Re-imagined! is a global online storytelling contest inviting African writers, poets, playwrights and journalists to re-invent and update the African folktale for a new millennium.
The stories should contain life lessons that are relevant for both young and old, however writers are invited to be as inventive and disruptive as they wish in terms of theme, form, language, characters, imagery and context.
Whilst the first edition of the contest will cater only for those writing in English, subsequent editions will seek to promote entries in African languages, as well as in French, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic.
The contest aims to;
To revive the rapidly dying age-old tradition of sharing wisdom through stories by re-adapting them for a modern context
To create more opportunities for African writers to get published
To contribute to a modern archive of stories by Africans writers
To influence public debate and include alternative voices to the traditional news agenda through stories that tackles issues critical to African development
To make available the stories to as broad an audience as possible through both traditional and new media platforms
To invite storytellers to perform the stories on stage, in schools and in communities across the world
To train teachers on storytelling techniques
To find new ways of encouraging communities to talk through difficult issues and heal trauma through the use of storytelling
To create a video archive of the storytelling performances
A New Anthology of Modern African Tales
Following a two-month entry period, an editorial panel, headed by Nigerian author Chuma Nwokolo, will select the top twenty five entries, which will then be:
Published in the first ever Illustrated Anthology on Modern African Folktales.
Serialized in several newspapers around the continent
Storytelling Performances
A key component of the Re-Imagined contest is reviving African storytelling customs. Storytellers will perform the stories selected for the anthology across the continent in schools, literary festivals and communities. The stories will also be used as part of an art therapy programme as a way to understand and help communities resolve the deep divisions that are at the root of modern day conflicts and social unrest and inequalities. By creating safe spaces that use a traditional art form that is familiar across communities in Africa, stories can help communities not only reclaim the stories of their pasts, but also to heal traumas and re-imagine their futures.
Eligibility
Your story must be between 500 – 1500 words.
The deadline for submissions is midnight (GMT) on May 20th 2016
The contest is opened to both publish and unpublished writers
A maximum of two stories per author will be considered in any one year.
All stories should be written in the folk tale tradition* (See Guidelines in FAQ’s)
All stories should carry a moral message.
Submit your story only through the online entry form.
Only work in English is eligible.
Only African authors are eligible. Note: An African writer’ is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, or who is a national of an African country, or who has a parent who is African by birth or nationality.
Deadline for Submission is May-20-2016
To read more on this, visit the website http://www.reimaginedstories.com/
