Shortlisted Participants
Meet the ten talented women writers selected for our Manuscript Publishing Deal project.
Project Overview
We are excited to announce that the first phase of our Manuscript Publishing Deal project has begun! This initiative is designed to empower women in creative writing and publishing through a series of workshops and publications. The project will feature a creative writing workshop, training, translation, book publication, and the promotion of gender equality by providing equitable access to educational and literary opportunities.
Selection Process
From over a hundred applications, we have selected ten writers for this initial phase: five writing in English and five writing in Hausa. The next step is our residency/workshop, a five-day intensive event running from August 7th to 11th, 2024.
During this period, the selected writers will enhance their skills through workshops, mentorship, book readings, and networking, guided by six expert facilitators.
Meet Our Selected Writers
These talented women represent the diverse voices and perspectives that make Northern Nigeria's literary scene so rich and vibrant.
Hajaarh Muhammad Bashar
Hajaarh Muhammad Bashar writes from Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. She is the winner of the Nigerian Prize for Indigenous language 2023 (pidgin category) and the winner of the Genti Media Pidgin Writing Competition 2023. Her short story was the 1st runner up for the Hafsat Abdulwahab Short Story Prize 2022. Her nonfiction 'Outborn Wing' was the 1st runner up for the WeNaija Literary Contest 2023 (nonfiction category). In 2021, she was announced the winner of Abubakar Gimba Prize for short story. Hajaarh is a two-time finalist of TYS nonfiction contest 2021 and 2022 respectively. Her works have appeared in Isele Magazine, Kendeka anthology, Bakwa Magazine, and others.
Linda Jummai Mustafa
Linda Jummai Mustafa teaches literature-in-English at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State. She holds a B.A in Mass communication/English (BUK, 2001), PGDE (UDU, 2007) and a M.A in Literature in English (Unilorin, 2013). Mustafa had a brief stint in journalism from 2005-2012 and contributes to news reporting as a freelance journalist. A teacher, journalist, novelist, poet and designer, Mustafa has authored some fictional novels with her debut collection of short stories entitled What If…?, nominated as the first runner-up for the ANA Prose/Fiction Prize in 2021. Her love for short stories earned her a spot at the first Gothe Short Story Day Africa (SSDA) held at Lagos in October 2018. Some of the stories written during the Gothe workshop are published in her first collection of short stories titled What If…? She is also a featured poet in a number of anthologies, and Fatal desire is her first book on poems to be published by TETFUND. Mustafa is an indigene of Borgu local government area of Niger State.
Maryam Umar
Maryam Umar writes from Sokoto State. She is a law student at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. She is a translator, voiceover artist, and a writer. Maryam currently works as a Program Director at Kikan Babi Media Production.
Hassana Abdullahi Hunkuyi
Hassana Abdullahi Hunkuyi, born in 1980, resides in Hunkuyi town, Kudan Local Government Area, Kaduna State, with her husband and children. Her educational journey began at the primary level, followed by the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS KAWO) in Kaduna. Hassana holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and currently works as a School Support Officer/School Inspector within the Kudan Local Government education department. Demonstrating her dedication to lifelong learning, Hassana is also a final-year student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, pursuing a degree in Library and Information Science. Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, Hassana is a literary talent. She secured second place in a short story competition organized by the Pleasant Library and Book Club with her story titled 'A SASANTA.' Her literary prowess further shone in 2021 when she won the prestigious Abubakar Imam Prize for Hausa Fiction with her book 'WUKAR FAWA' in a competition presented by the Sana'a da ilmi Foundation. Hassana's passion extends beyond writing. She enjoys reading, traveling, staying informed through news consumption, and conducting research on global events. Notably, she has published a remarkable collection of approximately twenty books, with eighteen currently available in the market.
