9th Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology: Call for Submission

Arising from the successes of the previous editions, the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter) — the literary body that hosts the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture — is calling for submission of quality poems and essays from writers across the world, for her 9th edition of the Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology.

The annual Anthology is a collection of poems and essays published in honour and memory of late Prof. Chinua Achebe, a foremost Nigerian literary legend and father of Morden African Literature. The prestigious anthology will (as usual) be unveiled at the 9th Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, slated to hold on 16th November 2024, at the Anambra State Central E-Library (also known as Prof. Kenneth Dike Central E-Library), in Awka, south-eastern Nigeria.

According to the Editor-in-Chief of the Anthology, and Project Coordinator, Izunna Okafor, who is also the Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers in Anambra State; Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture is an annual literary festival held in honour and memory of Achebe, in celebration of his life, works, contributions and legacies in the literary field. 

The event, he noted, was initiated in 2016, and holds annually on Achebe’s date of birth, 16th November, with the last edition held in 2023, during which the 8th edition of the Chinua Achebe Essay/Poetry Anthology — “Anthills of Words” — was unveiled.

“It is with a view to mark this year’s edition of the Festival in a more remarkable and memorable way that we are calling on both burgeoning and established writers from different parts of the world, to enter their quality and thematically-written poems and essays for this ninth anthology,” Okafor said. 

“The anthology is in honour of Prof. Chinua Achebe; hence, only entries that relate to or revolve around Achebe, his works, his literary prowess and legacies will be accepted for publication therein,” he added.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES/RULES:

1. Only poems, essays/reviews are accepted for the anthology.
2. Entrant must specify the genre of his entry; that is, specify if it is poetry or essay/review. 
3. The poems and essays/reviews MUST relate to or be themed on either Achebe as a person (his personality), his works, his literary prowess/feats, life, legacies or any other aspect of him.
4. The essay or poem should be as brief and concise as possible — maximum of 500 words for essays/reviews, and maximum of 20 lines for poetry. Any work that exceeds this limit may be disqualified.
5. Author’s information —location/contact address, phone number, e-mail address, and a short bio of NOT more than 40 words about the author/poet should be included in the submission.
6. Submission is FREE and open to writers from any part of the world.
7. Entry MUST be the original work of the author/poet. Any plagiarised work will be automatically disqualified and exposed.
8. Only ONE entry per person is allowed.
9. Entrant may give their works any interesting title of their choices; but the theme of the works must comply with the Rule No. 3 above ????
10. Entries should be sent to:
    [email protected] 

and copied to:

[email protected]

11.  Subject of the mail should read “9TH CHINUA ACHEBE ESSAY/POETRY ANTHOLOGY (SPECIFY THE GENRE OF YOUR ENTRY)”

Example: “9TH CHINUA ACHEBE ESSAY/POETRY ANTHOLOGY (POETRY)”

12. Entry and its title MUST be type-written and sent in the body of the mail; NOT AS ATTACHMENT. Entries sent as attachment will be automatically disqualified.
13. Submission Deadline: 30th September, 2024
    Late entry/submission will not be ACCEPTED.
14. Entry may be written in either English or Igbo Language.

BENEFITS:

● All successful/accepted essays and poetry will be published in the 9th Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology (soft and hard copies).

● Media promotion of successful/published essays and poems and the entrants.

● Every accepted/published entrant for the anthology will receive a Certificate of Participation.

● Every accepted/published entrant is entitled to a copy of the published anthology.

● Authors/poets of the best ten essays and poems respectively will be given outstanding recognition and Certificate of Award at the 2024 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture holding in November.

● Automatic/free membership and admission into Society of Young Nigerian Writers (for accepted young Nigerian entrants.)

For inquiries or support, contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

+2348163938812

Izunna Okafor (Editor-in-Chief).

About Author