Submissions for the 2026 Afritondo Short Story Prize are now officially closed.

This year’s call, themed “transition”, invited writers to explore stories of change, becoming, rupture, and renewal—and the prize received over 760 entries from across more than 40 countries worldwide.

Storytellers from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, as well as Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Seychelles, and South Sudan, reflect Afritondo’s growing global community of Black and African writers.

The breadth and depth of submissions underscore Afritondo’s mission to amplify diverse Black and African voices and connect readers with fiction that moves, challenges, and inspires.

In the coming weeks, our judges will begin the careful process of reading and selecting the longlist, shortlist, and eventual winner.

Afritondo extends heartfelt thanks to every writer who submitted a story and helped make this year’s prize a truly international celebration of contemporary Black and African writing.