The French Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with StoryMi and The Republic Magazine, announced a unique opportunity for emerging writers, photographers, and illustrators to explore and celebrate Nigeria’s cultural and historical heritages through diverse forms.
Program Details:
- Duration: 3 months (August – October)
- Location: One week workshop residency in Ibadan (24th to 30th of August),
- 2-month online mentorship sessions (September-October)
- Participants:
- 5 writers (nonfiction preferably)
- 3 photographers
- 2 illustrators
- Publication: Selected works will be featured in a special edition of The Republic Magazine, set for publication in December.
Objective: This special issue of The Republic Magazine aims to create a thought-provoking and visually stunning magazine that showcases alternative perspectives on Nigerian heritage. “Heritages” can be defined as “Alternative” when being forgotten and facing long-term peril of disappearance, or because they represent recent creations by minority, marginalised, and/or protesting groups, institutions, and individuals. It can be monuments, but also language, religion, tradition, music, history… everything that makes Nigeria such a unique and diverse country in Africa.
Through this residency, The Republic Magazine and its partners seek to amplify diverse voices and perspectives, fostering a deeper appreciation for our collective heritage.
Participants will have the opportunity to work closely with acclaimed professionals from around the world, gaining valuable insights and guidance.
Andrew Esiebo: A visual storyteller who integrates multimedia practice and artistry. His works have been published globally in books, magazines and websites (The National Geographic, New York Times, Courrier International, Washington Post Financial Times, Guardian Online). He is considered one of the best African photojournalists of his generation.
Diana Ejaita: A Nigerian-Italian illustrator and textile designer. She lives between Berlin, Germany, and Lagos. In 2014, Ejaita started a fashion label, called WearYourMask, inspired by West African traditions and her Italo-Nigerian heritage. In 2019, she illustrated a Google Doodle commemorating the 119th birthday of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Ejaita has designed eight covers for The New Yorker and two covers for The Republic magazine.
Dipo Faloyin: A senior editor and writer at VICE, his work focuses on culture, race and identity across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His writing has also featured in the Guardian, Esquire, Newsweek, Dazed and others. He was born in Chicago, raised in Lagos and currently lives in London. He’s the author of Africa is not a Country (Penguin Books).
Interested applicants must complete the application form with all necessary details for their application to be valid.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 20th of July, 2024 via the application form.
For enquiries, please send an email to contact@storymi.org
Bongiwe T. Maphosa
Bongiwe Maphosa is a writer whose fiction and poetry offers fresh, imaginative perspectives on the human condition. Her work has been published in prominent literary spaces, including Isele Magazine, Akowdee Magazine, the AVBOB Poetry Anthology, Journal of African Youth in Literature (JAY Lit), and more. She was also nominated for the 2025 Best of the Net Anthology. Bongiwe is one of six writers selected for the inaugural Caine Prize Online Editing program and serves as a content writer, peer reviewer, and tier three awards judge for JAYLit. Bridging inner reflection with speculative worlds, she continues to carve out a distinctive voice within contemporary African literature for a growing global audience.
