Witsprouts

Witsprouts
FormationJanuary 2018
FounderTope Akintayo
TypeSocial enterprise
Websitehttps://witsprouts.com/

Witsprouts is an arts and culture organization that creates platforms for African arts and culture to be showcased to a global audience. Its activities include publishing, cultural management, literary and art curation, and creative workshops.[1][2][3]

History and background

Witsprouts was founded by Tope Akintayo in January 2018, initially as a personal development platform.[2] In 2020, Witsprouts shifted its focus to promoting African creative expression and began to host various cultural projects. One of Witsprouts early initiatives was the Afroanthology series curated and edited by Basit Jamiu,[4][5] which published its first anthology, Selves, in 2018, followed by additional themed collections in subsequent years.

Witsprouts Books

Witsprouts' publishing division, Witsprouts Books, produces print and digital editions of anthologies and standalone titles by emerging writers.[6][7][8] Witsprouts Books' anthology titles includes curated collections of short fiction and creative nonfiction: Selves,[9] The Year of Free Birds,[10] Twenty-20: Stories and Lessons from the Pandemic Year,[11] and Love Grows Stronger in Death.[12][13][14] In 2024, Witsprouts Books enlists an advisory board for its anthology to provide editorial and publishing direction for the project.[15]

Witsprouts Storytelling Prize

In April 2025, Witsprouts launched the Witsprouts Storytelling Prize, to revive and celebrate the African oral storytelling tradition in a modern, digital format, opening entries to Nigerians for original 5–10 minute video performances on the theme “Rebooting Legends and Memories”.[16][17][18] The prize offers ₦500,000 to the winner.

The winner of the inaugural prize, announced on October 2, 2025, was Rachel Ajisafe for her performances, "Haunting Song of Promises," which focused on Yoruba folklore of Oluronbi, and "The King Who Became Lightning," which focused on the Yoruba òrìṣà, Ṣàngó.[19] The judging panel, which included writer and filmmaker Jude Idada and playwright Akanbi Taofeek, commended Ajisafe for her "natural storytelling with a poetic flair," energetic delivery, and ability to create stunning visual imagery through words.[20][21]

References

  1. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2023-07-12). "How Tope Akintayo is building Witsprouts to foster a deeper engagement in African arts and culture". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  2. 1 2 "About – Witsprouts". witsprouts.com. Archived from the original on 2025-02-15. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  3. ↑ Online, Tribune (2024-06-06). "Reading Event for Witsprouts' "Love Grows Stronger in Death" explores mental health care". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  4. ↑ africaindialogue (2020-07-06). "The AfroAnthology Series, Nonfiction as a Revolutionary Act: A Dialogue with Basit Jamiu". Africa in Dialogue. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  5. ↑ Jamiu, Basit (2019-04-25). "This is What Curating Nonfiction in Africa Taught Me About Life". Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  6. ↑ Ajose, Kehinde (2025-04-06). "Mustapha Enesi to release short story collection". The Punch. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  7. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2025-03-15). "Witsprouts Books acquires Mustapha Enesi's debut short Story collection". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  8. ↑ Emmanuel, Eniola (2025-03-15). "Mustapha Enesi's Debut Collection of Short Stories to be Published by Witsprouts Books". Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  9. ↑ "Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction | New Project Collects Powerful Nonfiction from Across Africa". Brittle Paper. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  10. ↑ "Introduction to The Year of Free Birds: Stories Featuring Visually Impaired Protagonists | Lizzy Attree". Brittle Paper. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  11. ↑ "Review of Twenty-20: Stories and Lessons from the Pandemic Year | Socrates Mbamalu". Isele Magazine. 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  12. ↑ Ajose, Kehinde (2024-04-13). "Witsprouts Books to release anthology". The Punch. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  13. ↑ Lit, J. A. Y. (2024-03-12). "Cover Reveal: Love Grows Stronger in Death Anthology - JAY Lit". Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  14. ↑ Voices, Literature (2024-07-21). "Exploring Terminal Diseases in Grief Writing: An Interview With Mustapha Enesi and David Ben Eke, Contributing Authors of "Love Grows Stronger in Death" by Haneefah Abdulrahman". Litvo. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  15. ↑ "Witsprouts Anthologies Enlists Advisory Board to Elevate African Literary Excellence - Afrocritik". 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  16. ↑ Melbin, James (2025-03-22). "The Witsprouts Project Calls for Submissions to Inaugural Storytelling Prize". Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  17. ↑ "The Witsprouts Project Announces Storytelling Contest | Deadline: May 31, 2025". Brittle Paper. 2025-04-11. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  18. ↑ James-Ibe, Chinaza (2025-04-15). "The Witsprouts Storytelling Prize 2025 | How to Apply (₦500,000)". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  19. ↑ Emmanuel, Eniola (2025-10-01). "Rachel Ajisafe Wins Inaugural Witsprouts Storytelling Prize 2025". Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  20. ↑ "Rachel Ajisafe Wins Inaugural Witsprouts Storytelling Prize 2025 - Afrocritik". 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  21. ↑ Oluwatobiloba, Bakare (2025-07-16). "Witsprouts Announces Shortlist for 2025 Storytelling Prize - JAY Lit". Retrieved 2025-10-04.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.