My Mind Words Paper:
west africa literature

Deadline: 15 June 2012

The second issue of Bakwa will be themed and its focus will be on conversations/interviews. We are interested in conversations with artists which will highlight the process of creation as well as its impediments and challenges. Our aim is to give an insight to the personality of the artist which is usually obfuscated by art and second-guessed by criticism and speculation. We intend to sort of set the record straight by hearing what the artist has to say, given that the notable Italian semiotician and historian, Umberto Eco, opines that interpretation is indefinite.

We would very much appreciate it if contributors queried us first to inform us about a submission concerning the interviews so that we can talk about the project. Nevertheless, we are still open to the regular features which include— poetry, fiction, photography, art, reviews, memoirs, journalistic pieces, travel writing etc.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: bakwaeditor@gmail.com

Website: http://bakwamagazine.wordpress.com/

To create a culture of Christian fiction which promotes a Christian Worldview, Christian Monthly Library (for West Africa) is pleased to announce its new programme which aims to publish an exciting new Christian West African series.

We are looking for quality stories with implicit rather than explicit Christian themes, that is, stories that show rather than tell as their means of communicating the gospel message. We are also specifically looking for stories that are suitable for a young adult West African reading audience in the romantic fiction genre on any subject.

We welcome stories set in any of the five West African countries, namely, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia.

If you would like to submit your manuscript for consideration to be published under our imprint, please use the Submission Manager here (please use “Writer Signup”). But just before you do, please carefully read our guidelines below.

Submission Guidelines:

(i) Stories must be written by a writer who is a national of any of the above listed West African countries.

(ii) Stories must be principally set in any of these West African countries, although some parts of it may take place elsewhere

(iii) The stories must be told from a strong biblical perspective and have an easily recognizable central Christian theme. However, we are more inclined to pick stories that communicate the gospel message in an implicit rather than explicit manner.

(iv) We love small town plots because everyone can identify with a small town –community, church, family, etc. As such, we are partial to stories set in provincial towns rather than big cities, with all the usual intrigues, superstitions, and of course, romance. However, stories set in big cities which have the right tone are heartily welcome.

(v) It is important that your story represent orthodox Christianity and not be heretical.

(vi) We accept only works of romantic fiction; however, they may be in any sub-genre whether historical, inspirational, etc.

(vii) We only require you to submit the first three chapters of your work but you may send in the full manuscript for a better assessment, if you wish. However your manuscript must have been completed at the time of submission.

(viii) It must be your original work of fiction and not infringe on any person’s copyright.

(ix) It must not be previously published in ANY format, by any other person or association of persons.

(x) We accept stories with a minimum word count of 80,000 words and a maximum word count of 100, 000 words (please state the total word count in your submission).

(xi) We accept only stories written in English Language.

(xii) We accept only soft copies of manuscripts in MS-Word 2003/07 format.

(xiii) Multiple submissions may be entered, but separately.

(xiv) You are REQUIRED to include with your manuscript submission (1) a cover letter (2) a synopsis of your manuscript and (3) A short note about yourself. We will not consider your submission otherwise.

(xv) Manuscripts are never returned under any circumstance, so we advice that you keep a copy for yourself.

(xvi) Should your manuscript be accepted for publication by us, we will offer you full Author Services free of cost and work with you to polish your work to the best industry standards.

(xvii) You may also send your submission (and all required documents) as an attachment in an e-mail to: chrisitanmonthlylibrary.wa@gmail.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: chrisitanmonthlylibrary.wa@gmail.com

For submissions: chrisitanmonthlylibrary.wa@gmail.com or via the Submissions Manager

Website: http://christianwestafricanseries.wordpress.com/

From Bakwa Magazine: In a future project, Bakwa will team up with The Ofi Press (Mexico), edited by Jack Little. Ofi Press will feature West African writers while Bakwa will feature Mexican writers. The Ofi Press is a monthly magazine which publishes poetry, fiction, interviews, reviews, etc. The general submission guidelines can be found here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For submissions: you can query the editor of Ofi Press or submit to theofipress@mail.com

Website: http://theofipress.webs.com/

Deadline: 15 June 2012

The second issue of Bakwa will be themed and its focus will be on conversations/interviews. We are interested in conversations with artists which will highlight the process of creation as well as its impediments and challenges. Our aim is to give an insight to the personality of the artist which is usually obfuscated by art and second-guessed by criticism and speculation. We intend to sort of set the record straight by hearing what the artist has to say, given that the notable Italian semiotician and historian, Umberto Eco, opines that interpretation is indefinite.

