The LéO Africa Institute Griots Fellowship 2026 is an eight-month program for African storytellers, journalists, and cultural leaders. It supports fellows who are shaping authentic African narratives through training, creative work, and collaboration.
The program combines in-person residencies with online workshops. In addition, fellows undertake independent creative projects and present capstone work to audiences and partners.
Application Deadline: Stay tuned for the next cohort application deadline
Program Duration: Eight months.
Program Location: Africa-focused; includes in-person residencies and online workshops.
Award Provider: LéO Africa Institute
About this Program
The Griots Fellowship is a transformative fellowship designed for African storytellers, journalists, and cultural leaders. It focuses on preserving African heritage and shaping narratives through intensive training, creative projects, and collaborative learning.
Throughout the fellowship, participants build skills in narrative strategy, craft, media production, and cultural leadership. The program also supports platform building and access to networks.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be between 25 and 45 years old.
- Applicants must have at least 3 years of experience as a journalist, writer, filmmaker, or cultural practitioner.
- Applicants must have published work, films, or projects that demonstrate storytelling ability.
- Applicants must be African citizens or persons of African descent.
- Applicants must be dedicated to shaping authentic African narratives.
- Applicants must present a clear concept for a storytelling project.
What Fellows Receive: Intensive training, creative projects, collaborative learning, in-person residencies, online workshops, independent creative projects, skills development in narrative strategy and craft, media production and ethics training, platform building and impact support, and access to platforms and networks.
Program Components Engage in intensive training; participate in in-person residencies; attend online workshops; undertake independent creative projects; engage in collaborative learning; develop craft and leadership capacity as a cultural changemaker; and present capstone creative projects to audiences and partners.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a portfolio of published work, films, or projects that demonstrates storytelling ability. They should also prepare a project proposal with a clear concept for a storytelling project.
Then, submit your application through the official application portal: https://leoafricainstitute.org/programs/griots/apply.
👉 Visit the official fellowship page for details
