Creative Africa has announced that ‘Bada Murya’, a six-month digital fellowship for writers and poets from northern Nigeria, will begin on May 18.
‘Bada Murya’, the body, explained, invokes the power of narrative/storytelling to shift perceptions and facilitate accountability about northern youths who have mainly been stereotyped and misunderstood.
Following a call for application and the selection of 15 fellows from a total of 438 entries, the fellowship begins on May 18 with a class led by award-winning writer and journalist, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim. Other facilitators include Wana Udobang, Aisha Oshori, Dike Chukwumerije, Efe Paul Azino, and Saddiq Dzukogi.
Commenting on the selection process, creative director of Creative Africa, Efe Paul Azino, said, “the applications showed a range of talent and themes, reflecting the urgent social, political and psychological concerns of the moment. There is a strong tradition of literary, cultural and artistic production from the North. We are happy to contribute to it. For a region as beleaguered by stereotypes as it is by poor leadership or extremist ideologies, challenging the prevailing narrative is important.”
The fellowship, which is designed to connect Northern conversations to a global audience in a way that challenges stereotypes and empowers a new generation of storytellers, will produce an anthology and a special performance showcase at the 2021 edition of the Lagos International Poetry Festival.