Fatima Zahra Tabiu
Fatima Zahra Tabiu, born in 1992, hails from Kano, Nigeria. She completed both her primary and secondary education within the city. Fatima then went on to pursue higher learning at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, graduating with a degree in Microbiology. Her thirst for knowledge led her to further studies at Bayero University Kano, where she earned a second degree in Biotechnology. Fatima's literary journey began during her high school years. While in fourth grade, she crafted an English novel titled 'Desire and Destiny,' which found its way to publication in 2011. Her creative spark continued to ignite, leading her to write two additional books in Hausa, currently available online but not yet published. Married and a mother of two, Fatima demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance her personal life with her passion for writing.
Asma'u Abdallah Ibrahim
Asma'u Abdallah Ibrahim, a resident of Kano, Nigeria, completed both her primary and secondary education in the city. Her journey as a writer began in 2012 on a Facebook writers' group, where she shared her work as soft copies. She expresses her gratitude for this wonderful opportunity.
Hassana Labaran Danlarabawa
Hassana Labaran Danlarabawa, born on January 1st, 1992, hails from Dala Local Government in Kano State. Her educational journey began at Qur'anil Murattal Kaigama primary school, followed by secondary studies at the IIzazuddeen School Complex. After marriage, Hassana's thirst for knowledge continued. She enrolled at Aminu Kano College of Education, pursuing an N.C.E in Hausa/Islamic studies. Her foundation in Islamic education was laid early on, attending a dedicated school where she mastered the Quran and delved into other religious texts. Hassana currently resides in Kano town with her husband and their two children, a daughter and a son. In 2019, a passion for writing ignited within her, leading her to publish online. Her prolific output boasts eight to nine long articles alongside numerous short stories. Fueled by a burning desire to share her message, Hassana remains firmly planted in the world of writers, eagerly embracing every challenge it throws her way.
Deborah Johnson
Deborah Johnson is a writer and performance artist, published in the front runners poetry booklet gift to UN and in an anthology 'bloom'. She is an alumni of UNICEF poetry mediathon, a winner of British council's new narratives challenge, a winner of the 'Doing things with Stories Global play off Contest' by the university of Art, Netherlands and Oxfam. She has lent her art to VOICE X the US Embassy for the creation of learning vignettes on mental health, and has worked in radio as a voice actor creating stories that highlight the problems faced by Nigerian youth. She is the 2022 winner of Abuja literary society and Lagos international grand slam and a 2023 fellow under the see my world program. She is the 3rd runner up in the world poetry slam competition. Deborah is passionate about African stories and hopes to use art as a means for social change.
Aisha Gali
Aisha Gali is a novelist and freelance writer with a deep passion for writing and reading. she earned a degree in computer science from Umaru Musa Yar'adua University Katsina. Over the years, she had the privilege of working with various blogs and magazines like northpad Nigeria and fabulously liberated and contributing to esteemed publications. Her debut novel, Bound To The Stars was the beginning of her immersion in writing and has over 100k reads on Wattpad. Currently, she is working on her next novel which focuses on the journey of two people finding each other.
Azizah Idris M.
Azizah Idris M. grew up in Gombe, Nigeria. She holds an MSc. in Computer Science from the Abubakar Tarawa Balewa University, Bauchi and an MSc in Islamic Psychology and Counselling (in view) from International Open University, Gambia. A bi-lingual writer, Azizah has written nineteen Hausa language novels including Zubar Kwalla, Halin Girma and Maimaita Tarihi as well as a cookbook in English titled My kitchen Essentials and seven other English novels. She is currently Head of ICT Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims' Welfare Board. A noted Chef, she runs a culinary school in Gombe, where she lives with her husband and four young children.
What's Next?
The selected participants will embark on an intensive five-day residency workshop where they'll work with expert facilitators to refine their manuscripts and prepare for publication.
Workshop Phase
Intensive writing workshops and mentorship sessions with established authors.
Editing & Refinement
Professional editing and manuscript refinement with publishing experts.
Publication
Final manuscripts will be published and distributed through our network.