OlongoAfrica has officially announced the recipients of its highly anticipated 2025 Black Orpheus Fellowship, a prestigious initiative supporting artists, writers, and researchers exploring Africa’s literary and artistic heritage.
Following a call for applications late last year, OlongoAfrica received an overwhelming 59 submissions, each showcasing unique and ambitious projects. A panel of five distinguished judges, comprising editors, curators, and academics, meticulously evaluated the entries, ultimately selecting nine outstanding fellows whose work aligns with the legacy of the Black Orpheus journal.
The selected fellows include:
- Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, a visual artist reinterpreting Black Orpheus covers in linocuts, drawing inspiration from Susanne Wenger and Georgina Beier.
- Tinashe Mushakavanhu will be researching Black Orpheus archives through metadata analysis and modern algorithms to interrogate literary history.
- Sarah Laniyan will investigate the contributions of female writers to Black Orpheus and produce in-depth research on the subject.
- Ebunoluwa Adepoju aims to explore Colette Omogbai’s work through a series of visual artworks grounded in poststructuralism and material-body ontologies.
- IfeOluwa Nihinlola will continue research in art history and archival study, focusing on artists published in Black Orpheus.
- Kosoluchi Agboanike will examine Mbari from an Igbo art perspective and explore the role of space in artistic movements in Ìbàdàn and Osogbo.
- Damilola Faith Ayeni will write a 3,000-word article analyzing racial diversity, Apartheid, and social upheavals in Black Orpheus production.
- Ifesinachi Nwadike will use water as a metaphor to explore literary discourse and the thematic challenges within Black Orpheus writings.
- Denja Abdullahi will investigate the Black Orpheus journal archive to analyze the evolution of African literature and its socio-political influences.
The top four fellows will receive a grant of 2 million naira each to advance their projects, while five others will receive a one-time grant of 500,000 naira to support their research and creative endeavors. In addition, all applicants will have access to the Black Orpheus archive and the opportunity to have their work published by OlongoAfrica throughout the year.
The Black Orpheus Fellows will collaborate with OlongoAfrica’s editorial team and consultants. Renowned writer and editor Mọlará Wood will serve as the project’s Editor-in-Chief, providing year-long guidance and support to the fellows as they develop their research and creative work.
For more information and updates on the fellows’ progress, visit OlongoAfrica’s website.
Congratulations all 2025 Black Orpheus Fellows!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
