The African Poetry Digital Portal Project, funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation, is now accepting proposals for the African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant. The grant supports innovative digital humanities projects that place African poetry at the center of scholarly inquiry. Scholars are encouraged to engage creatively with the resources of the African Poetry Digital Portal and to develop projects that expand the reach and impact of African digital humanities. Proposals should reflect the richness of African poetry—its regional diversity, performative traditions, archival depth, and textual complexity—while employing digital research methods or computational tools in humanistic inquiry.
Grant Overview
- Award: $10,000
- Duration: April 2026–April 2027
Key Dates
- Applications open: December 1, 2025
- Deadline: January 23, 2026
- Notification: March 2, 2026
- Project begins: April 2026
- Project concludes: April 2027
Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit:
- An abstract (up to 300 words)
- A project narrative detailing the project’s aims, structure, personnel, tasks, and anticipated outcomes within the 12-month period
- A one-page detailed budget with clear justification
- A CV of the primary researcher, highlighting relevant projects
Selection Process
Proposals will be reviewed by scholars in African poetry and digital humanities and evaluated based on their contribution to digital humanities scholarship in African poetry.
Grant Outcomes
Successful applicants will advance or complete a digital humanities project on African poetry to be featured on the portal, produce a critical reflection on the project’s technological and thematic challenges, and develop a plan for future expansion of the project.
Applications must be submitted via Submittable. Applicants are encouraged to consult the African Poetry Digital Portal website for full submission guidelines.
