Afrocritik, a leading digital media platform focused on African culture and creativity, has announced its inaugural Afrocritik Prize for Criticism.
The initiative, according to a statement, comes ahead of the platform’s third anniversary and is designed to foster critical thinking and cultural discourse within the African literary landscape.
Founded with a mission to spotlight African ingenuity and promote positive representations of the continent and its diaspora, Afrocritik has been at the forefront of showcasing African voices in art, literature, music, film, fashion, policies and sports on a global stage.
The Afrocritik Prize for Criticism invites submissions from young African citizens residing in Africa between the ages of 17 and 24. Contestants will review three works by contemporary African writers:
- Affection & Other Accidents by Dami Ajayi – A compelling poetry collection exploring themes of romance, heartbreak, politics, social justice and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Dreaming of Ways to Understand You by Jerry Chiemeke – A thought-provoking short story collection delving into human relationships, mental health, sexuality, body positivity, ethnic sentiment and domestic violence.
- His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie – A captivating novel following the journey of a young woman navigating an arranged marriage and finding her independence in a male-dominated world.
Entries for the Afrocritik Prize for Criticism will be accepted from March 23rd to April 30th, 2024. Contestants are required to submit a 600 to 800-word review covering all three books in a single document (doc. or pdf file).
The prizes for the top submissions are as follows:
– Winner: $300
– First Runner-up: $200
– Second Runner-up: $100
A shortlist of five finalists will be announced, with the top three winners revealed in June 2024. All shortlisted works will be published on the Afrocritik website, providing a platform for emerging literary talent.
Afrocritik emphasises that submissions sent via email will not be considered, and applicants may be required to provide proof of age and citizenship during the submission process.
Afrocritik stated that this initiative underscores its commitment to nurturing young African voices and contributing to the vibrant literary landscape of the continent.
Visit bit.ly/afrocritikprizeforcriticism2024 to submit.
For more information about Afrocritik and its initiatives, visit their website https://www.afrocritik.com/
