The Witsprouts Project, a cultural organisation dedicated to expanding participation in African arts and culture, has opened nominations for the second edition of the Witsprouts Storytelling Prize. Established to revive the art of oral storytelling while rewarding exceptional talent, the prize carries a cash award of ₦500,000 for this edition, with nominations open now through September 30, 2026.

The prize celebrates young creators and artists pushing the boundaries of narrative storytelling through multimedia, and is open to all aspiring storytellers, performers, and creatives working to reinvent how stories get told. Its debut edition centered on “Rebooting Legends and Memories,” calling on Nigerian artists to reimagine traditional African oral storytelling for digital platforms through original 5–10 minute theatrical video performances. This year, Witsprouts is widening its scope considerably: the prize now honors storytellers across all forms of oral and multimedia storytelling, from podcasts and spoken word to animation, audio drama, and video, with no fixed theme guiding submissions.

Eligible nominees are young storytellers and voice artists using multimedia to tell engaging, impactful stories, working in any form of oral or multimedia storytelling, and based anywhere across Africa or the African diaspora. Nominations are open to anyone — friends, colleagues, fans, or storytellers nominating themselves — and can be submitted here.

Speaking on this year’s expanded focus, Witsprouts Project Director Tope Akintayo described storytelling as one of the most powerful tools available, and one that continues to evolve. He pointed to contemporary griots, podcasters, spoken word artists, animators, and voice-over artists as carriers of something vital, and framed the prize as a way to ensure those voices are encouraged, celebrated, and supported. He further tied the initiative to Witsprouts’ broader mission, noting that creativity is best rewarded when given a platform, and that the organisation remains committed to showcasing emerging creatives whose work deserves a wider audience.

Nominations close September 30, 2026. For enquiries, contact prize@witsprouts.org.