Deadline: March 1, 2026

Applications are open for the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship 2026. The Africa Institute, Global Studies University invites applications for the Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship, a distinguished program that celebrates and supports literary voices engaged in the creative expression of Africa and its diaspora in all forms and genres.

Established in honor of the late Nigerian scholar Tejumola Olaniyan, a renowned literary critic whose work profoundly shaped African and African diaspora studies, this fellowship reflects his legacy of intellectual rigor, creativity, and commitment to fostering new narratives. It aligns with The Africa Institute’s mission as a globally oriented center dedicated to research, postgraduate studies, and critical discourse on Africa and its worldwide connections.

Since its inception in Fall 2022, the fellowship has welcomed esteemed writers, fostering creative exchange and scholarship in Sharjah, UAE, an essential nexus of African-Arab cultural interaction. Through this residency, The Africa Institute continues to advance its commitment to shaping new paradigms in African and African diaspora studies while providing a dynamic space for intellectual and artistic exploration.

Benefits

• A grant of 50,000 AED in total for the duration of the fellowship, which is inclusive of accommodation, a return airfare ticket, visa and the monthly stipend of 10,000 AED per month per fellow.

Eligibility

• The fellowship is open to both emerging and established creative writers
• Applicants must be actively working on a major literary project (novel, memoir, essays, poetry, film script, or full-length play)
• Applicants must have at least one published work (book, journal, or significant online platform)

Preferred Requirements

• Strong record of creative literary excellence (awards, fellowships, recognition)
• Substantial creative portfolio
• Work related to Africa and the African diaspora
• Innovative approaches to storytelling, form, or language
• Work that contributes to critical literary culture, scholarship, or public discourse

Application

Application should include:

• CV/résumé of the applicant
• A one-page cover letter explaining motivation for applying to this residency (single-space, font 12)
• A two-page project statement (single-space, font 12) which may include:
  • Project description
  • Significance of the project
  • Proposed timeline for completing the project
  • Introduction of the writing sample (or sample creative work) and its relation to the proposed project
• One published writing sample or a sample of creative work

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship.