The Afritondo Short Story Prize 2026/ How to Apply (Prize: $1400)

The Afritondo Short Story Prize is open to submissions from writers who identify as Black or who are of African descent.

Afritondo is a media and publishing platform that aims to connect with and tell the stories of Africans and black minority populations across the globe. Their main aim is to improve diversity in publishing by offering aspiring African and black minority writers a viable platform for telling their stories.

This is the 7th year of the Afritondo Short Story Prize and a special landmark for them, therefore if you are an eloquent writer and gifted storyteller send them your work.

 

Guidelines for the Afritondo Short Story Prize 2026

This year they want writers to respond to the theme of “transition”. You are welcome to give the theme your own personal interpretation.

Eligibility requirements:

•You are a citizen or national of an African country.

•One of your parents is a national of an African country.

•You are of black ethnicity or belong to a black minority population anywhere in the world. For any questions about eligibility, please contact admin@afritondo.com

General Guidelines

• Submit within the stated deadline. Afritondo will disregard any late submission.
• English stories only.
• Submissions must reflect the theme.
• Submit only one story.
• The submission, including the title, must be between 3000 and 5000 words.
• Submit a Microsoft Word document (doc, docx) in the following format:
• Double-spaced, Times New Roman or Calibri font, 12-point size.
• Place your story’s title at the top of the first page, followed by the word count.
• Number every page of your submission.
• Do NOT include your name or details anywhere on the document. The document must contain only the title, word count, and story. Pete Kalu, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, and Fayssal Bensalah will judge the 2026 prize anonymously.

• Submit only through this submission link

• Do not submit previously published stories or stories shortlisted for another prize. Additionally, the judges will disqualify entries that were published or shortlisted during the judging or publishing process.
• The prize organizers can publicize that a story was entered, longlisted, or shortlisted, as entrants agree to this condition of entry.
• Submitters can no longer withdraw longlisted stories from the competition.
• By submitting an entry, the author agrees to its inclusion in an anthology should the judges select it and to work with editors to get the story ready for publication.
• By submitting an entry, the author attests that it is their original work and grants exclusive global print and digital rights to Afritondo Press Ltd should the entry be longlisted or selected for publication in the anthology. The copyright remains with the author.

• The decisions of the judges in relation to the winning entries are final and not subject to appeal.

• Longlisted and shortlisted writers will submit their pictures and other information necessary for publicising the prize on social media and other media.
• The winner will take part in publicity activities, including social media, where possible.

• Learn about writing creative and inspiring fiction for this submission from T.J Benson. 

 

 

Prizes 

• The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000.
• Four other shortlisted writers will get $100 each.
• Publication.

 

Deadline for the Afritondo Short Story Prize 2026

Submit by December 24th, 2025.

 

If you want to learn more about this submission, visit the Afritondo Twitter page. Additionally, you can check out the currently open Common Wealth Short Story Prize to submit your work.