Majesty Publishing House Africa, an independent Pan-African publisher, has announced the Africa Women Writers Residency, a fully-funded, four-week programme in September 2026.
The residency will select twelve emerging women writers, without literary representation, from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, support them through an intensive mentorship programme, and publish their work in a landmark anthology entitled New African Voices: Stories That Shape Africa’s Future.
The programme opens with three weeks of virtual workshops and guest lectures led by selected African authors, followed by a week-long in-person immersion in Nairobi, Kenya. All costs, including travel, accommodation, meals, local transport, and cultural experiences, will be fully covered by Majesty Publishing House Africa.
“There has never been a more global appetite for African voices, yet too many of our most promising women writers lack the infrastructure to develop their craft and reach readers at scale,” said Lorraine Onduru, CEO of Majesty Publishing House Africa. “This residency is a direct investment in closing that gap. Twelve writers. Five countries. One anthology. And a publishing commitment that does not end when the residency does.”
Africa’s book industry punches well below its weight globally. According to UNESCO’s 2025 African Book Industry Report, the continent accounts for just 5.4% of global publishing revenue, and in 2023, imported books worth $597 million while exporting just $81 million.
For women writers navigating this infrastructure gap without literary representation, the barriers to developing a craft and reaching readers at scale are even steeper.
New African Voices: Stories That Shape Africa’s Future reflects the programme’s commitment to amplify the perspectives, experiences, and imaginings of a generation of women writers ready to restore and define the future of authentic African storytelling.
Eligibility Criteria
The Africa Women Writers Residency is open exclusively to emerging women writers without literary representation, who are citizens of Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, or South Africa. Eligible genres include fiction, fantasy, creative non-fiction, memoir, and poetry. No age restrictions.
How to Apply
Submit the following to Residency Majesty:
1. A 250-word motivation letter introducing yourself and your interest in the residency
2. A writing sample on the theme “A New Dawn for Africa”, submitted in one of the following formats:
● An essay or short story of 1,000 words
● One poem of up to 1,000 words, or two poems amounting to approximately 1,000 words in total
Application deadline: 22 June 2026
