Na-La Mapambazuko Afrika Award

Writers Space Africa is pleased to announce the Na-la Mapambazuko Afrika Award, established by Tanzanian writers Nahida Esmail and Richard Mabala to encourage the writing of original fiction in Kiswahili for children and adolescents.

The award was created in response to the limited availability of engaging fiction in Kiswahili for older children and teenagers, despite the importance of this age group in developing strong reading cultures across Africa. The prize aims to promote imaginative, original, and inspiring stories that speak to the realities and experiences of young readers.

The award alternates annually between two age groups:

9–12 years
13–18 years
For the 2026 edition, submissions are invited for fiction suitable for readers aged 9–12 years.

Genre: Fiction
Language: Swahili only
Word count: 1,000 – 3,000 words (excluding the title)
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Writers of African Descent
Deadline: July 1, 2026

The winner will receive:

A cash prize of USD 150
A certificate of achievement
Mentorship from an experienced children’s author
Introduction to a publisher
Opportunity to connect with writers across Africa
Second- and third-place winners will receive all of the above except the cash prize.

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Enquiries about submissions should be directed to Writers Space Africa. Please always refer to their website for complete details and information. 

Please note, this call is run by Writers Space Africa, not the Commonwealth Foundation.