and exclusive rights will be assigned for a limited period until January 1, 2025. Submissions close on September 20, 2024.
For more information, kindly click here for the Official Call.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
