The Library Of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATAD) is announcing a new residency program exploring the theme “What is Africa to Me?”. All writers of African descent across the world are eligible as long as their work grapples with the complexities and nuances of what it means to be African, or of African descent, in the 21st century.

Supported by Hawthornden Foundation, the LOATAD Black Atlantic Residency is 4 weeks long around February to April 2024 and located in LOATAD in Greater Accra, Ghana. Inspired by Countee Cullen’s 1925 poem “Heritage” and Paul Gilroy’s 1993 text The Black Atlantic, the program seeks to break down barriers between writers from across the continent and the Diaspora and bring them together around a common purpose and theme.

Residents must be willing to commit to the entirety of the residency program and produce a piece of writing between 2,500 and 10,000 words on the theme for publication in the anthology to be published by LOATAD at the end of the residency. Residents must also work collectively and individually, take part in critique sessions and workshops, participate in a public event at the end of the residency and any publicity that may arise from the program.

Writers will receive up to $600 USD to cover travel costs to and from Ghana, except if they are located in the U.S. in which case they will be responsible for their own travel costs. Writers will also get a month of room and board at LOATAD, a stipend of $500 USD, access to the library’s resources, trips to relevant places of interest in Ghana, and meetings with key players in the Ghanaian/African literary space.

Eligibility:

  • Beginner, Emerging and Established writers from and/or based in Africa, the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Europe whose work engages with issues concerning Africa and/or the Diaspora, specifically, The Black Atlantic.
  • Writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, playwrights, and academic texts with good publication credits in literary journals / magazines / newspapers, etc.
  • Writers can write in any language, but must be able to communicate in English.
  • Writers must be aged 21 or over.
  • Writers must own a valid passport and be willing to travel to Ghana to participate in the physical residency.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Complete the application form and upload the following documents in one single PDF document:
    • Letter of motivation (one page)
    • Description of how your work to date has engaged with the themes of this residency
    • Writing sample of no more than 1500 words in English, or with an English translation
    • Name and contact information of two referees (they will only be contacted if your application is successful)
    • Name your PDF submission using the following convention: Surname_First Name_Country_Genre

Deadline: October 29, 2023

Apply here.

For more information, go here. Good luck!