Overview

Through generations, popular resistance across Africa and the Diaspora has forced seismic change. From the anticolonial and anti-apartheid struggles of the 20th century to the #BlackLivesMatter, #ENDSARS, and African feminist movements of this century, activists have built on the legacies of their predecessors while making their own history. Leveraging technology and building transnational networks, pan-African and global solidarities have been forged.

Writers have been integral to these struggles. Through their work of imagination and documentation, novelists, essayists, poets, playwrights, journalists, and academics have helped give voice to movements and imagined solutions.

Call for Applications:

Are you a writer of African descent from:

• Africa
• The Americas
• The Caribbean
• Europe

Does your work grapple with the complexities and nuances of what it means to be African, or of African descent, in the 21st century?

Generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation, the LOATAD Black Atlantic Residency seeks to break down barriers between writers from across the continent and the Diaspora by bringing them together physically, in community, around a common purpose and theme.

Residency Details

• Length: One Month / 4 weeks
• Location: LOATAD, Greater Accra, Ghana
• Open to: Writers of all genres whose work centers or engages with Africa and/or the African Diaspora
• Residency Dates: February 2025 – March 2025 – April 2025
• Deadline to Apply: 18 August 2024 | 23:59 GMT

Eligibility

• Beginner, Emerging, and Established writers from and/or based in Africa, the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Europe whose work engages with issues concerning Africa and/or the Diaspora, specifically The Black Atlantic.
• Writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, playwrights, and academic texts with good publication credits in literary journals/magazines/newspapers, etc.
• Writers can write in any language, but must be able to communicate in English.
• Writers must be aged 21 or over.
• Writers must own a valid passport and be willing to travel to Ghana to participate in the physical residency.

Benefits

• Up to $600 USD to cover travel costs to and from Ghana
  • Please note: We are unable to provide any funding for travel from or to the USA due to the conditions of our funding. If you are based in the United States and would like to apply, you will be responsible for your own travel costs to and from Ghana.
• One month room and board at LOATAD in Accra, Ghana.
• A stipend of $500 USD.
• Access to the library’s extensive resources.
• Trips to relevant places of interest in Ghana.
• Meetings with key players in the Ghanaian/African literary space.

What Is Expected Of Residents

Residents must:

• Be willing to commit to the entirety of the residency programme.
• Produce a piece of writing between 2,500 and 10,000 words on the theme, What is Africa to Us? African Solidarities, for publication in the anthology to be published by LOATAD at the end of the residency.
• Be committed to the objectives of the residency and use the time and space provided to advance their work.
• Be prepared to work collectively and individually, and take part in critique sessions and workshops.
• Agree to participate in a public event at the end of the residency, photography and videography of the creation process, and any publicity that may arise from the programme.

To Apply

Complete the application form and upload the following documents in one single PDF document by 18 August 2024, 23:59 GMT:

• Letter of motivation (one page)
• Description of how your work to date has engaged with the themes of this residency
• Writing sample of no more than 1500 words in English, or with an English translation
• Name and contact information of two referees (they will only be contacted if your application is successful)
• Name your PDF submission using the following convention:

Surname_First Name_Country_Genre (e.g., Lumumba_Patrice_DRC_Nonfiction)

By applying to the residency, you accept the terms and conditions below.

Terms and Conditions

• Commit to the full one-month residency. Shorter or longer stays are not accommodated.
• No option to extend the residency before or after official dates. Own accommodation arrangements are needed if arriving early or staying late.
• Participate in presentation and critique sessions and share your work with other residents and the LOATAD team. Optional public presentation.
• Present a work plan at the start and be prepared for progress reviews.
• Engage in community work, such as creative writing workshops or poetry performances.
• Individual accommodation provided with bathroom, desk, and WiFi. Rooms have fans (no aircon).
• Keep your room clean throughout the residency.
• Ensure you have adequate travel and health insurance.
• Agree to be photographed, video recorded, or audio recorded for documentation or promotional purposes.
• Follow COVID-19 protocols as set by LOATAD and the Government of Ghana.
• Respect the rules of the Residency and all laws of the Republic of Ghana.

For more information, visit the website.