We would very much appreciate it if contributors queried us first to inform us about a submission concerning the interviews so that we can talk about the project. Nevertheless, we are still open to the regular features which include— poetry, fiction, photography, art, reviews, memoirs, journalistic pieces, travel writing etc.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: bakwaeditor@gmail.com

Website: http://bakwamagazine.wordpress.com/

Deadline: 20 June 2011

The Pulitzer Center is seeking four West African journalists to join two international journalists to produce a series of reports on water and sanitation projects in West Africa. Deadline is June 20, 2011.

Reporting will be published in West African and international news outlets. This collaboration between West African and international journalists will improve the quality of the reporting on water and sanitation and give voice to West African journalists working to communicate the systemic crises affecting their countries to an international news audience. We aim for this model of collaborative reporting to be a model for future in-depth foreign reporting.

Background: West Africa has among the lowest rate of access to clean water and adequate sanitation in the world. Aid organizations, international financial institutions and governments have spent millions of dollars on projects throughout the region but the results thus far are mixed. Of the 600,000-plus hand pumps installed in sub-Saharan Africa over the past 20 years, for example, some 30 percent are known to have failed prematurely; less than one percent of projects have any kind of long-term monitoring.

Grant Description: The Pulitzer Center will award grants to four West African journalists to work with international journalists and Pulitzer Center staff to produce reports on water and sanitation for West African and international news outlets. A summary video segment will be produced for high-end U.S. broadcast news outlets (PBS NewsHour or similar platforms); work will also be featured on a special Pulitzer Center web platform.

The selected journalists and Pulitzer Center staff will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to attend World Water Week (late August 2011). There they will attend conference sessions and press briefings, develop a reporting plan for West Africa, and participate in a multimedia training workshop led by Emmy-award winning video journalist, Stephen Sapienza.

In October 2011 the international journalists and Pulitzer Center staff will travel to West Africa to report with the West African journalists in their respective countries. Expected deliverables for this reporting will be finalized at World Water Week.

All expenses in Stockholm and West Africa will be covered by the Pulitzer Center.

Eligibility: These grants are open to West African journalists, writers, photographers, radio producers or filmmakers; staff journalists as well as free-lancers who live and work in the region (as defined by the UN) and seek to report from their home country on water and sanitation.

Deadline: June 20, 2011. Selected journalists will be announced in early July.

How to Apply: Applications should be submitted to travelgrants [at] pulitzercenter.org with “West Africa Water” in the subject line. Questions should be directed to Peter Sawyer by email at psawyer [at] pulitzercenter.org or by phone at 1-202-797-5562. Applications must be received in English or French (English preferred).

Applications should include the following:

* A 250-word statement of interest with plans for reporting on water and sanitation in your country (in the body of the email)
* Brief description of experience with video, photography, radio and web media (in the body of the email); experience in these media is not a requirement for the grant
* Two references with contact information with 1-2 sentences describing how each knows you (in the body of the email)
* A letter from your editor or supervisor that gives permission to participate in World Water Week (August 20-28, 2011) and to travel with the American journalist(s) for one week in October, and that signals a strong commitment to publish or broadcast your work on the topic (as attachment)
* Three examples of recent reporting (as links or attachments)
* Curriculum Vitae (as attachment)

Contact Information:

For inquiries: psawyer [at] pulitzercenter.org

For submissions: psawyer [at] pulitzercenter.org

Website: http://pulitzercenter.org/