Questions
Frequently asked
Who is eligible?+
Any African writer aged 18 or above. No identity-document upload is required.
Do I have to live in Africa?+
No. Writers living anywhere in the world may enter, provided they are African.
Can writers in the diaspora enter?+
Yes. Writers of the African diaspora are eligible. State your nationality in the application; no identity-document upload is required.
Can I submit in more than one category?+
Yes. You may enter both Fiction and Poetry, with one entry per category.
Can previously published work be submitted?+
No. Submitted work must be unpublished.
Can I submit more than one work?+
No. Each writer may submit one work per category, for example one single poem for the Poetry Prize.
What languages are eligible?+
Work must be written in English.
Is there a submission fee?+
No. There is no fee to enter the 2026 prize.
Can I withdraw my submission?+
Yes. Email submissions@obibiezennaprize.com with your reference code before the shortlist is announced.
When will the shortlist be announced?+
The shortlist will be announced on November 30.
When will the winners be announced?+
Winners will be announced on December 12.
Who are the judges?+
The 2026 jury is Ikenna Okeh, Pablo Gross Herrera and Abraham Aondoana. See the Jury page for full profiles.
How are submissions evaluated?+
On literary craft, originality, ambition, emotional and intellectual resonance, and cohesion. See the Judging page.
Can my name appear in the manuscript?+
No. Entries should not include the writer’s name — only the title of the work, so that judging stays anonymous.
Can publishers nominate writers?+
Entries are submitted by writers themselves through the submission portal. Publishers may encourage their writers to apply.
Can I submit work published outside Africa?+
No. Work must be unpublished, wherever the previous publication took place.
How do I track my submission?+
Use the Track Submission page with your email and the reference code you received when you submitted.