Announcement

CALL OUT:

AFRICAN LITERARY AND CULTURAL STUDIES
BUILDING NETWORKS AND SUPPORTING

PUBLICATION

Applications are invited from early career scholars of African Literary and Cultural
Studies based in Eastern and Southern Africa to take part in a year-long writing
and mentoring programme, including a 4-day in person writing workshop at
University of Nairobi. Designed in partnership with the journal Eastern African
Literary and Cultural Studies and funded by the British Academy, the programme
focuses on developing PhD chapters into articles for publication in high-impact
international journals. The 4-day academic writing workshop will bring
experienced book and journal editors to University of Nairobi, offering early career
scholars opportunities to learn more about academic publishing processes and
grant writing, receive detailed feedback on their work, and build stronger
relationships with an assigned mentor and peer writing group. Between June 2026
and May 2027 participants will also be invited to engage in a carefully curated
online programme of mentoring, skills development and networking opportunities.
Directly concerned with issues of visibility and value in relation to the circulation
of African cultural production, early career scholars will also build connections and
collaborations with leading creative industry professionals and global academic
networks. Linked to this, the first day of the in-person workshop has been planned
to coincide with the final day of an academic conference focused around Eastern
African Literary and Publishing Networks 1963-1978 (hosted by the Department of
Literature at University of Nairobi, in collaboration with the Department of English
and Creative Writing at University of Exeter).
Accommodation and travel bursaries will be provided for all participants.
Application Guidelines
This workshop will bring together 15 early career researchers of African Literary
and Cultural Studies, including those working on or through African cultural
history, performance, literatures, music, visual cultures, gender, media and
technology, creative industries, world literature and postcolonial studies.
Applicants must be based in Eastern or Southern Africa.
Given the emphasis on developing PhD chapters into articles for publication,
applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme or have been awarded a PhD.
Early career scholar here is defined as a scholar within 5 years of having received a
PhD.
WRITING WORKSHOP AND MENTORING PROGRAMME
FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS BASED IN EASTERN AND

SOUTHERN AFRICA

11-14 AUGUST 2026, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

To be considered for the workshop, please submit to
nairobiliterarynetworks@gmail.com:
A brief expression of interest and contact details for 2 referees (up to 300 words)
A short CV (including date of conferral or expected conferral of PhD)
A substantive chapter or extract from your PhD (up 10,000 words)
An abstract of between 200 and 300 words for an article to be developed based
on your PhD research through the workshop.
Deadline 20 May 2026.
Please note selected participants will be notified in early June. Participants will then
be expected to submit a 4000-word plan / extract of the article to be developed
through the in-person workshop by 20 July 2026.

The Department of Literature, University of Nairobi, in collaboration with the Department of English and Creative Writing, Exeter University, will host a conference on the role of publishing networks in Eastern Africa played in shaping the region's literary terrain in the vibrant decades of 1960s and 1970s. 

The conference will take place from 10th - 11th August, 2026, at the Main Campus of the University of Nairobi. 

Call for Papers: Eastern African Literary and Publishing Networks in the 1960s and 1970s

Venue: University of Nairobi

Dates: 10-11 August 2026

After political independence, during the early decolonial period, a significant number of new literary and publishing initiatives were founded in Eastern Africa due to the ‘flourishing, vibrant intellectual culture of the 1960s and 1970s’ with all the ‘major writers’ except for Ngũgĩ publishing with ‘local presses’ (Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, 2007, p. 151). These initiatives redefined an African literary canon, more expansively drawing in oral literatures, popular genres, and African languages, and accepting work that would not have been published elsewhere. The 1962 ‘Conference of African Writers of English Expression’ held at Makerere University College in Kampala, alongside newly-established university colleges in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, helped forge city-based creative hubs which attracted writers from other parts of the continent and supported the building of Eastern and Pan-African literary communities. Acknowledging that too little concerted conversation has been held to explore the impact of these literary and publishing networks in shaping African literatures, this conference draws together scholars working on this significant period in Eastern Africa’s literary history.

Through this dialogue, we want to explore questions such as: How did these literary and publishing initiatives emerge and how were they sustained? How did arts spaces, publishers and literary magazines in Eastern Africa support the work of writers in this period? What factors influenced publishing decisions? How important were changing educational structures and curricula to literary production? What were the interrelationships between independent African-owned publishing initiatives and international or government-owned publishers? What different geographical affiliations were brought together through writing communities and publishing initiatives (local, national, regional, Pan-African, international) in this period? How inclusive were these literary and publishing networks (particularly in relation to constructions of gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity)? What traditions did they destabilize or inaugurate? How can we better document and recognize the significance of Eastern Africa-based collaborative exchanges for an African literary canon?

