The 2019 Gerald Kraak Award is open for submissions. The deadline has been moved from 25 June to 31 August 2018.
Founded in 2016 by the Jacana Literary Foundation and The Other Foundation, in honour of the late activist Gerald Kraak, the R25 000 Gerald Kraak Award aims to honour writing and photography by Africans which “provoke thought on the topics of gender, social justice and sexuality.” The shortlisted works are collected in an anthology published by Jacana Media.
The 2017 award went to Ugandan-born Kenyan photographer Sarah Waiswa and Kenyan writer Farah Ahamed. The 2017 anthology, Pride and Prejudice: African Perspectives on Gender, Social Justice and Sexuality, was launched in May of last year. The 2018 award went to Nigerian nonfiction writer Pwaangulongii Dauod for his essay, “Africa’s Future Has No Space for Stupid Black Men.” The 2018 anthology, As You Like It, was launched this May. Here is their description of the anthology:
As You Like It is a collection of the shortlisted entries from over 400 submissions received from thirteen African countries. It showcases some of the most provocative works of fiction, poetry, journalism, photography and academic writing. This anthology series has become an act of protest, affirmation and love. It represents a new wave of fresh storytelling that stimulates thought and expression on the subject of gender, social justice, sexuality and self-expression.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE 2019 AWARD
Submissions will be open from 24 May 2018 to 31 August 2018.
The subject matter of the work must relate to gender, human rights and/or sexuality in Africa.
Works which fall within one of the following categories are accepted:
• fiction
• non-fiction
• poetry
• photography / photographic essays
• journalism / magazine reporting
• scholarly articles in academic journals and book chapters / extracts
• social media / blog writings and contributions
Entries must have been created by a citizen of an African country. Written submissions must be in English.
Up to three entries are permitted per author, across categories. Each entry must be submitted on a separate electronic entry form.
Please number your pages, use a font size of 12, Times New Roman and 1.5 spacing (avoid unnecessary formatting, such as borders).
Materials must not exceed 15 000 words or 8 images.
Images must be 300 dpi high resolution.
Images will be published in an image section on matte art paper and not in the body of the text.
We are looking for work which tells a story or illustrates an idea. If one photograph achieves this, then we welcome the submission of that single image. It is, however, more likely to be accomplished through a collection of photographs or a photographic essay.
We accept unpublished as well as previously published works.
No handwritten or hard copy entries can be considered. Submissions must be made via the online portal.
Entrants’ name should not be included on the manuscript being submitted, as the award is judged blind and the author remains anonymous until the shortlist has been selected.
There is an opportunity to use a pseudonym should one be required.
Intertextuality and references must be appropriately attributed and permissions from copyright holders obtained. This includes poems; song lyrics; quotes and excerpts from books, newspapers, magazines, journals; and reproductions of artwork, photographs or other forms.
Submissions are considered to implicitly indicate the entrant’s permission for their work to be published in the anthology, if shortlisted, for no payment or royalty.
SUBMIT HERE.
From the Gerald Kraak Award:
Our aim is to ensure that the anthology and information about the award will be disseminated as widely as possible throughout the African continent. To this end, Africa World Press (Ethiopia), Amalion (Senegal), FEMRITE (Uganda), Kwani (Kenya), Weaver Press (Zimbabwe) and Wordweaver (Namibia) will be associated with the project.
About The Other Foundation: The Other Foundation is an African Trust that gathers support for those who are working to protect and advance the rights, wellbeing and social inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities –and gives support in a smart way that helps groups to work better for lasting change. To learn more, please visit www.theotherfoundation.org
About The Jacana Literary Foundation: The Jacana Literary Foundation (JLF) is a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to promote and foster writing excellence from Africa through a number of initiatives. By securing funding for key projects, the JLF aims to publish literature that might not otherwise see publication for purely commercial reasons. This allows the JLF’s publishing partner, Jacana Media, to produce literature which supports the concept of bibliodiversity. We believe that it is through the reading and writing of local creative works that the truths of our lives are best told.
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