Flame Tree Fiction has launched an open call for submissions to its upcoming anthology, Africanfuturism Short Stories, inviting writers from Africa and the diaspora to contribute speculative tales rooted in African perspectives.
The collection, scheduled for release in 2026, will form part of the publisher’s Gothic Fantasy series. It follows the release of Afrofuturism Short Stories later this year, creating a two-volume dialogue between stories of the African continent and the Black experience in the West.
“Stories should be set in and about Africa – whether that’s a future Africa, an alternative Africa or a parallel Africa,” the submission notice states. “The genre implies a lean towards science fiction rather than fantasy, and towards positive scenarios and concepts, but of course is open to interpretation.”
Writers may submit original or previously published stories between 2,000 and 4,000 words. Accepted works will be paid at Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) rates — 8 cents (6 pence) per word for new stories, and 6 cents (4 pence) for reprints. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed, provided the writer holds the rights.
Strict guidelines apply: each submission must be emailed to african@flametreepublishing.com with the story title as the subject line, and the attached file name must match the title. Stories using AI-generated text will not be considered.
Flame Tree’s Gothic Fantasy series has previously featured anthologies such as Black Sci-Fi Short Stories, African Ghost Short Stories and First Peoples Shared Stories.
By offering professional pay and global exposure, the anthology presents a major opportunity for African and diaspora writers to shape the future of speculative fiction, expanding how the continent is imagined in literature.
Click here to read the full guidelines! The deadline for entries is November 2, 2025.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
