Poda-Poda Stories, the literary magazine dedicated to African and African diaspora writing, has opened submissions for its upcoming themed issue. The call is open now, with a deadline of March 30, 2026, and the theme is Omission.

The editors are inviting fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that engages with concealment, conceit, white lies, and the many quiet violences of leaving things out. Omission, they suggest, can work at the level of subject, memory, language, or form; an invitation that leaves generous room for writers to bring their own interpretations to the page.

Submissions are open to writers who identify as African or of African descent, whether on the continent or in the diaspora.

What to send: Poetry submissions may include up to three poems, with a five-page maximum submitted as a single document. Fiction (short stories) should fall between 1,000 and 2,500 words. Nonfiction essays and life-writing should run between 900 and 2,500 words; book and film reviews are not accepted for this call.

How to submit: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction each have their own dedicated submission forms, available on the Poda-Poda website at poda-poda.com/submit. Work must be original and entirely your own, AI-generated or plagiarized content will not be considered, and previously published work (in print or online) is not eligible. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but writers should notify the editors at [email protected] if their work is accepted elsewhere. Do not include your name in the submitted document itself.

Accepted work will be published in June 2026. Questions can be directed to [email protected] or to Poda-Poda’s social media channels.