Earlier this year, Nigerian author Unoma Azuah announced a nonfiction writing competition for queer women from West Africa. The project was done in partnership with Women’s Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality (WISE Nigeria).

The longlist has been published! Out of a pool of over 50 entries received, 22 were selected. The list includes writers from Bénin Republic, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.

The submission was open to only queer women from West Africa. This included lesbian, bisexual and trans women from West Africa, either living in West Africa and or in the diaspora.

The winner will receive $1000, with the first runner up receiving $750, and the second receiving $500. Selected stories will be published in a collection titled Wedged Between Man and God, a creative non-fiction anthology of queer West African women’s stories.

Congrats to all the longlisted writers! The short list will be announced on the 30th of October, 2021.

Longlist: Title, Author, Country

“Sido”  by Melody Boateng (Bénin Republic)

“The End of the Tunnel” by Abalawa Solime (Bénin Republic)

“A Life of Hope”  by Lynn Aurelie Attemene (Burkina Faso)

“Suffocating in the Comfort of my Wardrobe” by Tanamia Ilunga  (Côte d’Ivoire)

“Javelin: High Voltage” by Gsan Rolifane  (Côte d’Ivoire)

“Hope Flies by a Girl  Like Me” by Enyo Sela  (Ghana)

“Shouting Myself Hoarse” by Delasi Sanenu   (Ghana)

“Live to Fight Another Day” by Sasha Fattahu (Ghana)

“A Lonely Journey Through Self Acceptance” by Lariba Johnson  (Ghana)

“Dear Mom, I am Gay” by Aisha Balde (Liberia)

“Ehi-A Bini Dyke” by Osazeme Oyegun (Mali/Nigeria)

“I am who I am” by Emmanuella Nduonofit (Nigeria)

“I want to, but not her kind of Marriage” by Vivian Nwachukwu (Nigeria)

“Catharsis” by Kemi Lade (Nigeria)

“To the Girl in the Closet” by Free Born (Nigeria)

“Arranged Marriage with a gay man” by Veejay Ogugua (Nigeria)

“From my Mouth to God’s Ears” by Joy Steve (Nigeria)

“Growing Wings” by Olaedo Obinze (Nigeria)

“My Daddy’s Daughter” by  Noni Salma (USA/Nigeria)

“Let’s Pray” by Eiphiee 1ze (Nigeria)

“Multiple Colors of Identity” by Tai Maduka (Nigeria)

“Why Don’t You Pray” by Claire Ba (Senegal)