Sisonke Msimang.

The Artists in Residency (AIR) programme has announced its 2018 shortlists, and included on the 28-name lists are: Sisonke Msimang, author of the memoir Always Another Country (2017) and winner of the 2017 Brittle Paper Award for Essays/Think Pieces; Mona Eltahaway, author of Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution (2015); Ayobami Adebayo, author of the Baileys Prize-shortlisted novel Stay with Me (2016); Yemisi Aribisala, author of the John Avery Award-winning essay collection Longthroat Memoirs (2016), whose essay recently appeared in The New Yorker; Efemia Chela, 2014 Caine Prize- and 2018 Gerald Kraak Award finalist; Biyi Bandele, author of the novel Burma Boy (2007) and director of the Half of a Yellow Sun film (2013); Noo Saro-Wiwa, author of the travelogue Looking for Transwonderland (2012); and Nick Mulgrew, founder of uHlanga Poetry Press.

Mona Eltahaway. Image from VICE via Google.

An initiative of Africa Centre “seeking high calibre African artists, in different stages of their development (from emerging to late career), who are provocative, innovative, and stretching the boundaries of their artistic practice,” Artists in Residency (AIR) offers residencies in Australia, Brazil, Spain, Italy and the U.S., for “composers, writers, video/filmmakers, curators, visual and performance artists as well as other forms, whose work is inspired by or relates to the challenges facing humanity.”

Here is part of the announcement.

Last year, we received a total of 351 applications for residencies with our partners in Australia, Brazil, Spain, Italy and USA. The Africa Centre uses an external selection panel to shortlist its applicants. These artists are then submitted to our partners for final selection. The Africa Centre team is proud to present its shortlist of 28 innovative and socially engaged artists.

Ayobami Adebayo.

Here is the shortlist for the AIR – Bellagio Center Residency:

  • Ayobami Adebayo | Literature | Nigeria
  • Biyi Bandele | Multidisciplinary | Nigeria
  • Francis Nii Obodai | Visual Arts | Ghana
  • Mona Eltahawy | Literature | Egypt
  • Mo Abudu | Film | Nigeria
  • Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah | Literature | Ghana
  • Noo Saro – Wiwa | Literature | Nigeria
  • Sisonke Msimang | Literature | South Africa
  • Sokari Douglas Camp | Visual Arts | Nigeria
  • Sylvia Vollenhoven | Literature | South Africa
  • Yemisi Aribisala | Literature | Nigeria

Here is the shortlist for AIR’s General Competition, which awards residencies at Bundanon Trust (Australia), Fountainhead (USA), Instituto Sacatar (Brazil), JIWAR Creation & Society (Spain), and the International Studio and Curatorial Practice (USA):

  • Adrian van Wyk | Literature | South Africa
  • Aida Muluneh | Visual Arts | Nigeria
  • Amira Hanafi | Visual Arts | Egypt
  • Cara Stacey | Music | South Africa
  • Efemia Chela | Literature | Ghana & Zambia
  • Frederick Bamfo | Visual Arts| Ghana
  • Galina Juritz | Music | South Africa
  • Modupeola Olufunke Fadugba | Visual Arts | Nigeria
  • Mohamed Osman Mohamed Altoum | Film | Sudan
  • Ngendo Mukii | Visual Arts | Kenya
  • Nick Mulgrew | Literature | South Africa
  • Osasuyi Okungbowa | Literature | Nigeria
  • Sarra I. Saeed | Music | Sudan
  • Sethembile Msezane | Visual Arts | South Africa
  • Shatha Al-deghady | Visual Arts | Egypt
  • Simone Haysom | Literature | South Africa
  • Tawanda Takura | Visual Arts| Zimbabwe
Nick Mulgrew. Photo credit: Short Story Day Africa.

Announcements of the winners of the AIR- Bellagio Center will be in early May, while those for the General Competition will be earlier, in March.

Congratulations to the shortlisted artists.