The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah, has announced the awardees for the third cohort of the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship starting this fall 2024.
Established to honor the late Nigerian Professor Tejumola Olaniyan and his contributions to African literature and critical theory, the fellowship aims to support exceptional writers from Africa and the African diaspora. Each recipient will receive a grant of 50,000 AED and a three-month residency to develop their creative projects.
The selection process for this year’s cohort was highly competitive, with the fellowship committee evaluating a multitude of applications based on the quality and feasibility of proposed projects. After thorough consideration, the following creative writers have been chosen:
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a celebrated author known for her evocative prose and profound thematic explorations. Owuor holds an MPhil in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Owuor’s debut novel, Dust (2014), examines Kenya’s history through a family’s tragedy, while her second novel, The Dragonfly Sea (2019), explores East African oceanic imagination and Africa-Asia relations within a coming-of-age narrative. Her work has appeared in international literary magazines and publications, including National Geographic. Owuor is also a filmmaker and co-founder of the Nairobi-based Macondo Literature Festival.
During her residency, Owuor will develop a novel titled Nocturne. This transtemporal narrative weaves together the lives of Jonah Imhotep Ooko, an entomologist from East Africa, and Anaoumi Yara Gueye, a hydrometeorologist from the Sahel. Nocturne explores the psychological and emotional legacies of colonialism, addressing themes of darkness, ancestral trauma, and the quest for healing. Drawing on African myths, archetypes, and historical metaphors, the novel examines how confronting these elements can lead to transformative insights and contribute to processes of world rebuilding and future-making.
Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian author, editor, publisher, photographer, literary educator, and entrepreneur. His debut novel, The Eternal Audience of One, received a Special Mention at the inaugural Grand Prix Panafricain de Littérature and won the African Literary Award from the Museum of the African Diaspora. His forthcoming collection, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space, is set to be published by Scout Press in December 2024.
During his fellowship, Ngamije will work on a new collection of short stories titled How Things Bend and How They Break. This project aims to explore themes of beauty, suffering, and self-repair, presenting narratives designed to challenge readers’ perspectives on their own lives and societal structures.
Amil Issa Shivji is a Tanzanian filmmaker and screenwriter whose work critically engages with socio-political issues. His recent films, Vuta N’Kuvute (Tug of War) and The Empty Grave, have earned acclaim at major international festivals. Based in Tanzania, Shivji employs his films to challenge urban facades of development and underscore the experiences of marginalized communities. A Berlinale Talent Alumni and founding member of the East African Screen Collective, he holds an MFA from York University. His film Vuta N’Kuvute was Tanzania’s second submission to the Oscars®, and The Empty Grave premiered at Berlinale ’24, showing in over fifty cinemas in Germany.
Shivji’s project for the residency is a satirical feature screenplay titled Last Cow. The screenplay addresses the impact of ecotourism on indigenous Maasai communities in Tanzania. By focusing on the story of a Maasai boy and his cow, Shivji explores themes of cultural displacement and exploitation, critiquing the global eco-tourism industry and its effects on marginalized populations.
The selected writers will undertake their residencies in Sharjah, where they will have access to comprehensive resources, mentorship, and a conducive environment for their creative endeavors. The Africa Institute is dedicated to supporting their artistic development and facilitating the dissemination of their work through its publications program.
The Africa Institute extends its sincere appreciation to all applicants for their outstanding submissions and remains committed to fostering a dynamic literary ecosystem that values diverse perspectives.
For additional information about the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship and the application process, please click here.
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah, has announced the awardees for the third cohort of the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship starting this fall 2024.
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah, has announced the awardees for the third cohort of the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship starting this fall 2024.
Established to honor the late Nigerian Professor Tejumola Olaniyan and his contributions to African literature and critical theory, the fellowship aims to support exceptional writers from Africa and the African diaspora. Each recipient will receive a grant of 50,000 AED and a three-month residency to develop their creative projects.
The selection process for this year’s cohort was highly competitive, with the fellowship committee evaluating a multitude of applications based on the quality and feasibility of proposed projects. After thorough consideration, the following creative writers have been chosen:
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a celebrated author known for her evocative prose and profound thematic explorations. Owuor holds an MPhil in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Owuor’s debut novel, Dust (2014), examines Kenya’s history through a family’s tragedy, while her second novel, The Dragonfly Sea (2019), explores East African oceanic imagination and Africa-Asia relations within a coming-of-age narrative. Her work has appeared in international literary magazines and publications, including National Geographic. Owuor is also a filmmaker and co-founder of the Nairobi-based Macondo Literature Festival.
During her residency, Owuor will develop a novel titled Nocturne. This transtemporal narrative weaves together the lives of Jonah Imhotep Ooko, an entomologist from East Africa, and Anaoumi Yara Gueye, a hydrometeorologist from the Sahel. Nocturne explores the psychological and emotional legacies of colonialism, addressing themes of darkness, ancestral trauma, and the quest for healing. Drawing on African myths, archetypes, and historical metaphors, the novel examines how confronting these elements can lead to transformative insights and contribute to processes of world rebuilding and future-making.
Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian author, editor, publisher, photographer, literary educator, and entrepreneur. His debut novel, The Eternal Audience of One, received a Special Mention at the inaugural Grand Prix Panafricain de Littérature and won the African Literary Award from the Museum of the African Diaspora. His forthcoming collection, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space, is set to be published by Scout Press in December 2024.
During his fellowship, Ngamije will work on a new collection of short stories titled How Things Bend and How They Break. This project aims to explore themes of beauty, suffering, and self-repair, presenting narratives designed to challenge readers’ perspectives on their own lives and societal structures.
Amil Issa Shivji is a Tanzanian filmmaker and screenwriter whose work critically engages with socio-political issues. His recent films, Vuta N’Kuvute (Tug of War) and The Empty Grave, have earned acclaim at major international festivals. Based in Tanzania, Shivji employs his films to challenge urban facades of development and underscore the experiences of marginalized communities. A Berlinale Talent Alumni and founding member of the East African Screen Collective, he holds an MFA from York University. His film Vuta N’Kuvute was Tanzania’s second submission to the Oscars®, and The Empty Grave premiered at Berlinale ’24, showing in over fifty cinemas in Germany.
Shivji’s project for the residency is a satirical feature screenplay titled Last Cow. The screenplay addresses the impact of ecotourism on indigenous Maasai communities in Tanzania. By focusing on the story of a Maasai boy and his cow, Shivji explores themes of cultural displacement and exploitation, critiquing the global eco-tourism industry and its effects on marginalized populations.
The selected writers will undertake their residencies in Sharjah, where they will have access to comprehensive resources, mentorship, and a conducive environment for their creative endeavors. The Africa Institute is dedicated to supporting their artistic development and facilitating the dissemination of their work through its publications program.
The Africa Institute extends its sincere appreciation to all applicants for their outstanding submissions and remains committed to fostering a dynamic literary ecosystem that values diverse perspectives.
For additional information about the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship and the application process, please click here.
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