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The Custodians of African Literature (COAL) in partnership with the University of Leicester, Avoidable Deaths Network and SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative are marking the 2nd year of the International Awareness Day for Avoidable Disaster Deaths (IAD4AD) campaign. In honour of millions of lives lost to disaster deaths, we invite young creatives in Sub-Saharan Africa to join in the global advocacy to save more lives.
- Do you have a story shaped by the quiet ache of a preventable loss?
- Do you have a photograph that captures the weight of a life cut short?
- Or a poem echoing the truth of a needless tragedy?
We invite young creatives from across Sub-Saharan Africa to lend their creative voice and vision to a powerful campaign on avoidable disaster deaths.
We are seeking submissions in poetry, prose and photography that explore the devastating impact of avoidable deaths due to:
- Maternal Mortality: The death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental causes (WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and World Bank).
- Snakebite: A neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by venomous snakebites, leading to death or long-term disability if untreated. It primarily affects rural and impoverished communities with limited access to antivenom and healthcare (WHO).
- Silicosis: A progressive, irreversible lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust over time, leading to inflammation, scarring, and reduced lung function. It is a major occupational hazard in industries such as mining, construction, and stone-cutting (ILO & WHO).
- Drowning: The process of experiencing respiratory impairment due to submersion or immersion in liquid, which can result in death, injury, or no injury. It is a leading cause of accidental death worldwide, particularly among children and in low-income countries (WHO).
What we’re looking for:
We seek works that are evocative, thought-provoking, human-centred and original. Don’t be afraid to explore the personal stories behind the statistics and examine the systemic issues contributing to these deaths in your community or country. Advocate for a future where these tragedies are no longer a reality while pushing creative boundaries and subverting expectations.
Prizes and opportunities:
- A $500 prize ($50 each) for 10 finalists across genres
- Selected works will be published in the official avoidable deaths campaign anthology
- All works will be recognised and shared with the academic faculty of the Institute for Environmental Futures at University of Leicester
Submission Guidelines:
- Poetry: Submit a poem of any lengthÂ
- Prose: Submit a flash fiction of up to 250 words
- Photography: High-resolution photographs, up to 2 images
- Age: Be between the ages of 18 – 35
- Originally from or resident in any of the Sub-Saharan African countries
Theme: Your work should clearly address only ONE of the specified categories (maternal mortality,, snakebite, silicosis, or drowning)
Originality: All submissions must be original, previously unpublished and not AI generated.
Deadline: 28th February 2025
For questions and any queries please email: communications@coalng.orgÂ
Let your art be the catalyst for change.
Meet the Judges
Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim
Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim is a writer and editor currently based in the UK. He won the Quramo Writers’ Prize in 2022 and was selected for the Best Small Fictions anthology in 2024. He was a finalist for the Faber Children’s FAB Prize (2023), the Miles Morland Writing Scholarship (2022), the Masters Review anthology prize (2023), and twice in the Moon City Short Fiction Award (2022 & 2023). He has also been longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2022), the Laura Kinsella Fellowship (2022), and the Dzanc Diverse Voices Prize (2021). He has multiple nominations for both the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net. Ibrahim is the editor of the Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit)..
Emma Kennedy
Emma Kennedy is a passionate artist and small business owner specializing in hand-lettered designs, watercolor, and mixed media art prints. Alongside her creative work, she serves as an Assistant Psychologist, supporting adults with learning disabilities. With a lifelong love for creativity, Emma finds inspiration in the people around her and strives to craft art that reflects the beauty of everyday life.
S. E. Su’eddie Vershima
S. E. Su’eddie Vershima Agema is an editor, cultural advocate and development practitioner. Among other works, he is the author of Memory and the Call of Waters [Winner, Association of Nigerian Authors’ Poetry Prize 2022; Finalist, Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022). Su’eddie convenes and directs the Benue Book and Arts Festival (http://bbaaf.com), an international arts festival domiciled in Nigeria and England. He blogs at http://sueddie.wordpress.com, is @sueddieagema on various media channels and also @sueddieofficial on Instagram.
Vanessa Chisakula
Vanessa Chisakula popularly known as Vanvan is a Zambian multifaceted artist who harnesses the power of art as a compelling medium for advocacy. She perceives creativity as the pivotal thread that intricately weaves together the realms of art and social justice. Her written works resonate with a dual purpose: to mend societal wounds and to courageously articulate truths that challenge the status quo.She is the 2023 Africa’s podcasts and voice (Rising talent in the poetry category) Award recipient and has been featured on various platforms, including the Guardian, BBC Focus on Africa, Afro women poetry. The CSW66 and the UN High-Level Global Conference, the Southern Human Rights Defenders Summit, the International Fundraisers Congress (IFC), the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) and the WHO-Afros 75th Anniversary Commemoration and the conference on public health in Africa (CPHIA).
She’s a Milead fellow, Civicus youth action team member, a youth leader for nutrition under the civil society network/scaling up nutrition and co-founder of Word Smash Poetry, a movement promoting youth in governance through art. Her celebration of Africa is in her 2020 poetry chapbook ‘Africana’ she has further been published in the women scream anthology 20’, on PePeta Africa’s “our voices’ digital booklet and she is writer and performer of the multi-award-winning poem ‘Her Place’, which advocates for women’s rights.
Anre John
Anre John is a mass media specialist, photographer, author, and host of The World Tomorrow podcast.