June 2025 — The Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series is pleased to announce a call for submissions for a forthcoming volume of its ongoing anthology project. Poets and writers from across the globe are invited to submit poems and short prose pieces for possible inclusion in this unique and timely collection focusing on African migration and (im)mobility.
This anthology seeks to explore the diverse experiences of African and African diasporic migration—across time and geography, on Earth and in imagined worlds beyond. Contributors are encouraged to reflect on the past, present, and possible futures of migration, addressing themes of movement, displacement, belonging, exile, resilience, and return.
Africa’s relationship with migration is long, complex, and ongoing. From the search for pasture and prosperity to responses to conflict, climate change, and persecution, African people have moved—voluntarily and involuntarily—within nations, across borders, and across oceans. These migrations carry profound personal and communal stories: what it means to leave, to journey, to arrive, and sometimes, to never return.
This anthology seeks poems that speak to these layered realities. Whether rooted in fact or imagination, voices of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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Form: Submit poems (maximum 40 lines) and/or short prose (maximum 100 words).
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Theme: All work should engage with the theme of African migration and (im)mobility.
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Language: Submissions must be in English. Translations are welcome with permission from the copyright holder.
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Originality: Previously published work is acceptable if copyright belongs to the submitting writer; please include publication details.
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Format: Typed, single-spaced, either in the body of the email or as a .doc attachment.
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Bio: Include a short biography (50 words or less) for potential inclusion in the anthology.
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Limit: A maximum of three submissions (poems, prose, or a combination).
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Eligibility: Open to writers of all ages and from anywhere in the world.
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Deadline & Email: Submissions should be sent to forcedmigrationandthearts@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series is a multi-year, multi-volume literary initiative that creates space for poetic engagement with African and African diasporic migration and (im)mobility. It invites reflection on the causes, experiences, and consequences of migration—from displacement to return, from loss to transformation.
The series is inspired by the Africa Migration Report: 2nd Edition (published in March 2024 by the African Union and the International Organization for Migration) and is organized by Forced Migration and The Arts, in collaboration with CivicLeicester and the migrants’ rights collective.
Through this project, poets and writers can contribute to global conversations on migration, memory, identity, and the movement of people—and enrich the cultural archive of African migration through the power of words.
For inquiries or to submit your work, contact: forcedmigrationandthearts@gmail.com
Follow the conversation and updates on social media using: #AfricaMigrationPoetry
