Agbowo Magazine has officially opened its submission window for the 2025 issue, welcoming writers, artists, and creatives of African origin to contribute to its growing archive of contemporary African expression.
This year’s call comes with a comprehensive breakdown of categories, each with detailed guidelines and dedicated submission links for easy access.
For poetry, contributors may submit up to three unpublished poems, regardless of form or style. Agbowo is especially drawn to poems that display lyrical richness, political insight, humor, or strong orality. Poems should be submitted in Microsoft Word, with each poem beginning on a new page.
Fiction writers are encouraged to send one short story between 1,500 and 5,000 words, unpublished elsewhere. Flash fiction is welcome but longer narratives are preferred. Formatting guidelines and submission links are clearly outlined on the website.
Essay and nonfiction submissions can span 750 to 3,500 words, with a strong preference for topics rooted in or relevant to African contexts. Writers are encouraged to think boldly and submit pieces that offer fresh perspectives or unconventional approaches.
In the drama category, playwrights may submit one-act plays with a performance time of 10 to 30 minutes. Submissions can be experimental and should not exceed seven characters, though three minor characters with limited dialogue are permitted. Both previously staged and unperformed scripts are accepted.
For visual art and photography, artists may submit a portfolio of 3–5 works around a unifying theme. Works should be compiled into a PDF under 100MB, with further instructions available through the visual arts submission link.
Literary reviews are also welcomed. Reviews should not exceed 1,500 words and must focus on recent publications. Interview submissions are not currently being accepted.
Contributors are also asked to submit a short bio, a recent portrait, and their social media handles for tagging upon publication. Only one submission is allowed per category within the current window, and simultaneous submissions are permitted with prior notice if accepted elsewhere.
In line with its continued support of African art, Agbowo offers modest honoraria to all contributors. Single poems will receive ₦20,000, while suites of two to four poems earn ₦40,000. Both fiction and nonfiction pieces are compensated at ₦50,000, and one-act plays will also receive ₦40,000. Visual art contributors will receive ₦30,000. Non-Nigerian contributors will be paid the equivalent in their local currency using OANDA rates, via Wise or PayPal.
Furthermore, all selected poems will automatically be considered for the Editor’s Prize for Poetry, a special recognition that comes with a $100 cash award.
The submission window runs from April 6 to May 31, with contributors expected to receive decisions by July 2025. The issue will be published in October 2025 and remains unthemed, offering contributors full creative freedom.
Submission links and full guidelines are available on the official Agbowo website.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
