The Africa Women Writers Residency 2026 is now open to applications. This fully funded four-week program supports emerging women writers from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. Importantly, the application deadline is 22 June 2026.
The residency combines three weeks of virtual workshops and mentorship with one in-person week in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, selected participants will join guest lectures and may have their work published in an anthology.
Application Deadline: 22 June 2026
Eligible Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa
To be taken at (country): Kenya
Funding/Benefits: Fully funded (travel, accommodation, meals, local transportation, and cultural activities covered)
About the Course
The Africa Women Writers Residency 2026 is hosted by Majesty Publishing House Africa. The program runs for four weeks in total. First, participants complete three weeks of virtual workshops and mentorship. Then, they attend a one-week in-person residency in Nairobi, Kenya.
The residency is designed for emerging women writers. According to the provided details, it supports writers working in fiction, fantasy, creative nonfiction, memoir, or poetry. The program also includes mentorship, guest lectures, and publication opportunities in an anthology titled New African Voices: Stories That Shape Africa’s Future.
Course Structure 4 weeks total: 3 weeks virtual workshops/mentorship + 1 week in-person in Nairobi
Who Should Apply
You should consider applying if you meet the following criteria:
- You are an emerging woman writer.
- You are from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, or South Africa.
- You write fiction, fantasy, creative nonfiction, memoir, or poetry.
- You do not currently have literary representation.
- You are proficient in English.
- You can commit to the full duration of the programme.
Number of Awards: 12
Award Provider: Majesty Publishing House Africa
Benefits:
- Travel covered
- Accommodation covered
- Meals covered
- Local transportation covered
- Cultural activities covered
- Mentorship and guest lectures
- Opportunity to be published in an anthology
Required Documents:
- 250-word motivation letter
- Writing sample on the theme “A New Dawn for Africa”: either an essay or short story up to 1,000 words, or one poem up to 1,000 words (or two poems totaling ~1,000 words)
How to Apply
To apply, prepare the required documents listed above and follow the instructions on the official page. The provided summary states that applications should be submitted to [email protected].
Before applying, review the official page carefully to confirm submission steps and any updates.
👉 Visit the program page for details
