We are delighted to announce the inaugural fellows of the quarterly fund dedicated to supporting Nigerian writers. The selected fellows, in no particular order, are: 1. Súnmisọ́lá Olúdé 2. Chizitere Madeleine Nwaemesi 3. Korede Vough 4. Juliana Nwazodoni Programme Lead, Pamilerin Jacob commented: “dRAFTed was created to serve as a steadying hand and the selection of Fellows followed that criteria. The strength of statements, current income, as well as previously published work helped paint a portrait of those we consider most in need of that Hand. "There were applicants whose artistic vision was undeniable but could not be selected because they fared better, say, in matters of current income compared to fledglings. "There were also applicants whose vision seemed blurry, but previously published work helped clarify poverty is the culprit, not the artist. All this does is reassert that this is a programme that hands out laurels, not crowns. It is a privilege to have read through all subm

Adeola Juwon Gbalajobi’s Ellipsis is an ambitious and emotionally charged debut that explores the perpetual cycles of love, loss, desire, and faith. Divided into three distinct parts, the collection moves fluidly between prose and verse, using form as a mirror of feeling. At its core, Ellipsis is concerned with the ongoingness of life itself—the idea suggested by its title: a pause rather than an end, a continuation rather than a conclusion. The poems ask whether, in the face of heartbreak, longing, and contradiction, one chooses to continue. The structure of the first section is particularly striking. The poems move back and forth between emotional extremes, shifting rapidly from the exhilaration of first love to the depths of heartbreak. This oscillation creates a sense of instability that feels deliberate and effective. Rather than presenting love as a linear narrative, Gbalajobi portrays it as cyclical—recurring, inevitable, and universal. The reader is left wondering whether the p

Author Bio: Tolu’ A. Akinyemi (also known as Tolutoludo) is a multiple award-winning Nigerian British writer of twenty-three books in the genres of poetry, short stories, children's literature, and essays. His works include Dead Lions Don't Roar (poetry, 2017); Unravel Your Hidden Gems (essays, 2018); Dead Dogs Don't Bark (poetry, 2018); Dead Cats Don't Meow (poetry, 2019); Never Play Games With the Devil (poetry, 2019); Inferno of Silence (short stories, 2020); A Booktiful Love (poetry, 2020); Black ≠ Inferior (poetry, 2021); Never Marry a Writer (poetry, 2021); Everybody Don Kolomental (poetry, 2021); I Wear Self-Confidence Like a Second Skin (children's literature, 2021); I Am Not a Troublemaker (children's literature, 2021); Born in Lockdown (poetry, 2021); A god in a Human Body (poetry, 2022); If You Have To Be Anything, Be Kind (children's literature, 2022); City of Lost Memories, (poetry, 2022); Awaken Your Inner Lion, (essays, 2022); On The Train To Hell, (poetry, 2022); You Ne

Launching 1st January 2025 The Roaring Lion Newcastle (TRLN) is proud to announce dRAFTed, a new initiative designed to support Nigerian creative writers experiencing financial hardship. dRAFTed delivers a lifeline for storytellers; fiction writers, essayists, poets, and spoken-word artists- and provides assistance to help them meet basic expenses and continue doing what they do best; creating. Our Mission dRAFTed is committed to empowering Nigerian writers by easing the financial burdens that can interrupt the creative process. Through quarterly support, the fund enables writers to remain focused on their craft and maintain stability in their daily lives. Application Process The application window opens on the 1st day of the respective quarters (January, April, July, and October) and closes on the last day of the month. Writers can apply by completing a simple online application form, which includes: 1. Personal Information Name, date of birth, contact details, and address. (A headsho

The Roaring Lion Newcastle is proud to announce the signing of three powerful storytellers to our growing literary family. Chukwuemeka Famous, Joseph Nnamdi, and Ikemefuna Umeadi bring with them works of fiction that move fluidly between the interior and political, the mythic and modern, each writing with a clarity and boldness that refuses convention, and invites readers to experience fiction in its most vibrant and unrestrained form. "These are not safe stories or writers concerned with mimicking or pleasing," says Gabrielina Maryanne, Editorial Lead at TRLN. “The voices at the heart of these books are urgent, alive, and necessary, a vivid reminder of what fiction can do when it’s not trying to behave.” Chukwuemeka Famous (Author, MANY WAYS TO DIE) Joseph Nnamdi (Author, For The Condemned) Ikemefuna Umeadi (Author, The School Teacher) This exciting signing follows TRLN’s recent July release of Home in Motion, a poetry collection by Tolu Akinyemi. With the addition of Famous, Nnamdi,