Submissions

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SUBMISSIONS CLOSED AT THE MOMENT

 

The editorial team of Agbowo is pleased to announce a new schedule for submissions and publication. 

Agbowó will now publish two (2) issues a year - one themed in July and one unthemed issue in December. A Call for Submissions will be published at the beginning of each submission window. All works featured in each publication will appear individually on the website as well.

July Issue - Themed

Submission Window: March 1st - April 30th
Decisions: June 5th
Publication: July 1


December Issue - Unthemed


Submission Window: Sept 1 - Oct 30th
Decisions: December 1
Publication: December 18th

In the new structure, all contributors featured in all published issues will now be paid.


NOTE: Kindly submit only ONE entry per submission window. Please wait until the next window to submit again.

 

Specific submission guidelines for:

 Poetry

We accept poems of any length, form or style. Please send only three poems at a time. We are looking for poems from poets of African origin that move us by the freshness and keenness of their sound, their fluidity, the orality of their verse, and the profundity of their theses. We also welcome humorous poems and political poems.

Please send your poetry submissions here.

Poems should be attached as either Microsoft Word or PDF documents (or both when the physical form is intricate). Poems submitted must be previously unpublished on any platform. Each poem should be titled and every new poem should begin on a new page. We prefer you use a Times New Roman font with a 1.5 spacing. While we accept simultaneous submissions, please be kind enough to inform us if your submission has been accepted by another journal.

Also, attach a portrait picture, a short bio of fewer than 100 words, and your social media handles.

Please remember to indicate in your subject the issue to which you are submitting.

We look forward to reading your work.

All poetry works submitted and published on Agbowo.org will be now considered for the Editor's Prize for Poetry.

 

Fiction 

Please send a maximum of one story per submission window. Works submitted should not have been published elsewhere. While you are welcome to send flash fiction, we usually publish stories with the 1500 – 5000 word range.

Please send your fiction submissions here.

Stories should be attached as Microsoft Word documents. Stories submitted must be previously unpublished on any platform. We prefer you use a Times New Roman font with a 1.5 spacing. While we accept simultaneous submissions, please be kind enough to inform us if your submission has been accepted by another journal.

Also, attach a portrait picture, a short bio of fewer than 100 words, and your social media handles.

Please remember to indicate in your subject the issue to which you are submitting.

We look forward to reading your work.

Essays/NonFiction

Essays may explore a wide variety of themes. Everything and anything is allowed. We, however, are on a particular lookout for essays with roots wholly or partly lodged within the context of Africa, either through subjects under focus or case studies. We are also keen on ideas that are plucked outside the box and, if possible, without the box in sight. We give premium to uncommon topics, approaches, and styles.

Furthermore:

  • Essays must be written in the English language. Broken English is also acceptable.
  • Essays should be no longer than 3500 words and no less than 750.
  • Essays should be previously unpublished.
  • Submissions should be in an electronic form and attached as Microsoft Word documents.
  • Write “Essay Submission” and the title of your piece in the subject line of your email.
  • Include a cover letter and a biography ranging between 100 and 200 words
  • A clear photograph of the author should also be attached.
  • Plagiarism is not condoned. All quotes should be duly acknowledged.
  • Please attach your social media handles as well so we can tag you upon publication.
  • Please send your essay submissions here.
  • Please remember to indicate in your subject the issue to which you are submitting.

 

One Act Plays

  • We will consider for publication one-act plays with running times between 10 and 30 minutes.
  • Submissions can explore any theme and can be genre-bending as well.
  • We are open to new ideas so the plays can be experimental. 
  • The submission should have a maximum cast of 7 characters. There can be room for three minor characters with limited dialogues.
  • Submissions should include a cover letter with a brief summary of the play, the name and location of the playwright, the running time, performance history (if it has been performed before), and awards (if it has won any awards).
  • Submissions should be in Microsoft Word documents.
  • Only finished scripts of one-act plays are acceptable. Do not submit drafts of works in process. Previously produced plays are welcomed.
  • The play must be a complete one-act play, not a part of a larger work. 
  • Please remember to indicate in your subject the issue to which you are submitting.

Please send your One-Act plays for consideration here.


Visual Art and Photography

This platform encourages artists to contribute to the ever-growing archive of artistic ideas of our time. Artworks can be on any number of subjects, just as long as the theme helps portray the culture in a unique yet relatable manner. In other words, the more idealistic and daring, the preference we give. We hope to assist your creative journey by preserving your works and showcasing them on both our Monthly and Instagram feeds.

We request your works (preferably a portfolio of 3-5 works around a singular theme) be submitted as high-resolution files and titled appropriately with a note about the medium. Accepted artists will be interviewed for the Monthly.

Please send your visual arts and photography submissions here.

Please attach your social media (particularly Twitter and Instagram) handles as well so we can tag you upon publication.

Remember to indicate in your subject the issue to which you are submitting.


Interviews and Reviews 

We welcome interview submissions typically between 1500 – 7500 words. Interviews must be related to literary or visual arts. If you will be submitting short interviews, kindly note this in the submission subject. We, however, give preference to detailed interviews. We do not republish interviews that have first been featured on other platforms. However, we allow you to recall your submission if it has been accepted somewhere else.

In your submission, include the following:

  1. Bio of the interviewer, including picture;
  2. Bio of the interviewee, including picture;
  3. Pictures from the interview and pictures that buttresses the interview, if there are any.
  4. Subject and reason for the interview;
  5. Please attach your social media handles as well so we can tag you upon publication.

Submissions should be shared in a .doc/.docx file.

For reviews, they should be double-spaced and be no more than 1500 words. Reviews of recently published books are given a high preference.

*We are currently not accepting interview submissions. Review articles should be sent to the Essays/Cultural Criticism Editor.


Compensation

Agbowó continues its commitment to promote African art and will now offer a publication fee to all contributors of all its yearly issues, according to the following plan;

Single Poems - $25
Suites of poems (2-4) - $50
One act plays -$50
Essays/Nonfiction - $60
Fiction - $60
Visual Art - $35

 

Prize

Editor's Prize for Poetry - $100

The easiest way for us to send compensation for non-Nigerians is to have a Paypal account. We have had some difficulties in the past sending money to authors internationally, especially within Africa. We will often settle for paying Nigerians in naira due to current Nigerian regulations.