Call For Submission: Anthology Of Short Stories/Poems On The Sudanese Civil War

 

CALL FOR SUBMISSION: ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES/POEMS ON THE SUDANESE CIVIL WAR"

 

 

"Thorns, Tears and Treachery: An Anthology of Short Stories/Poems on the Sudanese Civil War"

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The global headquarters of the International Human Rights Art Festival, IHRAF, in conjunction with its African Chapter hereby calls for submission of literary creative works - short stories and poems on the Sudanese conflicts, especially on the ongoing civil war in Sudan.

 

IMPORTANT CRITERIA

 

Selected works that meet our criteria of excellence will be published in an anthology titled "Thorns, Tears and Treachery: An Anthology of Short Stories/Poems on the Sudanese Civil War". Writers whose works would be selected for publication will receive $50.00 each.

 

The anthology is primarily a Pan-African project that seeks to harness the views and voices of Sudanese and African writers at home and abroad on the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Works submitted for this anthology must not have been previously published elsewhere.

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

 

Works that are to be submitted for this anthology must be original and not recast(s) of already existing works. All submissions are subjected to the international copyright laws and authors should note that they retain full responsibility for any sort of infringements.  Works submitted for the forthcoming anthology are expected to be of the highest language and literary quality.

 

COPYRIGHT

 

The copyright to all selected works is to be held by the IHRAF and authors of the works. The anthology will be published in hard copies, on the IHRAF website and other notable online platforms.

 

METHOD OF SUBMISSION

 

All submissions to this anthology which must not be more than three (3) poems and not more than two (2) short stories should be submitted to: submissionsentriesihraf@gmail.com as MS Word attachment formatted in Times New Roman font size 12, or by clicking on:  https://forms.gle/i4i9FGXusCvrsuaSA

Screenshots or writings in jpg will not be attended to. All submissions must include author's brief bio-data and contact details such as address, email, phone number/WhatsApp number etc.

 

DEADLINE

 

Submission commences immediately from the date of this publication. Deadline for  receipt of all submissions is 30th June, 2023. Selected works that meet our criteria of excellence will be announced between August and September, 2023 and authors whose works are selected will be contacted.

 

ABOUT US

 

International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) gives voice to the voiceless; protects freedom of expression, and uses creativity to highlight human rights and social justice causes around the world.  The organization brings together all members of society through her programmes, from artists-in-exile and at risk; to activists on the front lines of the struggle for rights and justice in their own country; to artists working in all media, to national and international politicians, government agencies, social leaders and celebrities.  IHRAF believes that creative engagement with all members of the society is the surest path toward social justice and positive change.

 

CONTACTS

 

For further information and inquiries, please call, SMS, WhatsApp the following:

 

Wole: +234 807 267 3852 woleadedoyin@gmail.com

 

or

 

Terseer: +234 807 722 3196 terseersam@gmail.com

www.ihraf.org

 

IHRAF Invites Literary Works on the Sudanese Civil War

 

IHRAF INVITES LITERARY WORKS ON THE SUDANESE CIVIL WAR

 

By Wole Adedoyin

The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) is excited to announce a call for submissions of creative literary works, including short stories and poems, focused on the Sudanese conflicts, particularly the ongoing civil war in Sudan. This project, titled "Thorns, Tears and Treachery: An Anthology of Short Stories/Poems on the Sudanese Civil War," is a collaborative effort between IHRAF Global Headquarters and its African Chapter.

The main objective of this initiative is to amplify the perspectives and voices of Sudanese and African writers, both within and outside of Sudan, on the crucial issue of the ongoing conflict. Selected works that demonstrate exceptional quality will be published in the anthology, providing a platform for these writers to express their experiences, emotions, and insights.

To be eligible for consideration, submitted works must be original and unpublished. We encourage writers to strive for the highest standards of language and literary excellence, ensuring that their submissions reflect their artistic abilities authentically. Writers whose works are chosen for publication will receive a compensation of $50 each.

While IHRAF will retain the copyright to all selected works, the authors will maintain their rights to their respective pieces. The anthology will be published in hard copies, on the IHRAF website, and on other reputable online platforms, allowing a wide readership to engage with these powerful narratives.

