Kokonut Head Writers in Residence Program | Apply now
Apply Now: Kokonut Head Media’s 2025 Writers in Residence Program for Emerging African Voices
Are you a university student or recent graduate who lives and writes in Africa? Do you have a story that pulses with the energy of folklore, proverbs, or the layered texture of African thought rendered in English? If yes, the 2025 Kokonut Head Writers in Residence Program wants to hear from you.
This three-month virtual residency is built to mentor and incubate emerging African writers with authentic, imaginative, and linguistically bold stories. If your writing flirts with nostalgia, blends local storytelling traditions with contemporary style, or stretches the boundaries of English to carry African meaning, this is your opportunity.
Overview of the Kokonut Head Writers in Residency Program
- Program Duration: September to November 2025
- Commitment: Minimum of 20 hours per week
- Output: 6 short stories (to be published on the Kokonut Head Media website)
- Stipend: $600 total (paid monthly)
- Application Deadline: July 15, 2025
- Application Form: Apply Here
Up to three writers will be selected from across the African continent. In addition to producing a portfolio of stories, each participant will receive personalized mentorship. This mentorship may include guidance with a manuscript submission, assistance with a fellowship application, or preparation for entry into competitive writing programs.
What Are They Looking For?
Kokonut Head Media is particularly drawn to:
- Works that explore indigenous narratives and linguistic innovation
- Writing that breathes new life into local folklore, riddles, and proverbs
- Stories that straddle the familiar and the surreal, the traditional and the experimental
Whether your work feels like a homecoming or challenges the reader to reimagine what African storytelling can be, they want to read it.
Application Requirements for the Kokonut Head Writers in Residency Program
To apply, you’ll need:
- A portfolio of your completed short stories
- A proposal for a literary project (which must include at least one short story)
Eligibility: You must be a resident African writer (based on the continent), currently a university student or recent graduate.
Apply by July 15, 2025. Click here to submit your application.
Sharpen Your Skills Before You Apply
If you’re still refining your voice or preparing your writing sample, check out these helpful resources:
These tools can guide your application and elevate your writing style.
Be part of a tight-knit, experimental community of African storytellers reimagining how we tell our truths.
Deadline: July 15, 2025. Apply now.
