Checking in live from #AWP2026!
The room is buzzing with conversations about voice, vision, and where literature goes next.
We’re here to make sure African stories are in that conversation—on the panels, and on your shelves.
Stop by our booth, we have lots to talk about. ✨️
To the African writers shaping tomorrow’s literature — keep writing boldly.
We are proud to publish the work that moves culture forward.
Happy International Writers’ Day from us to you! ✨️
Your story deserves readers, not just a desktop folder.
We are accepting submissions from bold writers who want to tell their story— experimental, unruly African writing.
Send your manuscript to submissions@iskanchi.com
And join the next wave of african authors. ✨️
Tomorrow, the conversations begin.
Panels. Manuscripts. Big ideas.
AWP is where literary futures get negotiated — and African voices are part of that future.
#AWP2026
We'll be LIVE at #AWP26 in Baltimore! 🎉
Come find us March 4-7 for fresh African & diasporic stories, exclusive merch, and vibrant conversation.
What’s the one question you’d ask an Iska author?
Reply & we might bring your question to the stand!
#ReadAfrica #AWP2026 #Bookish #writersofsky
To All the Books I’ve Loved Before
Part one of Nixon Mateulah's personal essay about his love of books
t.ly/KDXoU
If your work preserves culture, tradition, and heritage, we want to read it.
Submit: Submissions@iskanchi.com
Subject: Folktale Submission
Deadline: Rolling
#AfricanLiterature #AfricanFolktales #WritingOpportunity
The stories told under moonlight still matter.
We are inviting submissions of book-length African folktale collections from individual authors.
Every strong reader starts with one unforgettable book.
This could be that book.
Shop now at www.iskanchi.com/category/all-books
Some of the greatest love stories are quiet.
They live in pages, in memory, in the courage to be fully seen.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate stories that reflect love in its truest form.
#Valentine’sday #Valentine #romance
Writing can be challenging, and finding opportunities in this space can be even more so.
We’ve shared a practical guide to prizes, residencies, publishers, and platforms African writers can explore in 2026.
Read it here: www.iskapress.com/blog/opportu...
Hope it helps someone today.🧡
Writing can be challenging, and finding opportunities in this space can be even more so.
We’ve shared a practical guide to prizes, residencies, publishers, and platforms African writers can explore in 2026.
Read it here: www.iskapress.com/blog/opportu...
Hope it helps someone today.🧡
We are excited to share this year’s shortlist for the Iskanchi Magazine Prize, featuring three remarkable stories that pushed the boundaries of form, language, and imagination:
• João Melo – The Yellow Peril
• Chimezie Okoro – American Brother
• Chidera Udochukwu-Nduka – User Not Found
What happens when a writer returns to the soil that shaped him?
On Jan 31st, Vamba Sherif launched The Emperor's Son in Liberia—his first book event in his home country.
He launched the stuff of dreams! You definitely need to read it: www.iskapress.com/blog/a-homec...
We’ll also be spotlighting new publishing opportunities throughout the month.
Until then — read an Ishka Press book today at www.iskanchi.com/category/all...
Starting this February with love from Iska Press 🧡
Here’s what’s coming this month for writers & readers:
• Open Call for Submissions. Send your manuscripts to submissions@iskanchi.com
• African Folktales Call still ongoing.
• 2025 Magazine Prize Winner announcement.
Submissions for the 2026 prize will open soon. Start writing or pitching for your writer friend to.
In the meantime, congratulations, once again, to our shortlisted writers! ✨️
#publishing #opportunitiesforwriters #AfricanWriters #authorsofbluesky #Africanliterature
All shortlisted and winning pieces will appear in our upcoming issue and be considered for inclusion in Iskanchi’s Best African Experimental Writing (BAE) Anthology.
The winner will be announced before you know it. So keep your eyes peeled on us.
We are excited to share this year’s shortlist for the Iskanchi Magazine Prize, featuring three remarkable stories that pushed the boundaries of form, language, and imagination:
• João Melo – The Yellow Peril
• Chimezie Okoro – American Brother
• Chidera Udochukwu-Nduka – User Not Found
Dear Writer,
Do not be afraid to draw from your experiences. Milk every single emotion from it and serve it to us, piping hot, on a platter of letters.
That's how you remain unforgettable. ✨️
#writersofbluesky #authors #Africans #diaspora #PublishingOpportunities
Four books, four ways to see the world: history, folktales, sci‑fi, and queer romance. Which genre do you always say yes to—and which one do you avoid?
Liberian readers, this one is for us.
On Jan 31, 2026, the University of Liberia Main Auditorium (Capitol Bye Pass) turns into a home for book lovers as we launch “The Emperor’s Son” by Vamba Sherif.
If you’re writing from Lagos, Nairobi, Gaborone, London, New York, or anywhere in between, this is an invitation:
Take your voice seriously.
Read the guide and share below: www.iskanchi.com/blog/how-to-...
What’s one action you’ll take this year to move your writing toward a global readership?
We also spotlight real pathways:
• African literary journals and digital magazines
• International literary magazines and story contests
• Residencies, fellowships, and literary prizes that elevate underrepresented voices
Global positioning becomes less abstract and more like a roadmap.
The guide covers:
• Naming your unique storytelling voice
• Writing an author bio that honors your background
• Setting up a professional author website and portfolio
• Using digital platforms to connect with readers, agents, and editors worldwide
No empty theory—just practical steps.
“How to Position Yourself as a Writer on the Global Stage” focuses on African and diaspora writers—
but it doubles as a playbook for any writer navigating visibility, author branding, and international publishing
So many powerful stories never leave the notebook or the group chat.
Our new Iskanchi Press guide asks:
What would it take for your work to stand confidently on the global literary stage?
Bring a friend, your book club, or your students.
Repost this and tag someone who should be in the room for this Liberian literary event.
Hosted by Forte & Kpoto Bookstore and Iskanchi Press, this isn’t just a book launch.
It’s a space where students, writers, and readers come together to celebrate Liberian and African storytelling on our own terms.
