The Afritondo Short Story Prize 2025 is now open, calling all Black and African writers worldwide.
This year, they want writers to respond to the theme of “masks”: spiritual, psychological, social, and cultural coverings that people wear.
In some African cultures, masks are worn only by a particular group of people. Around the world, though, everyday people wear them. Who wears masks, and how are they used to organise and make sense of social life? What psychological and cultural benefits/pitfalls are associated with mask-wearing? What types of masks do people wear? Why do people wear masks? And how do masks bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, the visible and the invisible, the ordinary and the supernatural?
Every year, Afritondo seeks stories that offer creative interpretations of the theme. They like stories that surprise them, that take risks with imagination and language. A good story for the prize will offer unique insight into the theme and explore characters in refreshing and imaginative ways.
Terms and Guidelines
You may only submit an entry if you meet any of the following eligibility requirements:
- You are a citizen or national of an African country.
- One of your parents is a national of an African country.
- You are of black ethnicity or belong to a black minority population anywhere in the world.
For any questions about eligibility, please contact admin@afritondo.com. - Submissions must be made within the stated deadline. Any submission after the deadline will be disregarded.
- Submissions must be in English.
- Submissions must reflect the theme.
- Only one submission per writer is allowed.
- Stories must be written in English and between 3,000 to 5,000 words.
- The submission, including the title, must be between 3000 and 5000 words.
The submission should be in Microsoft Word (doc, docx) and in the following format:
- Double-spaced, Times New Roman or Calibri font, 12-point size.
- The title of the story should appear at the top of the first page, followed by the word count. No further information is required.
- Every page must be numbered.
- The author’s name or detail must not be included anywhere on the document to be uploaded. The document must contain only the title, word count, and story. All entries are judged anonymously.
- Submission is accepted only via email. Entries should be sent to submissions@afritondo.com. The subject of the submission should read: Submission for Afritondo Short Story Prize 2025. The filename of the entry (i.e. the attached document) must be the title of the short story. In the body of the form, tell us briefly about yourself, including such information as your legal name, country of residence, age (optional), and contact details.
- Entries must not have been previously published or shortlisted for another prize. Also, entries published or shortlisted during the judging or publishing process will be disqualified.
- Entrants agree as a condition of entry that the prize organisers may publicise the fact that a story has been entered, longlisted, or shortlisted for the prize.
- Where a story has been longlisted, it can no longer be withdrawn from the competition.
- By submitting an entry, the author agrees to its inclusion in an anthology should the judges select it and to work with editors to get the story ready for publication.
- By submitting an entry, the author attests that it is their original work and grants exclusive global print and digital rights to Afritondo Press Ltd should the entry be longlisted or selected for publication in the anthology. The copyright remains with the author.
- The decisions of the judges in relation to the winning entries are final and not subject to appeal.
- Longlisted and shortlisted writers will be expected to submit their pictures and other information necessary for publicising the prize on social and other media.
- The winner will be expected to take part in publicity activities, including social media, where possible.
Afritondo is a media and publishing platform that aims to connect with and tell the stories of Africans and black minority populations across the globe.
Their main aim is to improve diversity in publishing by offering aspiring African and black minority writers a viable platform for telling their stories. They feature stories, essays, commentaries, and poems sent to them by established, budding, and aspiring writers alike. Afritondo also publishes books and anthologies.
The deadline for the 2025 Prize is 23rd December, 2024.
Best of luck to all those submitting!
Bongiwe T. Maphosa
Bongiwe Maphosa is a budding author with a passion for storytelling. With her thought-provoking narratives, she takes her readers on a literary adventure. Bongiwe's works on the human condition from a fresh perspective have earned her recognition and publications in the Avbob Poetry Anthology of 2019, The Writer's Club of South Africa 2021, and JAY Lit in 2021. She hopes to cement her place in the literary community.
