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By Henry Akubuiro
The Abuja Narrative Initiative (TANI), led by Udenta O. Udenta, invites writers to submit short stories for The Abuja Narratives, a curated anthology exploring the many layers of Nigeria’s capital city.
This initiative is a cultural and literary platform dedicated to documenting, interrogating, and amplifying the lived realities, histories, and evolving identities of Abuja.
Conceived as a place-based literary archive, the anthology, themed “Abuja: Seen, Unseen, Remembered, Imagined”, positions Abuja not merely as a backdrop but as a living, breathing force within narrative fiction.
According to editors, “We invite stories that explore Abuja as a fully embodied city, where place shapes character, conflict, memory, and imagination. Tell Abuja as only you have known, imagined, remembered, or survived it.”
All submissions must ensure that: Abuja is vividly present in setting and atmosphere; the city should actively influence plot, character, and narrative direction; readers must experience Abuja through its geography, institutions, and social rhythms; the city must be made to function as a living narrative force, not a replaceable backdrop; and the story should reflect a grounded or imaginatively consistent sense of Abuja.
Submissions open on 11 May, 2026. Submission deadline is 30 July, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Submissions are open to all writers who have experienced Abuja, regardless of their current residence or location, as well as writers within and outside Nigeria, including those in the diaspora. Others include emerging and established writers. It must be noted: writers do not need to reside in Abuja, but submissions must demonstrate a strong and convincing sense of the city.
Guidelines
(I) One (1) short story per writer
(Ii) Word count: 1,000–5,000 words (exceptional shorter stories may be considered if they demonstrate strong literary merit)
(III) Submissions must be original and unpublished.
(iv) Entries must not be under consideration elsewhere
(v) Previously published works will not be accepted.
Formating
Entries should be processed with Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) The font is Times New Roman while the font size: 12 pt. All entries must be double-spaced, and sent to:
Subject Line Format should be: Short Story Submission – [Title] – [Full Name]. Also, include a short author bio (100–150 words), contact details (email address and phone number).
