Application Deadline: March 1, 2026.
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University invites applications for the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship, a distinguished program that celebrates and supports literary voices engaged in the creative expression of Africa and its diaspora in all forms and genres.
Established in honor of the late Nigerian scholar Tejumola Olaniyan, a renowned literary critic whose work profoundly shaped African and African diaspora studies, this fellowship reflects his legacy of intellectual rigor, creativity, and commitment to fostering new narratives. It aligns with The Africa Institute’s mission as a globally oriented center dedicated to research, postgraduate studies, and critical discourse on Africa and its worldwide connections.
Since its inception in Fall 2022, the fellowship has welcomed esteemed writers, fostering creative exchange and scholarship in Sharjah, UAE, an essential nexus of African-Arab cultural interaction. Through this residency, The Africa Institute continues to advance its commitment to shaping new paradigms in African and African diaspora studies while providing a dynamic space for intellectual and artistic exploration.
Eligibility Criteria
- The fellowship is open to both emerging and established creative writers
- Applicants must be actively working on a major literary project (novel, memoir, essays, poetry, film script, or full-length play)
- Applicants must have at least one published work (book, journal, or significant online platform)
Preferred Requirements
- Strong record of creative literary excellence (awards, fellowships, recognition)
- Substantial creative portfolio
- Work related to Africa and the African diaspora
- Innovative approaches to storytelling, form, or language
- Work that contributes to critical literary culture, scholarship, or public discourse
Requirements
- The residency program welcomes applications from creative writers, including novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets, and scriptwriters whose work relates to Africa and the African diaspora for a grant of 50,000 AED in total for the duration of the fellowship, which is inclusive of accommodation, a return airfare ticket, visa and the monthly stipend of 10,000 AED per month per fellow.
Application Requirements
- The proposed project may be in Arabic or English, though other languages will also be considered. To complete their work, recipients will be invited to Sharjah, UAE, for a three-month residency. Typically, the cohort begins in the fall of each year.
- Recipients will have the opportunity to publish their texts through The Africa Institute’s publications program. Projects relating to theatre and film scripts can also be published as texts or receive support in facilitating productions. The project could be new or a work-in-progress and should be feasible for completion within the timeframe of the residency.
- CV/résumé of the applicant
- A one-page cover letter explaining motivation for applying to this residency (single-space, font 12)
- A two-page project statement (single-space, font 12) which may include:
- Project description
- Significance of the project
- Proposed timeline for completing the project
- Introduction of the writing sample (or sample creative work) and its relation to the proposed project
- One published writing sample or a sample of creative work
Selection Criteria
- All applications will be reviewed by The Africa Institute through a committee of faculty and fellows.
- Three recipients will be chosen based on the quality of their proposal and the demonstrated feasibility of completion within the timeframe of the residency.
How to Apply
- Applications for our programs will now be submitted through an online application platform. Please do not send applications via email.
- Kindly note that each attachment should not exceed 3 MB.
