Open Call for Submissions
We welcome original artistic and literary work from African creatives (aged 18 or above) from all geographic locations. Submissions should reflect bold and thoughtful creative expression in any style or subject.
We accept submissions in the following categories:
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Fiction and Non-Fiction Pieces (max 2,000 words; includes essays, short stories, reviews, opinion writing etc.)
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Photography and Visual Art (including fine art, painting, drawing, mixed media etc.)
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Multimedia Projects (combining video, audio, text, or interactive elements)
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Poetry (up to 3 poems)
We value originality, experimentation and work that blurs boundaries across genres and disciplines. Collaborative and cross-media submissions are welcome. NB: Preference is given to South African youth, especially those from rural and township communities, in line with NUMXN's core mandate.
How To Submit
Send your submission via email to submissions@numxn.org. Use the subject line: “NOS Submission – [Title of Your Work]” to ensure it is processed correctly. In the body of your email, include:
1. Personal Information
Tell us your name, age, country of origin and current residence.
2. Short Biography (max. 100 words):
Tell us about yourself and your creative focus.
3. Brief Description of Your Work (max. 200 words):
Provide a short explanation of your submission.
4. Your Submission:
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Literary works must be submitted as PDF or Word documents. (Font requirements: Arial 12pt, 1.5 line spacing.)
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Visual art, photography, digital art etc. must be submitted as high-resolution JPEG or PNG files (transfer or shared drive links are accepted).
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Multimedia submissions should include functional links to videos or interactive projects.
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Ensure that your name is not mentioned anywhere on the submission files. Only the title of your work should appear.
5. Eligibility Confirmation:
By submitting, you confirm that you are aged 18 or above, and you are of African descent. Joint projects and group applications are allowed.
6. File Format:
Label all files with the title of your work (e.g., TitleOfWork.pdf)
NB: Please ensure your attachments are properly formatted, functional, and do not include your name on the submission files themselves. If you have any questions, contact info@numxn.org.
Copyright
Contributors retain full copyright in their work and shall be credited for their work at all times.
Fees
Submitting to Numen of Story is free of charge.
Compensation
Numen of Story's work is a labour of love sustained by the dedication of NUMXN's directors, collaborators and others who volunteer their time, energy and skills. While we hope that one day we will grow into a platform that can pay for submissions, we are not there yet. If our circumstances change, we will be sure to update our contributors and community.
Deadline
Submissions are currently open on a rolling basis, with Phase 1 closing on 20 October 2025. Kindly note that submissions sent after the Phase 1 Deadline (20 October 2025) will only be considered in 2026.
Explore Featured Works |
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Belonging, Blinded Choices by Gugulethu Ndlalani |
Creating in Exclusion by Timna Ngowapi |