Update on Mahube

The WABO Executive Committee put out calls for submissions of short story, poetry and creative nonfiction around the theme of water for the next issue of Mahube.

Unfortunately we only received submissions from four writers. As such we've made the decision not to publish a print edition of Mahube. Instead we've given the writers who submitted the option of having their work published on this blog. Some have taken us up on this option. In the coming weeks be on the lookout for a new page on this blog highlighting some of our members' writing.

KWANI? Manuscript Project

Batswana writers, do you have an unpublished novel? This is a fantastic opportunity. Kenyan literary magazine, Kwani?, is running a contest for novels for African writers. There are cash prizes for the winners and the chance of publication. This is a one off chance, don't let it pass you by!

(From Kwani? website) "Beyond the foundations laid by Soyinka, Ngugi and Mahfouz, in remembrance of Yambo Ouologuen's pre-colonial quest and Mariam Ba's bending of form, to the urban journeys of Meja Mwangi, the precocious post-everything of Kojo Laing and the musical rhythms of Ahmadou Khrouma. This prize seeks to recognize the possibilities of form in an ongoing genre that has re-emerged in the work of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Alain Mabanckou, The Kwani? Manuscript Project is a conversation, an ill guised attempt at growing its own list. For there is no greater celebration of emergent forms than in publishing our own, thanks to those who have existed before us and helped us believe. We look forward to your submissions

The top 3 manuscripts will be awarded cash prizes:
1st Prize: 300,000 KShs
2nd Prize: 150,000 KShs
3rd Prize: 75,000 KShs

In addition Kwani? will publish manuscripts from across the shortlist and longlist, including the three winning manuscripts, as well as partnering with regional and global agents and publishing houses to create high profile international publication opportunities.

Winners will be announced in December 2012 at the Kwani? Litfest."

For guidelines for submission go HERE.

Our New Literary Magazineis Up Online!

The Kalahari Review, operating out of Gaborone, is now up online.
They are accepting submissions. Go here to see guidelines.

We wish them all the best and hope that writers in Botswana will send in high quality submissions so as to showcase the work we are doing here.

Workshop for Women Writers in Uganda

Call for Submissions for the 4th FEMRITE Regional Women Writers’ Residence November 2012

Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE) calls for submissions for her 4th Regional Women Writers Residence to be held in November 2012. This is an inspiring initiative that brings together upcoming African women writers. The main objectives of the residency are:

• To bring established writers to mentor upcoming African women writers
• To give upcoming Ugandan women writers the opportunity to interact with women writers from the continent
• To give African women writers conducive space and time pursue their writing projects
• To create opportunities for inter-cultural discourse among women writers
• To strengthen collaboration among women writers’ initiatives in Africa
• To generate short stories for publication in an anthology

At the end of the residence, we expect the writers to have:
• had mentoring sessions with an established writer
• improved at least one of their writing projects
• enriched each other’s manuscripts through discussion
• submitted their improved short story for the residency anthology

How to apply
Interested women are required to submit;
• Part of a novel / short Story collection in WORD document (40 pages, typed in Times New Roman, font 12, 1.5 spacing).
• A short story for publication in the residency anthology
• A brief bio (not more than 10 lines)

This call is open to African women living on the continent. Writers already attached to writers groups in their countries are encouraged to apply.


Deadline for submissions is 30th April 2012


Please Note:
1. All applicants will receive notification by email once their manuscripts are received.
2. The Residency targets 15 writers
3. The Residency will last two weeks in November 2012
4. Successful applicants will be notified by 30th August 2012.
5. Successful published applicants will be kindly requested to donate copies of their works to the FEMRITE Resource Centre
6. Applicants should not have published more than one book.
7. FEMRITE will solicit support to meet costs of travel, accommodation, & meals.

For inquiries and submissions, please email info@femriteug.org

Kalahari Review Looking For Submissions

The Kalahari Review is interested in material exploring Africa and Africans in unique and avant-garde ways. We are looking for stories that have not often been told but should be – through voices that have not yet been heard - but should.

We hope to push the limits and expose the world to aspects of Africa not often shown - both the positives and the negatives.

We are also interested in pieces about and from Africans living abroad as well.

Because this is a web-based publication there are no word count restrictions.

Compensation will be paid on publication.

Thank you for being a part of this project and good luck.

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All submissions should be emailed to: editor@kalaharireview.com

Fiction, Poetry, Essays, and Humor pieces: Should be sent as a PDF or WORD attachment and should be accompanied by a proper query letter. Please include your contact details including full name, postal address, e-mail and telephone number in the body of the query letter.

Photos, Art Work and Cartoons Portfolios: Should be sent as a PDF, JPG. or PNG attachments and should be accompanied by a proper query letter. Please include your contact details including full name, postal address, e-mail and telephone number in the body of the query letter. (Note: this area particularly the publication is interested only in avant-garde content. We are not interested in ordinary wildlife or landscapes. Portraits will be considered if they have a unique quality to them.)

Feature articles, Profiles, Conversations and Interviews: Please attach your pitch letters as a PDF or WORD attachment. Please include any photos or graphic illustrations that you feel would help your pitch. Please include your contact details including full name, postal address, e-mail and telephone number in the body of the letter.

Note: Please thoroughly check your submissions for proper formatting, grammar and punctuation. Gross errors in these areas will seriously damage any works consideration for publication.

Deadline Extension for Mahube

Please note that the WABO Executive Committee has extended the deadline for submissions for Mahube until the 15th of February. Please email your submissions to botswanawriters@gmail.com. For guidelines go here.

We look forward to reading your submissions.

A 12 month Residency for Writers in Berlin

A residency for writers, artists and film makers is available in Berlin. Read everything HERE

Applications and materials must as a rule be submitted before January
1. The juries meet in March or April. Invitations are then issued
for the following year.All enquiries and application forms should be
sent to:

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Berliner Künstlerprogramm
Markgrafenstraße 37, 10117 Berlin
Deutschland
bkp.berlin@daad.de
www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de
berliner künstlerprogramm
artists-in-berlin programme
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