At the end of November 2019, Ibua Journal, an online publication of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction by African writers living in Africa published a Call under the theme, Memoirs of growing up in Africa for the inaugural edition of its Pack Light Series. Writers were invited to submit creative accounts of special moments or events which defined their childhood, or early adulthood, in any African country.
In response, 66 submissions from 14 African countries were received. These included works of Non-fiction, Fiction, and Poetry. We are happy to announce following the initial round of selections, 20 stories and 14 poems made it to the long-list.
Congratulations to the following writers;
Non-Fiction and Fiction
Untitled by Boloere Sebidor
Lesson at ten by Druscilla E. Atiley
Untitled by Famous Chukwuemeka
Untitled by Fiske Nyirongo
Dreams of Kala by Flonny Saiwa
Eating butter by Gimbiya Galadima
Behaving like a normal girl by Gladwell Pamba
The visitors by Gloriah Amondi
Beware of Dogs by Halieo Motanyane
Other side of the coin by Ibrahim Babatunde Ibrahim
A flicker by Jackson D. O. Oyugi
Kipchumba’s book by Joyce A. Onyango
Almighty Gods by Mirette Bahgat
When the sun grew dark by Olive Lawino
Of little girls who want to grow up to be men by Phodiso Modirwa
Untitled by Praise Osawaru
Untitled by Rugara Eric
When the night calls/When the moon falls by Sa`ad Sa`id
Untitled by Stephen Adinoyi
The Exodus that separated us by Wadzanai Tadhuvana
Poetry
Justice must be served, Shattered dreams and Unlock these golden handcuffs by Agatha Malunda
Here we are by Andrea Myinga
Anomaly, Hell and Words by Adrian A. Sarpong
Live in Africa by Isaías Graça
Untitled by Kele Mogotsi
Family woes and What is poor? by Laone Mangwa
20 minutes and 19 seconds by Okene Ivan
Remember by Ritah M. Kibuuka
Divine Slavery by Stephen Adinoyi
Africa by Tampiwa Tumelo
The final deadline for submissions is Friday 20th March 2020. The Shortlist will be announced here in the April issue of the Online Magazine.
While each of these stories and poems will be published in the Ibua Journal, the top 10 Stories and top 5 poems will receive an award. To celebrate our love for Poetry, an in-house decision was made to award the Poetry submissions separately.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their works we wish you all the best as you continue to work on your craft. Thank you to everyone that was part of our team of jurors.