Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship 2026 (₦50,000 AED Grant & Fully Funded Residency in UAE)

Applications are now open for the 2026 Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship, a prestigious literary residency hosted by The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The fellowship supports creative writers working on Africa and its diaspora, offering time, funding, and an intellectually rich environment to develop major literary projects. It is open to writers across genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and film.

About the Fellowship

The fellowship is named in honour of Professor Tejumola Olaniyan, the late Nigerian literary scholar and cultural critic whose work profoundly shaped African and African Diaspora studies. His legacy of intellectual rigour, creativity, and commitment to transformative storytelling is at the heart of this program.

Since its launch in Fall 2022, the residency has hosted accomplished writers in Sharjah, a historic crossroads of African-Arab cultural exchange. Fellows become part of a vibrant scholarly and artistic community dedicated to advancing new narratives and critical thought on Africa and its global connections.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive a total grant of 50,000 AED, which covers:

• A three-month fully funded residency in Sharjah, UAE
• Monthly stipend of 10,000 AED
• Accommodation throughout the residency
• Round-trip airfare
• Visa support
• Opportunities to publish through The Africa Institute’s publications program
• Support for theatre or film script projects, including facilitation toward production where applicable

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to emerging and established creative writers worldwide.

Applicants must:

• Be actively working on a major literary project (novel, memoir, essays, poetry, film script, or full-length play)
• Have at least one published work (book, journal, or reputable online platform)

Preferred qualifications include:

• Strong record of literary excellence (awards, fellowships, recognitions)
• Substantial creative portfolio
• Work focused on Africa or the African diaspora
• Innovative approaches to storytelling, language, or form
• Contributions to literary culture, scholarship, or public discourse

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Residency & Project Details

• Projects may be written in English or Arabic (other languages will also be considered)
• Projects can be new or works-in-progress
• Proposed work must be feasible for completion within the three-month residency
• Residency cohorts typically begin in the fall

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following via the online application platform:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
• One-page cover letter explaining motivation for applying (single-spaced, font size 12)
• Two-page project statement (single-spaced, font size 12), including:
  • Project description
  • Significance of the work
  • Proposed timeline
  • Introduction to the writing sample and its relevance to the project
• One published writing sample or creative work

Note: Each uploaded document must not exceed 3MB. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.

Selection Process

• Applications are reviewed by a committee of Africa Institute faculty and fellows
• Three fellows will be selected
• Selection is based on literary quality, originality, and feasibility of completion

Apply for the Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship