Call for Applications | Writing Workshop for Early Career Scholars of African Literary and Cultural Studies

Date: 15-18 August 2018, Kampala

Deadline: 10 June 2018

Applications are invited for a four-day academic writing workshop hosted by AMLA in Kampala between 15-18 August, 2018. The workshop targets early career scholars of African Literary and Cultural Studies. It is designed and organised as part of a collaboration between the Arts Managers and Literary Activists (AMLA) Network, the journal East African Literary and Cultural Studies (EALCS), University of Exeter and University of Bristol.

The workshop will support the preparation of academic articles for publication in high impact international research journals, as well as opening up opportunities for new collaborations and conversations.

We are also working on a linked Special Issue of East African Literary and Cultural Studies on ‘New Approaches to Literary Activism in in 21st Century Africa’ and will consider some of the articles developed through this workshop for the issue.

The workshop will include sessions on ‘Journal Publishing: Processes & Opportunities’, ‘Writing and Revising your Journal Article’ and ‘Writing a Successful Research Grant Application’,as well as a chance to build links with the editors of leading journals in this area. In addition, each participant will receive intensive one-to-one feedback on their work with the intention of finalising an article and having it ready for submission through this process.

Accommodation will be provided for all participants.  We are also able to offer limited travel bursaries for scholars based on the African continent.

This academic writing workshop will be hosted alongside the third AMLA annual workshop for aspiring arts managers and literary activists. By bringing researchers into dialogue with leading literary and cultural producers based on the African continent, our intention is to expand the possibilities for work that offers new approaches to literary activism and cultural production in 21st century Africa. The workshop will be closed by Prof Taban Lo Liyong, whose keynote address will open the 6th Writivism Festival.

Application Guidelines

This workshop will bring together early career researchers of African Literary and Cultural Studies based on the African continent, including those working on or through African cultural history, performance, literatures, music, visual cultures, gender, media and technology, creative industries, world literature and postcolonial studies.  We are particularly interested in work that engages with Africa’s myriad modes of literary activism and engagement from new writing prizes to literary festivals and spoken word nights; translation initiatives to mobile libraries and book distribution outlets; podcasting and social media to small magazines and print books.

Early career scholar here is defined as scholars working towards or within 6 years of having received a PhD.

To be considered for the workshop, please submit:

·         A short CV (including date of conferral or expected conferral of PhD)

·         An abstract of between 300 and 500 words for an article to be developed through the workshop

to k.wallis@exeter.ac.uk by 10th June 2018.

Please note selected participants will be notified by 20th June 2018.  Participants will then be expected to submit a draft of the article to be developed through the workshop by 30 July 2018.

This writing workshop has been funded by the British Academy.