Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers Fellowship 2025 | Apply Now

What is the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers Fellowship all About?

The Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship, hosted by The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, is a prestigious program that supports literary voices engaging with African and African diaspora studies.

Named in honor of the late Tejumola Olaniyan, a renowned Nigerian scholar and literary critic, this fellowship provides a fully funded 3-month residency in Sharjah, UAE. The program fosters creative storytelling across various genres, helping writers develop their work in a dynamic, research-driven setting.

What are the Eligible Fields?

The fellowship is open to creative writers in the following literary forms:

✅ Novels
✅ Short stories
✅ Plays
✅ Poetry
✅ Film and theatre scripts
✅ Online tutoring

Who Can Apply for the Fellowship?

To qualify for the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

✔️ Open to emerging and established creative writers.
✔️ Must have at least one published work (book, journal, or significant online publication) or a strong portfolio.
✔️ Must be actively working on a major literary project (novel, memoir, collection of essays/poetry, film script, or full-length play).
✔️ Writers exploring themes related to Africa and the African diaspora are strongly encouraged to apply.
✔️ Priority is given to writers employing innovative storytelling techniques and contributing to literary culture and scholarship.

Required Documents

1. CV/Résumé
2. Two-page project summary (including significance and expected completion date)
3. Sample of published or unpublished writing/creative work

Which Countries are Eligible?

Open to writers from all countries.

Award Benefits

Fellows will receive a grant of 50,000 AED, covering:

✔️ Accommodation in Sharjah, UAE
✔️ Return airfare ticket
✔️ Visa support
✔️ Monthly stipend of 10,000 AED
✔️ Publication opportunities through The Africa Institute’s publishing program
✔️ Support for theatre and film script production

Fellowship Duration

3 months

How to Apply for the Fellowship

Compile all required documents (CV, project summary, writing sample) into a single PDF file.
Name the file as: OCWRP_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.pdf
Use the same name in the email subject and send it to: applications@theafricainstitute.org
Visit the official application webpage to begin your application.