Cassava Republic commemorates their long-standing commitment to building a platform where Black Women writers continue to thrive and contribute to the African and global literary scene with a $30,000 Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize, opened to established and up-and-coming Black women writers across Africa and the Afro-diaspora.
The prize is funded by Alitheia Capital and the Open Society Foundation of Africa and will be split between a winner and two runner-ups. The winner will secure a publishing deal with Cassava Republic and a $20,000 advance, both runner-ups will each receive a publishing deal as well and a $5,000 advance each. The prize is set to run till March 31st 2024.
In an official statement, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf said, “We take immense pride in launching the Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize as we take steps to address a long-overlooked gap in the literary world. The prize builds on the long tradition of Black women writers as theorists and intellectuals, and provides a platform for a range of writers from Africa and the Afro-diaspora to follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Anna Julia Cooper, Amy Jacques Garvey, Claudia Jones, Noni Jabavu, Audre Lorde, May Ayim, Ellen Khuzwayos, bell hooks, and Toni Morrison who have come before.”
To participate in the competition, eligible candidates must adhere to the Submission Guidelines, which specify that the prize is exclusively available to Black women writers aged 18 and above, regardless of their geographical location. Prospective entrants are required to submit a comprehensive package consisting of five sample chapters and a pitch letter. The pitch letter should encompass a synopsis of the work along with a complete outline of all chapters. Following the initial submission, longlisted authors will subsequently be invited to provide full manuscripts for further consideration in the competition.
