Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship 2026: Apply for the Six-Week Pan-African Fellowship for Women Writers

The Abebi AfroNonfiction Foundation has opened applications for the inaugural Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship 2026, a six-week pan-African fellowship for women writers working in creative nonfiction.

The fellowship expands on Abebi’s work supporting African women writers through the Abebi AfroNonfiction Award. It brings together writers from across Africa for workshops, seminars, reading discussions, editorial mentorship, and conversations around African feminist thought.

The programme will culminate in a three-day residency in Lagos, Nigeria, a public reading and literary symposium, and publication in the inaugural Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship Anthology.

 

The Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship Highlights

The six-week programme will include:

• Weekly seminars and craft workshops
• Reading discussions
• Editorial sessions with established African writers, editors, and scholars
• A three-day residency in Lagos, Nigeria
• A public reading and literary symposium
• Publication in the inaugural Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship Anthology
• A cohort of 10 women writers

The fellowship is designed for writers interested in exploring African womanhood through creative nonfiction with originality, depth, and literary ambition.

 

Eligibility Requirements for the Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship

Applicants must:

• Identify as a woman.
• Be 18 years or older at the time of application.
• Currently reside in an African country.
• Be available to participate fully in the six-week virtual fellowship.
• Be willing and able to travel to Lagos for the three-day residency, subject to visa requirements and programme funding.
• Have a demonstrated interest in creative nonfiction, whether published or unpublished.
• Be able to write and communicate in English.
• Submit original, unpublished work.
• Submit only one application.

Previous publication is not required. The fellowship welcomes emerging, mid-career, and established writers whose work demonstrates literary promise and a commitment to creative nonfiction.

 

Application Requirements for The Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship

1. Essay Proposal — 500 Words

Applicants should propose the essay they hope to develop during the fellowship.

Rather than providing a simple synopsis, the proposal should explain the questions the essay will explore, why the story matters, and the intellectual, emotional, or cultural territory the writer hopes to investigate.

The fellowship is particularly interested in fresh and nuanced perspectives on African womanhood.

2. Writing Sample — Maximum 1,000 Words

Applicants must submit one piece of creative nonfiction that best represents their writing.

Accepted forms include:

• Personal essays
• Memoir excerpts
• Lyric essays
• Braided essays
• Reported personal narratives
• Other forms of literary creative nonfiction

The writing sample does not have to be connected to the proposed fellowship project.

3. Short Biography — Maximum 150 Words

Applicants should provide a brief biography of no more than 150 words. For guidance on preparing an effective writer’s biography, see this resource on how to write a short author bio and introduce yourself effectively.

4. Statement of Commitment — Maximum 250 Words

Applicants should explain why they want to participate in the fellowship and what they hope to contribute to the cohort.

This statement should demonstrate your interest in the programme, your goals as a writer, and the contribution you would bring to a community of fellow writers. You can also consult these statement of purpose examples for guidance on structuring a strong application statement.

 

Selection Process

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Literary quality
• Originality of thought
• Strength and feasibility of the proposed essay
• Curiosity and intellectual ambition
• Potential contribution to the fellowship community

The fellowship will select 10 writers.

Three places will be reserved for Nigerian writers, while the remaining places will be selected through an open continental process. The selection committee aims to create a geographically diverse cohort representing different regions of Africa, including West, East, Central, Southern, and North Africa.

 

Fellowship Dates

Applications open: August 8, 2026
Application deadline: September 12, 2026

Applicants should ensure they are available for the full six-week virtual fellowship and, if selected, for the three-day residency in Lagos.

How to Apply for The Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship

Eligible writers can submit their applications through the official Abebi AfroNonfiction Fellowship application form.

Applicants should prepare their 500-word essay proposal, 1,000-word creative nonfiction sample, 150-word biography, and 250-word statement of commitment before completing the form.

 

Contact

For enquiries, contact the Abebi AfroNonfiction Foundation at abebiaward@gmail.com or +234 908 477 9262.