The Arts-Muse Fair

The night before the trip I didn't sleep a wink, perhaps I found a stranger in me and he wasn't feminine. I couldn't close my eyes, not because I didn't want to, but thoughts of morning's arrival kept my eyes bereft of sleep. I prayed and when I get tired of praying, I would gingerly go outside peeping through the window, my mind in awe of how I made it among the eighty four finalists from all over Nigeria who would breath for four days in Lagos and in the Abeokuta home of Nigeria's only Noble Laureate as participants of the 2018 Wole Soyinka’s International Cultural Exchange programme held annually to marks his birthday. As the night steadily opened into morning, I saw how owls made night a solace for their songs and how everything died for a new birth. Although I'm used to staying late at night before going to bed, this was the first time I vainly stayed awake for the whole night, waiting for morning, because when it was morning, dream would come

UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, invites applications from Senior Secondary school students in Nigeria for 2018 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition. The competition which is a follow up on the Foundation’s Read Africa Initiative, provides a competitive platform to develop the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students in Nigeria. The competition has been held annually since 2011 with students challenged to write on different engaging topics to test their writing and cognitive skills. ESSAY TOPIC: What Is The Biggest Environmental Issue You Think Your Generation Will Face? How Can It Be Avoided And How Can It Be Solved? PRIZES TO BE WON: 1ST PRIZE: N2,000,000 or its local currency equivalent towards university tuition/ fees 2ND PRIZE: N1,500,000 or its local currency equivalent towards university tuition/ fees 3RD PRIZE: N1,000,000 or its local currency equivalent towards university tuitio

The Arts-Muse Fair  calls for application for the first edition of its Creative Writing Workshop.  The workshop will hold on the 30th of October at the Niger State Book & Other Intellectual Resources Development Agency, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria. It will comprise of a Poetry session to be facilitated by Saddiq M Dzukogi, and a Creative nonfiction writing session to be facilitated by Amatesiro Dore. Both sessions will hold simultaneously at different halls and so applicants can only apply for one. Each class will take only 20 participants.  The event will open with an Open Mic session before workshops begin. Applicants are required to send writing samples alongside a short bio. Those applying for the Poetry workshop should send 2-5 poems to:  theartsmusefairwritingworkshop@gmail.com  with subject line "Poetry Workshop". Those applying for the Creative Nonfiction workshop should submit two samples of their work with subject line "Creative Non

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter, invites poems and essays from writers across the world in collaboration with the Anambra State Library, for the Third edition of Chinua Achebe Anthology of Poetry and Essay. The anthology will be unveiled at the grand finale of the third edition of the 'Chinua Achebe Literary Festival' tagged: "Remembering Chinua Achebe: A Commemoration of A Literary Star". This annual festival with its third edition as a literary event was initiated to honour, celebrate and learn from the life, works of the Literary Star, late Prof. Chinua Achebe, and recognize his great achievements and legacies. The festival which started in 2016, will hold on the 16th of November 2018 at the auditorium hall of the Prof. the Kenneth Dike Central E-Library Awka,   Anambra State. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Submission is FREE Entrants can submit as many entries as they wish. Essay or Poetry MUST be in the memory

Submissions are invited for thought provoking Flash Fiction and Poetry for the 2018 edition of the Kreative Diadem Annual Creative writing competition. The contest is opened for young writers aged 21 years or younger.   ELIGIBILITY/RULES 1.       Entrant must be 21 years or younger   as at December, 2018 2.       It is open to Nigerian Residents only 3.       Submitted works must not have been published   before the submission 4.       Every entrant is allowed to participant in only one category (flash fiction or poetry) FLASH FICTION The maximum words for flash fiction is 1, 500 words. POETRY CATEGORY All poems must have a title, must be original work of the entrant and must not exceed 40 lines DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Submission closes on November 10, 2018. Shortlists will be announced on December 15, 2018. CASH PRIZES 1.        Poetry Category 1 st prize: N30, 000 2 nd prize: N15, 000 3 rd Prize: N5, 000 2.       Flash Fiction

The Praxis Magazine online Hangout event held in Nigeria since three years now is set to debut in Durban, South Africa next week.  The inaugural Praxis Hangout, Durban, will be an intimate event in support of World Mental Health. The gathering aims to open up conversation about mental health challenges in the lives of creatives.  The Durban Hangout is a collaboration between @ukzn, Sadag and Praxis Magazine.  Guest speakers at the Durban event will include clinical psychologist Mr. Suntosh Pillay and senior clinical psychologist and arts enthusiast Dr. Thirusha Naidu. Guests are also invited to share their stories, as well as display their creative works, books, chapbooks, art work for sell during the networking section of the event.  Details   Date: Wednesday, 10 October 2018 Time: 10.30am to approx 12.30pm. Venue: University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College Centre for Creative Arts Boardroom Enquiries and rsvp: to Shannon Hopkins at  shannon.hopki

Shortlists for the various categories of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) 2018 Literary Prizes have been released. ANA gives out various categories of prizes to winning writers at its annual conventions. The shortlists were released by the panel of judges comprising Prof Nelson Fashina of University of Ibadan, Prof. Effiong Johnson, University of Uyo and Ismaila Bala Garba of Bayero University, Kano. Other members were Dr Owojecho Omoha of University of Abuja, Prof. G. M. T. Emezue of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo. Denja Abdullahi, ANA President The shortlisted authors and titles of their books are: ANA PROSE FICTION PRIZE The Beginning of Everything Colourful by Onyeka Nwelue Hang No Clothes Here by Bolaji Olatunde The Longest Trial by Uchenna Eze Absolution by Oreva Ode-Irri The Return of Half-Something by Chukwudi Eze    ANA DRAMA PRIZE Teeth set on Edge  by Akin Bello Brother by Acha

As part of the high-points in the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, The Shade of Women Foundation (TSWF) invites entries of exceptional short stories, thought provoking poems and instructive artworks/illustrations or photographs from interested poets, short story writers, artists and photographers themed around “Empowering Girls in Times of Conflict.” The Shade of Women Foundation is committed towards improving the lives of women through programmes leading to social and economic empowerment. It also provides legal services for women in dire circumstances who need intervention as well as providing accommodation and housing assistance for the vulnerable and provide emergency shelter for and supportive services for battered women and children. RULES OF ENTRY 1.       Entries should themed around “Empowering Girls in Times of Conflict.” 2.       Short stories should be between 1500 words to 2000 words 3.       Three (3) poems of not more than thir

The Minna Book and Art Festival (MinnaBAF) which held last week in Minna, Niger state celebrated the life and writings of late writer Abubakar Gimba who passed away in February 2015. Under a panel named “ Remembering Abubakar Gimba ”, panellists that included the late writer’s daughter, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar Gimba, discussed critical issues the late author treated in his books such as corruption and promotion of women rights. The uncommon humility and philanthropy of the late author as one of the greatest Nigerian novelists ever to emerge from Northern Nigeria also came under focus as participants recalled his support to people under need and patronage to the arts.   The 'Remembering Abubakar Gimba' panel at MinnaBAF According to Abdullahi Ismaila and BM Dzukogi, the late novelist remains the greatest funder and motivator of the Niger state chapter of ANA. They recalled the late writer consistently funding ASCAFS, the flagship project of ANA Niger for over