The Quramo Writers’ Prize is calling on African writers to submit unpublished fiction manuscripts for its 2026 edition. Established in 2017, the prize supports emerging talent in recording African stories through novels and novellas. Submissions must meet specific eligibility criteria and close on May 31, 2026.
The Quramo Writers’ Prize (QWP), created in 2017, provides a platform for unpublished African writers to share their work with the global literary community. It focuses on fiction prose manuscripts that contribute to the canon of African literature, encouraging writers who daily refine their craft to tell original stories from the continent.
Now entering its tenth year, the prize has spotlighted promising authors. Samuel Monye won the inaugural edition, and his novel Give Us Each Day was longlisted for the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2021. In the most recent cycle, Hubaidat Ishola took the top honor with her manuscript What Breaks, What Binds, which is slated for publication in autumn 2026.
Eligibility defines an “African writer” as a national of an African country with at least one parent African by birth or nationality. Entrants, who must be 18 or older, can live anywhere but submit original, unpublished novels or novellas in English, with a minimum of 50,000 words. Short story collections, plays, and poetry do not qualify. Manuscripts cannot have been entered in concurrent competitions or prior QWP cycles, and they should exclude personal identifying details on the pages.
The winner receives a monetary award and a publishing deal. Writers submit via an online form, with the deadline set for May 31, 2026.
