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.