“Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ: Stories from Another Home” is an anthology that will explore the experiences of Nigerians who were born in, migrated to, or currently live in Northern Nigeria while originating from other regions of the country.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
Book O’Clock has opened submissions for “Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ: Stories from Another Home”, an anthology exploring the experiences of Nigerians who were born in, migrated to, or currently live in Northern Nigeria while originating from other regions of the country. The project is seeking submissions from writers whose personal experiences reflect these intersections and inform their creative work. Entries across genres of essays, short stories, and poetry are welcome for submission.
The title “Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ” derives from the term commonly used in Hausa-speaking communities to describe Igbo Nigerians who have settled in Sokoto and other parts of Northern Nigeria for different reasons, including business, education, and family life. The project positions the term as a reflection of dual identity and belonging among people who maintain connections to their places of origin while establishing lives and communities in Northern Nigeria. The anthology is situated within this context and seeks to document these experiences through literature.
According to Book O’Clock, submissions must be original, unpublished works that are reflective and nuanced in their engagement with the subject matter. The anthology aims to accommodate multiple perspectives and experiences and will prioritise works that address complexity and intersectionality rather than singular narratives. The organisation states that the project is partly intended as a response to the increasing prominence of ethno-religious tensions in public discourse in Nigeria by foregrounding experiences of coexistence and shared humanity without overlooking differences.
Submission guidelines specify a maximum length of 1,000 words for essays and short stories and a maximum of 20 lines for poetry. Writers may submit only one entry. Essays and short stories should be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman with double line spacing, while poetry submissions should use single line spacing. Entries are to be submitted as attached DOCX files to [email protected] with the email subject line reading “Submission: Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ – (insert genre and surname).”
In addition, Contributors are required to include a biography of no more than 100 words stating their state of origin and the Northern Nigerian city reflected in their work. Book O’Clock states that confirmation emails will be sent within 24 hours of submission.
The submission deadline is 31st August, 2026. Successful contributors will receive an honorarium of ₦20,000 and a complimentary copy of the published anthology.
The anthology will be edited by Northern Nigeria-based writer and editor Ifeanyichukwu Eze, with Uchenna Emelife serving as co-editor. Emelife is a curator, bookseller, and researcher whose work focuses on decolonial thought and children’s literature. He founded Book O’Clock in 2020 and co-founded the Sokoto Book and Arts Festival.
Eze is a writer, editor, and writing instructor whose work has appeared in publications such as The Rumpus, The Offing, Joyland, Guernica, Adda, and The Dark. His short story, “In Another Country”, was shortlisted for the 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He studied Philosophy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The project is funded by the Open Arts Development Foundation. Press enquiries may be directed to Uchenna Emelife through [email protected] or via the official website of Book O’Clock.