EBEDI WRITERS' RESIDENCY: A CALL FOR, APPLICATIONS

WRITERS who are interested in participating in the residency programme of Ebedi International Writers' Residency, Iseyin, Oyo State, have until January 7, 2011 to submit their applications. The programme, administered by a board including writers, Maryam Ali Ali, Uche Peter Umez and Alkasim Abubakar, was established earlier this year. Tokunbo Okediran and Akintayo Abodunrin are also members of the governing board.

The residence, located in the idyllic town, is a well-furnished four- bedroom bungalow with a standby generator and water bole facilities. A weekly grant is included in the package for selected writers. Adequate security is also guaranteed at the landscaped compound.

Two sets of writers have so far stayed at the residence. Lola Okusami and Abiodun Adebiyi were the first set while Kenechukwu Obi and Charles Oluyori completed their six-week stay in November 2010.

Selected writers will be required to stay at the residence for a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of six. They will resume at the residency in Iseyin on January 17, 2011. They will be provided with a weekly grant during their stay.

Applicants are required to include a CV, samples of works and a one-page description of the work to be undertaken at the residency in their application. Two letters of recommendation are also requested to be sent along with applications.

The residency is open to Nigerian and foreign writers alike. Writers living outside Nigeria should, however, note that they will be responsible for their flight if selected. Kindly note that the offer is also open to writers writing in indigenous languages, that is, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba etc.

Literamed Publishers will consider works produced during the programme for publication. Writers should however note that they will retain the rights to their work in spite of this offer.

Selected writers will be expected to contribute to Iseyin's educational development by organising literary activities in the community, which includes a writing workshop or literary competition among secondary school students in the town during the duration of the programme.

All applications must get to the Secretary, Alkasim Abdulkadir, from midnight of January 7, 2011. They should be sent via e-mail to [email protected] and copy [email protected] .

The Ebedi International Residency is an initiative former House of Representatives member Dr. Wale Okediran, who is running for a Senate seat in the 2011 general election. The residency provides a good environment for writers with ongoing works to complete such works within the duration of the programme.