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 * General Rules: Entries must be original, unpublished, written in English, and submitted as a single entry per participant.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.
