GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS

2025-02-23

Contemporary African literature is an effective medium through which the continent’s dynamic realities are articulated. From postcolonial identity crises and political disillusionment to gender dynamics, migration, and the impact of globalization, African writers and creatives continue to provide nuanced explorations of the African condition. These narratives do not merely reflect societal issues but also challenge stereotypes, redefine cultural identities, and contribute to global literary discourse. The diversity of voices in African literature—ranging from established authors to emerging voices—offers rich analytical opportunities to understand how literature and arts engage with evolving African realities.

Kente: Cape Coast Journal of Literature and the Arts, therefore, invites scholars, researchers, artist(e)s, and literary critics to submit original papers for an upcoming publication exploring the representation of general issues within contemporary African literature.

This call for papers invites critical examinations of issues such as but not limited to:

  • Youth activism, technology, and African futures.
  • Postcolonial identity and the legacy of colonialism.
  • Political instability, governance, election, war, and social justice.
  • Gender, sexuality, and body autonomy.
  • Migration, displacement, diaspora, and transnationalism.
  • Cultural heritage, language, and identity.
  • Environmental concerns and urbanization.

We encourage inter or cross-disciplinary approaches that bridge literary analysis with historical, sociological, scientific, and cultural perspectives. Submissions should contribute to a deeper understanding of how contemporary African literature reflects, critiques, and shapes societal narratives.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts of 250–300 words should be submitted by 30th March 2025. Full papers (5,000–7,000 words) are due by 30th June 2025 and the publication date is 30th August 2025.

Kindly send your abstract, with the email subject as Kente Open Call, to: kente-journal@ucc.edu.gh

Here is the link to our journal: https://journal.ucc.edu.gh/index.php/kente   

We look forward to your contributions to this critical discourse on African literature’s role in expressing and interrogating the continent's diverse experiences.