We’re excited to announce our submission windows for Akpata Magazine in 2025! We’re looking for compelling and thought-provoking work that explores a range of themes, and we encourage writers from all backgrounds to submit. Please carefully review the guidelines below before submitting your work.
Here’s a breakdown of our submission periods and themes:
- January 7th – February 9th: Stirred
During this period, we invite submissions that delve into the complexities of human emotions. We’re interested in exploring the full spectrum of feelings: love, loss, joy, grief, anger, fear, and everything in between. We welcome fiction and creative nonfiction that captures the raw and often messy reality of human experience. - April 7th – May 14th: Coming Out
This submission window focuses on the multifaceted nature of identity. We’re seeking works that examine the various aspects that shape who we are, including religious, sexual, cultural, and personal identities. We encourage submissions that explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating a world that often seeks to categorize and define us. We are also interested in stories of self-discovery, acceptance, and the ongoing process of becoming. - August 1st – September 7th: The Scars We Share (An Anthology of Resistance and Resilience)
In October, we will commemorate the anniversary of the ENDSARS protests. In honour of the brave individuals who stood against injustice, this submission period will focus on themes of oppression and resistance. We are particularly interested in works that address state-sponsored brutality but will also consider works on gender, capitalist, and religious oppression and amplify the voices of Black people.
Rolling Submission Window
In our commitment to promoting African literature, we welcome submissions for reviews, critical essays, interviews, and features that spotlight African literary works on a rolling basis.
General Submission Guidelines:
- Fiction: Maximum 6,000 words
- Nonfiction: Maximum 4,000 words
- Visual Art: Up to 5 images
Format:
i. Submit your document as a .docx file only. Visual art should be submitted as an email attachment or a Google Drive link.
ii. All images should be submitted as high-resolution JPEG or PNG files. Please include a brief description (70–200 words) for each image piece, explaining the concept and inspiration behind the work.
iii. Double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt.
iv. Brief cover letter stating your name, contact information, and title piece. Do not write the premise of your piece, why you wrote it, or a bio.
v. We do not accept previously published submissions.
vi. Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere.
vii. We publish original work only. Submissions containing plagiarism or derivative content will not be considered.
viii. AI-generated submissions will not be accepted.
ix. All pages should be numbered.
x. Include the title of the piece and word count in the first page.
How to Submit:
- Send your entry as an attached MS-Word document to to akpatamag@gmail.com
- The subject line should follow this format – “Genre -Title” e.g Nonfiction- The Sun Smiles.
- We do not require a bio, but you can add one if you want.
- Expect a response within two weeks of the submission deadline.