Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ: Stories from Another Home is a collection of stories exploring the lived experiences of Nigerians born in, migrated to, or living in Northern Nigeria who are originally from other regions of the country. Book O’Clock invites submissions from writers whose lives reflect this duality and whose experiences meaningfully inform their creative work. The genres in focus include essays, short stories and poetry.
Submissions are expected to be original, unpublished, sincere, reflective, nuanced and not agenda-driven. To maintain this integrity, the collection will prioritise narratives that hold space for complexity and intersectionality by presenting the good, the bad, and the ugly. This approach is based on the understanding that no single narrative can adequately define these experiences.
The director of Book O’Clock and co-editor of the anthology says that Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ also aims at responding to the increasing ethno-religious tensions dominating public conversations. In his words: “Amid Nigeria’s contemporary sociopolitical climate, where ethno-religious tensions and conflict increasingly dominate public discourse, Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ seeks to interrogate these realities by foregrounding shared humanity without erasing differences.”
Submission Guidelines
- Prose (essays and short stories): A maximum of 1000 words.
- Poetry: A maximum of 20 lines.
- Only one submission per writer is allowed.
- Submissions should follow the following formatting: 12-point Times New Roman, double line spacing for essays/short stories, and single line spacing for poetry.
- Entries are to be sent as attached DOCX files to the following email address: submittobookoclock@gmail.com.
- The subject of the submission email should read “Submission: Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ – (insert genre & surname).
- Attach a bio of no more than 100 words that also includes your state of origin and the Northern Nigerian city your work reflects.
- You will get a confirmation email from Book O’Clock within 24 hours of your submission.
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Successful writers will receive a complimentary copy of the collection and an honorarium of N20,000 Naira.