We invite papers on topics that include but are not limited to:

• The work of significant writers and literary producers based in Eastern Africa during the 1960s and 1970s including:
  • Kenyan writers and literary producers such as Jared Angira, Henry Chakava, Samuel Kahiga, Jonathan Kariara, Leonard Kibera, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Charles Mangua, David Maillu, Sam Mbure, Micere Mugo, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Hilary Ng’weno, John Nottingham, Pheroze Nowrojee, Rebeka Njau, Bethwell Ogot, Grace Ogot and Miriam Khamadi Were.
  • Ugandan writers and literary producers such as Austin Bukenya, Henry Kimbugwe, Barbara Kimenye, John Nagenda, Peter Nazareth, Rajat Neogy, Richard Ntiru, Okot p’Bitek, Okello Oculi, John Ruganda, Robert Serumaga, Elvania Zirimu and Pio Zirimu
  • Tanzanian writers and literary producers such as Mohammed Said Abdulla, Ndyanao Balisidya, Walter Bgoya, Ebrahim Hussein, Faraji Katalambula, Euphrase Kezilahabi, Martha Mandao, Penina Muhando Mlama, Mathias Mnyampala, Shaaban Kajatto Msuya and Shaaban Robert.
  • African writers and literary producers such as Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana), Noni Jabavu (South Africa), Taban Lo Liyong (South Sudan), Esk’ia Mphalele (South Africa) and David Rubadiri (Malawi).
• Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam as publishing and university centres and creative hubs
• The impact of collaboration, care and intimate personal relationships (friendships and marriages) on Eastern African literatures, including relationships between writers, relationship between writers and particular literary and publishing initiatives, regional and Pan-African exchanges
• Eastern African-based literary and publishing initiatives including:
  • African-owned independent publishing initiatives
  • Magazines and newspapers (for example: Joe, The Weekly Review)
  • Literary magazines (for example: Ghala, Zuka, Nexus, Busara, Darlite, Umma, PenPoint, Makerere Beat, Dhana, Joliso, Transition, Drum, Cheche)
  • Bookshops (for example: Dar es Salaam Bookshop, ESA Bookshop, S.J Moore, Text Book Centre, TPH Bookshop, Uganda Bookshop)
  • Literary events and festivals
  • Arts spaces and creative writing workshops (for example: Paa Ya Paa, ChemChemi, Kibo Art Gallery)
• Publishing strengths including work in African languages, oral literatures, crime thrillers, romance, translations
• School and university curricula and their relationship to publishing and an African literary canon
• Colonial legacies and publishing infrastructures including the role of UK-based publishers in the region, religious publishing, and the visibility of the African Writers Series
• Questions around textual mobility, distribution, circulation and value.

Prospective speakers should submit a 300-word abstract of their proposed paper to nairobiliterarynetworks@gmail.com Please also include a brief biography (no more than 100 words) and contact information. Deadline for the submission of abstracts: 15 March 2026. Applicants will be notified no later than 30 March 2026. Registration will be free.

Linked to this event, conference organizers Godwin Siundu, Kate Wallis and Billy Kahora will be editing a new collection of essays focused around Eastern African Literary and Publishing Networks in the 1960s and 1970s. Conference speakers will also have the opportunity for their work to be considered for publication as part of this book.

As part of the conference we will also be hosting an optional workshop session on working with publishing histories and publishing studies methodologies

The University of Nairobi, through the Department of Literature in collaboration with EAEP and the Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Foundation, invites the public to a commemorative event in honour of the late Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.

🗓 Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Venue: Taifa Hall, University of Nairobi
🎟 Entry: Free

Join us for a day of tributes, performances, readings, and exhibitions celebrating Prof. Ngũgĩ’s enduring literary and intellectual legacy.

Join us in honoring the life and work of Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o at a special event hosted by the Department of Literature University of Nairobi. The celebration takes place on June 20, 2025, at Taifa Hall from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This event is dedicated to exploring the impactful contributions of Prof. Ngugi and his influence on literature, education, and empowerment.

Enjoy a day filled with insightful discussions, commemorative activities, and a tribute to a literary icon. Entry is free for all attendees. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a meaningful celebration organized by the Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Foundation and the University of Nairobi.

We look forward to welcoming you to this memorable event!