Laipo welcomes original, unpublished work from writers, artists, and cultural commentators across Africa and the diaspora. We seek submissions marked by clarity of thought, originality, and a strong sense of purpose. As a nonprofit cultural platform of the Noirledge Foundation, Laipo is committed to contributor development and ethical publishing practices. While we are not yet able to offer contributor fees, we are actively pursuing grants, partnerships, and institutional support to ensure fair remuneration in the future.
Submission Requirements
- Submissions must be original and not previously published.
- Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but contributors must notify us promptly if their work is accepted elsewhere.
- Exceptional work may be nominated for prizes, featured in print editions, or selected for anthologies, with clear communication and credit.
Submission Categories
Essays
Long form nonfiction engaging culture, history, visual arts, politics, philosophy, language, education, and social movements shaping Africa and its diasporas.
Word count: 1,000 to 3,500 words
Encounters
In depth interviews and conversations with writers, artists, educators, thinkers, cultural workers, and creative industry professionals.
Reviews and Criticism
Critical writing on books, exhibitions, performances, films, music, and other cultural works, including visual and material culture.
Word count: 800 to 1,500 words
New Writing
Original creative work from emerging and established voices across Africa and the diaspora.
- Fiction and creative nonfiction: 1,000 to 5,000 words
- Poetry: One to three poems
- Short plays and dramatic writing: Stage ready or experimental scripts, including performance texts, monologues, and radio drama, up to 4,000 words
Dispatches
Reports, reflections, and short commentary on festivals, community projects, cultural policy, education initiatives, and evolving arts practices.
Word count: 500 to 1,200 words
Special Projects, Chapbooks, and Anthologies
Themed editorial projects, collaborative initiatives, youth and education focused programmes, and experimental formats responding to urgent cultural questions. Selected works may be curated into chapbooks or annual anthologies published by the Noirledge Foundation.
How to Submit
- Email your submissions to: submissions@laipomag.org
- In the subject line, write: “Laipo Submissions”
- Each submission should include a short author bio of no more than 100 words.
- Text submissions should be sent in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Google Docs format, with the file saved under the title of your piece. Use font size 12 and one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, EB Garamond, or Cambria.
- Visual submissions should be in JPEG or PNG format.
Note: We aim to respond within two weeks. If you have not heard from us after this period, you may send a polite query.
Rights
By submitting to Laipo, contributors grant us first publication rights and non-exclusive digital archival rights. Copyright remains with the author or artist. Any republication must acknowledge Laipo as the original publisher.