THEME: INTIMACY & THE ARTS

DEADLINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2026

The African Griot Review is an avant-garde digital magazine that takes an in-depth look at the arts-and-culture scene in Africa and its Diaspora. We are currently accepting submissions for our February (aka Valentine’s) Issue, which is themed on ‘INTIMACY & THE ARTS’.

Let’s talk about intimacy and everything around it - love, sex, sexuality, romance etc – and how it relates to the arts. Are music videos too sexualized? Do music lyrics encourage immorality? Should African films and TV series be allowed to have as much sex and nudity as seen in Western media? Which romantic novels would you recommend? Do African novelists even write about love and romance? Should sex in literature be graphic or assumed? What’s the difference between erotica and pornography? Why do many visual artists seem obsessed with nude figures? Do you prefer instant fireworks or a slow burn between characters in a romance? What are your feelings about nudity/intimacy on a theatre stage? When it comes to matters of morality, does art imitate life, or vice versa? Let us know your thoughts and opinions on such topics. We don’t judge, we just analyze.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1. ARTICLES / NON-FICTION
- Must be written in English. Between 800 and 1,500 words long.
- Times New Roman font, 12-points, double-spaced.
- Must be previously unpublished.
- Type ‘Article Submission’ and the title of your piece in the subject line of your email. Attach article as Microsoft Word document.
- Include short author bio: 300 words or less.
- Send to submissions(at)theafricangriot.com

2. REVIEWS
- These may be reviews of books, films, TV series, stage plays, songs, albums, concerts etc. Must be written in English. Between 800 and 1,500 words long.
- Times New Roman font, 12-points, double-spaced.
- Must be previously unpublished.
- Include short author bio: 300 words or less.
- Include 1 – 3 photos of the theatrical production on stage or the front cover (in case of a book.)
- Type ‘Review Submission’ and the title of your piece in the subject line of your email. Attach work as Microsoft Word document.
- Send to submissions(at)theafricangriot.com

3. POETRY
- 1 – 3 poems only.
- Must be written in English. 40 lines maximum per poem.
- Times New Roman font, 12-points, double-spaced.
- Preferably unpublished but may be considered if you hold the publishing rights.
- Type ‘Poetry Submission’ in the subject line of your email. Attach work as a Microsoft Word document.
- Include short author bio: 300 words or less.
- Include 1 – 3 photos of the theatrical production on stage or the front cover (in case of a book.)
- Send to submissions(at)theafricangriot.com

4. FICTION
- Must be written in English. Between 1000 and 5000 words long. Must not be written with the assistance of any generative AI tool whatsoever.
- Times New Roman font, 12-points, double-spaced.
- Must be previously unpublished.
- Include short author bio: 300 words or less.
- Type ‘Fiction Submission’ and the title of your piece in the subject line of your email. Attach story as Microsoft Word document.
- Send to submissions(at)theafricangriot.com

5. PRESS RELEASE
- Does not have to adhere to ‘Valentine’s theme, although that would be a plus.
- Must be written in English and preferably formatted in standard press release fashion.
- Include sender’s contact details: 300 words or less.
- You may include 1 – 3 photos.
- Type ‘Press Release’ and the title of your piece in the subject line of your email. Attach story as Microsoft Word document.
- Send to editorial(at)theafricangriot.com

Works featured in The African Griot Review may also appear on the parent website, TheAfricanGriot.com

We also consider news tips, photographs and artworks. E-mail: editorial(at)theafricangriot.com

Deadline for all submissions is 15th February 2026.

Previous issues of The African Griot Review available here: https://theafricangriot.com/theafricangriotreview.html

 

Previous issue of The African Griot Review available here: theafricangriotreview3.html