Call for applications and nominations: Guest Writer’s Grant at the Nordic Africa Institute

Previous Guest Writers

The Nordic Africa Institute has previously hosted four Guest Writers, Ama Ata Aidoo from Ghana, Gabeba Baderoon from South Africa, Tolu Ogunlesi from Nigeria and Shailja Patel from Kenya. These Guest Writers have added in a very positive way both to the dialogue and interchange at the institute itself, and have given a new dimension to its interface with various groups and audiences in the Nordic countries.

Purposes

The motivation for the Guest Writer's Grant is the conviction that knowledge of Africa is gained not only from the factual approach of the social sciences, and that literature can contribute significantly with its different take on language and meaning. The purpose of the grant is threefold:

Firstly, to provide an opportunity for writers to concentrate on their work during their stay.

Secondly, to facilitate readings to audiences in Sweden, and one or two other Nordic countries by visits to those countries. The itinerary is negotiable, but should include at least one other Nordic country - Norway, Denmark, Iceland or Finland. The guest writer of 2010 will also be required to participate in the Gothenburg book fair in September, which has Africa as its focus.

Thirdly, to allow the Guest Writer to interact with researchers, guest researchers and other staff and visitors at the Nordic Africa Institute, hence contributing its intellectual and cultural atmosphere.

Conditions

The Guest Writer's Grant includes a return air fare (Economy Class), accommodation, a daily subsistence allowance of 300 SEK (Swedish kronor - approximately 40 USD) plus an installation grant of 2,500 SEK (approximately 350 USD), a shared office and free photocopying facilities up to a maximum of 1,000 copies. Guest Writers have access to a computer (with Microsoft Office 2007) at the office and are required to do their own typing. The maximum duration of the stay is 90 days.

Qualifications

Applicants must have some documented record of writing, with at least some published work. The applicant must be able to express herself/himself in English, although this does not have to be the language she/he writes in. We encourage young writers to apply.

The application must include

the applicant's name and full contact details (residential address, telephone and e-mail), a curriculum vitae or a summary thereof, including a list of previous writing and performances, a freely worded explanation of why the grant appeals to the applicant, and two references - including their contact details. The application must also include up to (but not more than) three works by the applicant in English, French or Portuguese, preferably in published format. The works may be originally written in other languages, but they must have been translated into one of the three languages mentioned.There are no application forms for this grant.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadlines
Nominations must reach the Nordic Africa Institute by 30 November 2009.
Applications must reach the Nordic Africa Institute by 31 December 2009.

Applications and nominations should be sent to:

The Nordic Africa Institute
Att: Inga-Britt Isaksson Faris
Box 1703
SE - 751 47 Uppsala, Sweden

When the application has been sent by mail, a note of this should be made by e-mail to stefan.helgesson@english.su.se, with copies to mai.palmberg@nai.uu.se and inga-britt.faris@nai.uu.se. Nominations may also be sent directly to these three e-mail addresses. 

For further information, please contact:

Stefan Helgesson, Co-ordinator of the Nordic Africa Institute's Guest Writer's Grant
E-mail: stefan.helgesson@english.su.se