The Editorial Board of The Shuttle Journal, the annual academic publication produced by students of the Department of English at the University of Lagos, has put out a call for papers and commissions for the 2024/2025 edition. Pitches for commissions should be submitted by July 1, 2025 and papers must be submitted by July 3, 2025.

This year’s issue will be published in honor of Professor Oko Okoro, an esteemed scholar of Classical and Nigerian English grammar and syntax, who also served as Editor-in-Chief of The Shuttle in 1980. This issue’s theme, “Nigerianness: Manifestations, Syncretism & Globalisation,” intends to explore how Nigerian identity is shaped, performed, and transformed through language, culture, and artistic expression in both local and global contexts.

The editorial team invites submissions from student authors across all universities and colleges, both within and outside Nigeria.

Submitters to the general call for papers should consider analytical papers on Nigerian English (its grammar, syntax, phonology, morphology and semantics); critical essays focused on the manifestations, globalization and syncretism of cultures within the Nigerian culture in cultural productions, including but not limited to film, music, artworks and novels; as well as creative works.

Strands and possible sub-themes:

  • Nigerian English (Nigerian English grammar; syntactic structures in Nigerian English; phonology and pronunciation patterns in Nigerian English; Nigerian English morphology; Nigerian English semantics; sociolinguistics and Nigerian English; pragmatics and speech acts; Nigerian English education; Nigerian English in the media.)
  • Nigerian Pidgin (development, overlap, and influences on the development of Nigerian English; debates on language acquisition.)
  • Contemporary Nigerian Literature (Nigerian English in Nigerian literature; linguistic innovations or neologisms in contemporary Nigerian literature; the language and style of Nigerian literature; literary identity, trends and debates; the thematic preoccupations of Nigerian literature, author profiles; critical reviews of selected works.)
  • Nigerian Culture in Cultural Productions/Nigerian Cultural Productions (Nollywood, Nigerian documentary films, syncretism of cultures in artworks by Nigerians, trends in Nigerian fashion, the language of Nigerian music, the globalization of Nigerian culture and media.)

 General call for papers submission guidelines:

  • Submissions should be original and well-written papers of 1200–1800 words.
  • Submissions open on May 3, 2025 and close on July 3, 2025.
  • Entrants should email their submissions to [email protected] with the subject ‘Shuttle Journal Submission’.
  • Entrants should name their document in the format ‘Author’s Name — Title of Work’.
  • Entrants should send their full names, name of their school, short biography, a photograph or scanned copy of your school ID, the abstract of their paper and the strand they are submitting under in the body of your email.
  • For enquiries, entrants should email [email protected] with the subject ‘Enquiries -Shuttle Journal’.

Those interested in submitting a pitch for a specific commission should select one of the following topics:

  • Nigerian food history or food dialects
  • any topic related to Nigerian documentary films
  • the language of non-profit communication or media in Nigeria

Commission pitch guidelines:

  • Submit your pitch here
  • Calls for entries are open until July 1, 2025
  • Include an abstract of your essay or paper (no more than 150 words)
  • Upload a writing sample (publisher or unpublished work)
  • Editors will look through your pitch and contact you directly if you are selected to receive a commission.
  • Selected writers are expected to submit their first substantial manuscript on July 5th 2025, after which they’ll receive the first installment of their commission. The second installment is to be paid once the writer and editor submit the final manuscript.

See the NASELSUNILAG blog and Instagram for more information. Email [email protected] with the subject ‘Enquiries-Shuttle Journal’ with any questions.