Submissions should consist of a maximum of three (3) poems or two (2) short stories and must be sent via email as MS Word attachments to submissionsentriesihraf@gmail.com. Please use Times New Roman font size 12 for formatting. Submissions in the form of screenshots or JPGs will not be considered. Additionally, all submissions must include the author's brief bio-data and contact details, including address, email, phone number/WhatsApp number, and any relevant social media handles.

The submission process commences immediately upon the release of this press statement and will continue until June 30, 2023. The selection process will take place between August and September 2023, during which works meeting our criteria of excellence will be chosen, and authors will be duly notified.

IHRAF is an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of the marginalized, safeguarding freedom of expression, and utilizing creativity to shed light on human rights and social justice causes worldwide. Our programs bring together exiled artists, activists, artists of all mediums, politicians, government agencies, social leaders, and celebrities to foster creative engagement and facilitate positive change in society.

For further information, inquiries, or assistance, please contact Wole at +234 807 267 3852 or woleadedoyin@gmail.com, or Terseer at +234 807 722 3196 or terseersam@gmail.com. More details can be found on our website at www.ihraf.org.

IHRAF eagerly awaits compelling submissions that reflect the depth and complexity of the Sudanese Civil War and its impact on the people of Sudan.

 

Celebrating Chinua Achebe's Literary Legacy: ANA's Remarkable Efforts Under Camillus Ukah

CELEBRATING CHINUA ACHEBE'S LITERARY LEGACY: ANA'S REMARKABLE EFFORTS UNDER CAMILLUS UKAH

 

By Wole Adedoyin

Under the leadership of Camillus Ukah, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has made commendable efforts to promote the name and legacy of Chinua Achebe, the renowned founder of the association. Ukah's presidency has witnessed several initiatives and projects that aim to honor Achebe's literary contributions and ensure his enduring impact on the global literary landscape.

One notable project initiated by Camillus Ukah is the naming of the International Conference Centre as the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre (CAICC). This decision, made two years into his presidency, demonstrates the association's commitment to recognizing Achebe's invaluable contributions. The CAICC, located at Mamman Vatsa Writers' Village in Mpape Abuja, now serves as the venue for ANA's annual International Convention and recently hosted the 10th-year anniversary commemoration of Chinua Achebe's passing.

In addition to the CAICC, the establishment of The Chinua Achebe Literary Prize (CALP) stands as a testament to ANA's dedication to preserving Achebe's legacy. CALP was founded in 2021 by the Anambra State government under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano, with a generous cash prize of One Million Naira (N1,000,000). Administered by ANA, this prestigious literary prize honors Achebe's memory and aims to promote literature in his name.

One of the most significant events organized by ANA to promote Chinua Achebe's name and legacy was the recently concluded 10th Year Anniversary Commemorating his passing. This three-day event held at the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre brought together esteemed figures from the literary world. Eminent scholars and writers such as Names of notable figures that graced the occasion are: Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Olu Obafemi, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof. Abdulrasheed N' Allah, Prof. Terhemba Shija, Prof. Udenta Udenta, Prof. Vicky Syvester, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, Prof. Damian Akpata and Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Prof. Mallam Al-Bishak, Prof. Emeka Aniagolu, Prof. Nduka Otiono, Prof. Francis Eghokhare, Dr. John Otu, Dr. Wale Okediran, Prof. May Nwoye, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, Prof. Emmanuel Dan Daura, Prof. Jeo Ushie, Prof. E.E Sule, Dike Chukwumerije, Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, Dr. Abba A. Abba, Nengi IIlagha, Lindsay Barret, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Prof. Razinat Mohammed and many others graced the occasion, reflecting the reverence and respect accorded to Achebe's literary contributions.

Through these initiatives, ANA under Camillus Ukah's leadership has successfully elevated the prominence of Chinua Achebe's name and ensured that his legacy continues to inspire and influence future generations. The CAICC serves as a permanent reminder of Achebe's enduring impact, hosting important literary events that keep his works alive. Furthermore, the establishment of CALP reinforces Achebe's significance and offers aspiring writers an opportunity to be recognized in his honor.

