Nigerian writer David Emeka and South Sudanese American writer Anyang Kual Ayai have been selected for the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Emerging Critics Class of 2026–2027, joining eight other writers in the year-long programme.
Established in 2017 by the National Book Critics Circle, the Emerging Critics Fellowship was created by literary critic Elizabeth Taylor to support and develop the next generation of book critics. The year-long programme provides emerging writers with mentorship from experienced critics, professional development and access to the NBCC’s literary network. It is designed for writers at different stages of their careers who want to review and write about books for print and digital publications. Participants receive one-on-one mentorship from NBCC board members, take part in small-group question-and-answer sessions and attend professional development and craft lectures held online.
The programme also provides fellows with a year of free NBCC membership, access to the organisation’s events and an invitation to its annual reception.
The other members of the 2026–2027 cohort are: Alisyn Amant, Eve Bromberg, Corinne Cordasco-Pak, Siobhan Hart, Lora Maslenitsyna, Lana Reeves, Conor Truax and Suzana Vuljevic.
About David Emeka and Anyang Kual Ayai
David Emeka is a Nigerian writer and graduate of the Washington University in St. Louis MFA program. His work has been published in Isele, Adroit Journal, Epiphany Magazine, Republic Journal, and others, and received support from Tin House and The Outpost Foundation. He is working on a novel and story collection.
Anyang Kual Ayai (she/her) is a South Sudanese American writer raised between Nigeria and Tennessee. A graduate of Columbia University (BA) and a Nonfiction MFA candidate at the Columbia School of the Arts, she approaches her work as an interrogation of the effects of displacement and transcultural upbringing. Her criticism utilizes a postcolonial framework to document and theorize experiences of dislocated diasporic Africans in contemporary culture. She lives in New York City, where she is at work on a collection of essays about African music.
Congratulations, David Emeka and Anyang Kual Ayai!
