Stories Across Africa (StAAf), a core project of the African Academy of Languages, the official language agency of the AU, is a is a pan African project intending to:

• develop and support the use of African languages in print;
• support mother tongue based bilingual education in Africa;
• stimulate and support the African publishing industry and African literary and visual artists to create and foster the use of children’s literature;
• begin to create a common store of written children’s literature for African children;
• support possibilities for reading for enjoyment as part of literacy learning and development.

In collaboration with a local publisher from each of Southern, West, Central, East and North Africa, StAAf is publishing three anthologies of writing for children:

• Early Childhood (0-8),
• Middle Childhood (9-12) and
• Teenagers (13+)

We invite you to submit stories and poems in any African language (with a summary or translation in English, French or Portuguese) or any of the AU official languages. Please follow the following guide (suggested maximum words per submission) with respect to length:

• ECD: 800 words
• Middle: 1200 words
• Teen: 2000 words

The selection process will be made by the StAAf steering committee and their decision will be final. Authors of submissions which are selected for inclusion in one of the anthologies will be paid a permission fee for the use of their writing. Authors of manuscripts selected for publication will be informed before the end of October 2007.

Selected stories and poems will:

• arise from and give an African point of view;
• have definite literary merit;
• reflect diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity etc;
• challenge discrimination;
• include humour and avoid being didactic and preachy;
• include not only ‘problem literature’ but fantasy and experimental, non-linear texts too.

Selection issues to be considered include:

• Style: How is the story or poem written? Are the ideas easily understandable? Is it readable for the target age group?
• Translation: Will it be possible to adapt this poem or story into a variety of languages used on the African continent?
• Theme: Is the theme relevant for the age group? Will it have continent-wide appeal? Is the theme interesting? Does it portray positive roles for the readers? Is it gender sensitive?
• Attractiveness: Is the story or poem appealing to the target audience? If there is humour? Is its appeal continent-wide? Does the language attract the reader?
• Clarity: Is the rhythm, diction and syntax clear and appealing? Does the language contribute to transmitting the message and attracting/ entertaining the audience? Is the use of language original and lively?

Submission Details:

• Submission deadline: 30 July 2007.
• Please submit stories and poems by post or email.
• If the story has already been published, please submit a copy of the title and imprint pages.
• Please make and keep a copy of any story you submit for yourself. StAAf will not return stories to the sender.
• No story will be accepted unless it is accompanied by a completed submission form. (The submission form below can be cut and pasted from here and sent by email or snail mail.)

Please submit entries to:

Carole Bloch
StAAf Central Co-ordinator
Room 14, Arts Block,
PRAESA, UCT
Private Bag Rondebosch 7700
Cape Town
South Africa
E: carole.bloch@uct.ac.za
T: 00 27 21 6503589
F: 00 27 21 6503027

StAAf 2nd Call for Children’s Stories (and Poetry)
SUBMISSION FORM

Please complete a new form for each submission

DETAILS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE SUBMISSION

NAME:

POSTAL ADDRESS:

PHONE/FAX:

EMAIL:

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBMISSION

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS STORY/POEM (please tick):
0-8 9-12 13+

REGION OR COUNTRY WHERE STORY ORIGINATES: (if known)

LANGUAGE OF ORIGINAL STORY/POEM:

TRANSLATED LANGUAGE OF STORY/POEM (if applicable):
NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF TRANSLATOR:

STORY/POEM TITLE:
AUTHOR:

IS THIS STORY A RETELLING OF AN ORAL OR TRADITIONAL STORY?

YES / NO

IF THE STORY OR POEM HAS ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED, PLEASE GIVE:
PUBLISHER’S NAME:

PUBLISHER’S ADDRESS:
PUBLISHER’S PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS:

PUBLISHER’S EMAIL ADDRESS:
THE TITLE OF THE PUBLISHED WORK:
THE ISBN OF THE PUBLISHED WORK:

WORD COUNT OF SUBMISSION:
GIVE A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE STORY/POEM AND MAIN CHARACTERS (STORY ONLY). (200 words maximum)
PLEASE MOTIVATE WHY YOU THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS SUBMISSION IS INCLUDED IN THE StAAf COLLECTION