ANA's efforts under Camillus Ukah's presidency go beyond mere symbolism. By organizing the 10th Year Anniversary Commemoration, the association has provided a platform for scholars and intellectuals to engage with Achebe's works and explore the far-reaching implications of his literary contributions. This event has fostered a sense of community and scholarship, contributing to the preservation and propagation of Achebe's legacy.

Finally, ANA, led by Camillus Ukah, has wholeheartedly embraced the responsibility of promoting Chinua Achebe's name and legacy. The naming of the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, the establishment of CALP, and the successful organization of the 10th Year Anniversary Commemoration all bear testament to the association's commitment to honoring Achebe's literary genius. These endeavors ensure that Achebe's influence remains significant and that his invaluable contributions continue to shape the literary landscape of Nigeria and the world at large.

Dissident writers upstage ANA Bayelsa

 

DISSIDENT WRITERS UPSTAGE ANA BAYELSA

 

Award-winning Nigerian poet, Prince Nengi Josef Owei-ilagha, was detained yesterday at the Zone 16 headquarters of the Nigerian police in Yenagoa, on arrival from the tenth memorial anniversary of Chinua Achebe, Africa's foremost novelist and author of the classic novels, Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, at the Mamman Vatsa Writers' Village, Abuja.

 

The poet was detained along with six other Bayelsa writers who showed up for interrogation amongst a total of fifteen writers on an exclusive list, including his wife, Mrs Bina Nengi-Ilagha and Emmanuel Frank-Opigo, both Fellows of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA. Other writers detained were Mrs Hannah Onoguwe, Secretary of ANA Bayelsa, Dr Tariere Angaye, Mrs Mercy Toruemi, and Opusam Ete. 

 

The detention of the seven writers followed a petition filed by two expelled members of ANA Bayelsa chapter, Dr Akpos Adesi and Ebipreye Egbeinpere, who are pressing criminal allegations against their fellow writers,  insisting that the writers on the list be summarily locked up for the night on charges of breaking and entering the secretariat of the Association, and for impersonation. 

 

Reacting to the development, Prince Nengi Josef Owei-ilagha, fondly called Pope Pen, stated that he was shocked to know that, rather than identify with the abiding achievements of Chinua Achebe at such a historic moment, some writers were more concerned about how to get other writers behind bars. "How would that make them write better?" wondered Pope Pen. "This is the most absurd scenario I have ever been confronted with in all my career as a writer." 

 

"The petitioners seem to have forgotten that I am the pioneer Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors in Bayelsa State. That fact cannot be altered. It bears repeating that when I presided over the inaugural meeting of the Association in September 2001 at Intercontinental Hotel, Imgbi Road, Yenagoa, we were only twelve members and the people haunting us now were nowhere near becoming members of the Association.

 

"I cannot forget the overwhelming presence of our first patron, Dr Gabriel Imomotimi Okara of the River Nun fame, Africa's first acclaimed modernist poet, as well as Simon Ambakaderemo and Christian Otobotekere. All three elderly writers have gone the way of all flesh. As we speak, the remains of His Royal Highness Christian Otobotekere, our late patron, still lie in the mortuary, and my most urgent prayer is that Bayelsa writers would gather together as one united family and give the aged poet the befitting burial he deserves.

 

"So it comes to me as a surprise that some wrong-headed pretenders are bringing fatuous and unwarranted allegations born out of a mischievous cast of mind into play. Exactly who did I impersonate, and when? Why would I want to break into the secretariat of an Association I started twenty-two years ago? To say the least, I feel ashamed on behalf of Adesi and Egbeinpere, to say nothing of any other befuddled sponsor behind them. The fact of the matter is that the allegations being levelled against the fifteen writers are false, non-existent and unfounded. 

 

"The Bayelsa State chapter of ANA does not exist in isolation. It is an authentic body of writers at the state level existing under a national executive led by Camillus Uka, which only recently hosted the community of writers around the world, in real and virtual time, to commemorate the legacy of Achebe at the Mamman Vatsa Writers'Village, Abuja. Anyone acting outside that hierarchy of authority is a desperate imposter out to hijack the Association. Events will soon prove that this petty plot hatched by Adesi and company failed even before it began," said the poet.

 

All seven writers were released on bail before the day ran out. The Bayelsa chapter of ANA is currently under the leadership of Murphy Biriabebe, a poet and lawyer.