Heritage Africa Network 
Global Pathways for African Talent

Celebrating African identity, creativity, culture, music, food, and global unity.

Global discussions on African literature, migration, digital humanities, and education.

Empowering African students and professionals with leadership and career development skills.

Season 3 is officially here! The TY Buratai Literary Initiative has opened submissions for the 3rd Young Adult Literature Prize 2026. If you are a Nigerian writer with a killer story for teens aged 13–19, this is your chance to win the ₦1,500,000 grand prize or one of six ₦500,000 regional prizes.

Who gets to tell Africa’s story? The Centre for Memories (Ncheta Ndigbo) invites bold thinkers, writers, students, and scholars across the globe to participate in the Things Fall Apart Festival 2026 Essay Competition. This year’s festival theme, "NAMED, UNNAMED, RENAMED: Power, Identity, and the Right to Self-Definition," challenges participants to critically engage with Chinua Achebe’s landmark work and explore how systems of narrative control, power, and representation shape African identity today. Essay Categories & Prompts 1. Secondary School Category * Eligibility: Open to students currently enrolled in secondary schools anywhere in Africa. * Word Count: 800 – 1,200 words * Prompt: In Things Fall Apart, Achebe shows how people can lose the power to define themselves when others tell their story for them. Drawing examples from the novel and your own community, discuss why it is important for young Africans to know, preserve, and tell their own stories. 2. Tertiary Institution Category * Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions worldwide. * Word Count: 1,500 – 2,500 words * Prompt: The District Commissioner believed he could reduce the story of Umuofia to a paragraph in his book. Discuss how power influences whose stories are remembered, whose voices are heard, and whose histories are preserved in contemporary society. Drawing from Things Fall Apart, examine the implications of narrative control for African identity today. 3. Advanced / General Category * Eligibility: Open to writers, researchers, academics, professionals, and members of the public worldwide. * Word Count: 2,500 – 4,000 words * Prompt: Using Things Fall Apart as a starting point, critically examine how systems of power continue to shape identity in contemporary Africa. Essays should demonstrate originality, critical thinking, and strong engagement with both Achebe’s work and contemporary realities. Prizes & Recognition * 1st Prize: ₦200,000 * 2nd Prize: ₦150,000 * 3rd Prize: ₦100,000 Key Guidelines & Submission Details * Submission Window: July 10, 2026 – August 20, 2026 * Format Requirements: Upload as .doc or .docx. Save file name as [Category] - [Full Name] (e.g., Tertiary – Adaobi Okafor). * General Rules: Entries must be original, unpublished, written in English, and submitted as a single entry per participant. Cite sources where applicable. No AI-generated essays. * Judging Criteria: Entries will be evaluated on originality, analysis, theme interpretation, understanding of Things Fall Apart, argument strength, structure, language, and contemporary relevance. How to Apply Submit your essay online via https://bit.ly/CFM_TFAESSAY or scan the QR code on the official flyer before 20 August 2026.

The University of Johannesburg will host a public dialogue titled “Revisiting Pan-Africanism: How Far, How Well and What Next?” on May 21, 2026. The event will bring together diplomats, scholars, and policy experts to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and future of Pan-Africanism in shaping Africa’s political, economic, and cultural development. Discussions will focus on African unity, regional cooperation, governance, youth aspirations, and the continent’s role in an evolving global landscape.

A research fellowship at the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing in Oxford focused on African literary cultures, publishing systems, and postcolonial textual studies. The fellowship supported international academic collaboration and research development.

An international conference at Oxford University that revisits Chinua Achebe’s legacy and his influence on African literature, postcolonial studies, and global literary thought. Dr. Abba A. Abba participated in scholarly discussions on African identity, storytelling, and literary activism.

A research fellowship at the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing in Oxford focused on African literary cultures, publishing systems, and postcolonial textual studies. The fellowship supported international academic collaboration and research development.

Learning Beyond Borders: Virtual Lecture Series

A scholarly article examining environmental degradation in the Niger Delta and how poetry is used as a tool for ecological awareness, resistance, and environmental justice advocacy.

A literary study of Albert Camus’ fiction exploring existentialism, absurdism, and human resilience in the face of suffering and meaninglessness.

A research work analyzing ecological destruction in the Niger Delta and its emotional, cultural, and social impact on affected communities through literature.

A critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel as a literary tool for memory, healing, and reconciliation after the Nigerian Civil War.

A study of how Biafran literature and activism construct identity, memory, and collective historical narratives within postcolonial discourse.

A national award recognizing Dr. Abba A. Abba’s excellence and contribution to African literary criticism and scholarly research.

A novel exploring identity, rejection, and resilience, focusing on societal perceptions of beauty, value, and human dignity.