Many African countries consider homosexuality immoral. In some, homosexuals are subjected to corporal punishment, imprisonment, or death, simply because of their sexual orientation. These hateful acts are further galvanized by such slogans as “to be homosexual is un-African.”
With this anthology, we reject this slogan and all acts of aggression against members of LGBT communities in Africa. “We maintain that to be homosexual is African.”
We are calling for poems by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals living in Africa and in the Diaspora. The poems may focus on loss, childhood, violence, food, discrimination, love, fruits, disease, migration, strife, etc. In other words, poems on any topic are welcome – and in any form. The only requirement is that each poem must be of high merit.
We prefer unpublished poems. Poems can be in any language; however, translations have to be provided in English. If original poems are accepted, they will be published alongside the translations. If a translator is used, the author should indicate how credit should be acknowledged. Please submit no more than five poems.
ELIGIBILITY: Submissions must be original works by Queer Africans. African, in this sense, is understood to mean a person who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African (the offspring of at least one first generation immigrant). Queer individuals are conceptualized as people who express and/ or identify with non-heteronormative sexual and/ or gender identities. Thus contributions are being sought from African lesbian, homosexual, asexual, pansexual and bisexual individuals who identify as cisgendered, transgendered or gender-queer.
FORMAT:
- You may submit up to but no more than five (5) poems
- Submissions must be received in a single word document not exceeding 10 pages
- Single-spaced, with 1-inch margins
- Name the document your first and last name, and include the number of poems e.g. _Soyinka_5.com
- Note: Pen names are welcome.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/ submissions: Abayomi Animashaun, English Department - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at abayo.animashaun@gmail.com (subject line: Poetry Submission)
Website: http://lgbtafricapoetryanthology.wordpress.com/
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