Afritondo

26/12/2024

We'd love to thank all those who submitted stories for the 2025 Afritondo Short Story Prize.

Submissions are now closed and we look forward to reading your entries.

The longlist will be announced on March 28, 2025.

We hope you enjoy the rest of the festive season 🎄💥

17/12/2024

Hello writers in the house💥💥

Just one week left to submit your entries for the 2025 Afritondo Prize!

To inspire you as you dot the i's and cross the t's, check out this fantastic Spotify playlist curated by 🎶🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6EXjjjft0jb1SQL2DTVKKP?si=8a2171ae7e3b4e01

It features tracks that accompany her short story, The Headhunter, which was longlisted for the 2023 Prize.

You can read The Headhunter on our website: https://www.afritondo.com/afritondo/the-headhunter-desta-haile

Deadline for submission is 23 December 2024.

11/12/2024

In "My Crown," reflects on her hair journey against the backdrop of the historical and political circumstances surrounding Black hair.

'One Sunday church service, I wore my natural hair in its afro state. An older lady reached out to touch my hair and remarked, “Oh, I thought this wasn’t your natural hair. It looks like a bad wig,”' she writes.

Mayowa's essay weaves together her childhood experiences, from her afro to the "big chop" and ultimately to rediscovered "hair love". It's a powerful exploration of identity and self-acceptance.

You can read more on our website, afritondo.com (link in bio).

Do you have stories to share around your hair journey?Share them below! 💖✨

09/12/2024

Congratulations 🎉🎉

We are incredibly proud to celebrate your remarkable achievement as a runner-up in the Global Black Women's Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize!

We can't wait to see where your journey takes you next. Keep shining and sharing your brilliance with the world!

26/11/2024

Less than one month till deadline day!

Read "The Headhunter" by Desta Haile to get those creative juices flowing.

"The Headhunter" was on the longlist of the 2023 Afritondo Short Story Prize.

Link to story: https://www.afritondo.com/afritondo/the-headhunter-desta-haile

24/11/2024

It's just one month until the deadline for the 2025 Afritondo Short Story Prize, and you're probably putting those finishing touches to your story.

For inspiration, we invite you to read Joshua Chizoma's "Collector of Memories. powerful storytelling earned him a spot on the shortlist for both the 2021 Afritondo Short Story Prize and the 2022 Caine Prize. His work is a testament to the creativity and depth that can emerge when we embrace our unique perspectives.

This year’s theme, “Masks,” invites you to delve into the layers of identity and experience. What stories are waiting to be uncovered behind the “masks” we wear?

We cannot wait to receive and read all your stories, so keep them coming! The deadline for submission is December 23, 2024.

Collector of Memories by Joshua Chizoma: https://www.afritondo.com/afritondo/collector-of-memories 🖊️🌍

20/11/2024

Motivation Wednesday😄

The submission deadline for the 2025 Afritondo Short Story Prize is just around the corner—only a month left!

We are thrilled with the incredible entries we've received so far and looking forward to receiving all of your unique stories.

If you're seeking inspiration, check out these two outstanding stories that made it to the longlist in previous editions of the prize:

Collector of Memories by Joshua Chizoma (also shortlisted for the 2022 Caine Prize): www.afritondo.com/afritondo/audio-collector-of-memories

The Headhunter by Desta Haile: www.afritondo.com/afritondo/the-headhunter-desta-haile

We can't wait to read your stories! Remember, submissions close on December 23, 2024.

For more info on the 2025 prize, click here: https://www.afritondo.com/call2025

Let your creativity shine!

11/11/2024

11/11/2024

📣 Calling Black and African writers worldwide!

The Story Prize 2025 is open for submissions!

This year’s theme is “masks”: spiritual, psychological, social, and cultural coverings that people wear. Stories must be written in English and between 3,000 to 5,000 words.

The 2025 Short Story Prize will be judged by Rémy Ngamije, Ama Asantewa Diaka, and Umar Turaki

The deadline for the 2025 Prize is 23 December 2024.

Learn more: https://commonwealthfoundation.com/opportunity/afritondo-short-story-prize-2025/

02/10/2024

🌟 Join us at the Black British Book Festival! 🌟 Visit the Afritondo stall to check out our unique collection of books celebrating Black culture and creativity. Discover more about Afritondo and engage with fellow literature lovers! 📚✨

📍 Find us at Black book Marketplace,Level G Foyer, Barbican Centre. Let’s celebrate our narratives together!

28/09/2024

"But there is a sadness in his eyes that will not go away. Bottles of beer to their mouths, they all anxiously wait for him to at least say something, acknowledging that it is best to let a man crawl out of his shell on his own. Especially in such a place, where peace and love roam free like birds atop tall trees too high for stones to climb. The room may be too small, too crowded, but there is just enough room for love to have its play."

Read Ubong Johnson's beautifully written and humorous short story, "Something, Anything," which tells the story of a man in a bar with a lot on his mind.

Bottles of beer to their mouths, they all anxiously wait for him to at least say something, acknowledging that it is best to let a man crawl out of his shell on his own.

23/09/2024

It's that time of the year again!

We’re excited to announce that the Afritondo Short Story Prize 2025 is now open for submissions! 🎉

This year’s theme is "Masks," inviting you to explore layers of identities, cultures, and experiences through your storytelling. For more insights on the theme, please check our afritondo.com.

Prizes:
Winner: $1,000
Shortlist: $100 each for four additional writers

The 2025 Prize will be judged by esteemed authors Rémy Ngamije, Ama Asantewa Diaka, and Umar Turaki.

For eligibility criteria and submission details, visit our website, afritondo.com📚✨

20/09/2024

Join us for an exciting day at the Black British Book Festival on October 5, 2024, at the Barbican Centre in London 📚✨

We will be displaying some of our amazing books, including our new anthology, Travelling Men Don’t Die and the award-winning, The Insititute for Creative Dying.

📍 Event Details:
Date: October 5, 2024
Location: Barbican Centre, London
Stay tuned for updates and sneak peeks of what to expect! 🇬🇧

11/09/2024

Another week, another shortlist. Congratulations to on being shortlisted for the 2024 Sunday Times Literary Awards.

Photo: Roelia Reads

27/07/2024

Drumroll, please! 🥁

The wait is over 💫

We're thrilled to unveil the stunning cover for Travelling Men Don't Die. This captivating design perfectly captures the essence of the stories within.

The 14 stories in this anthology are from the longlist of the 2024 Afritondo Prize and feature some of the finest writers from the African continent and beyond.

These stories were also selected by our past winners and .

Are you ready to embark on this literary journey? Let us know what you think! 👇

09/07/2024

In this personal essay, Mustapha Enesi reflects on, among other things, his love-hate relationship with "home".

Full essay here: https://www.afritondo.com/afritondo/a-caricature-of-something-forgotten