Six writers selected for ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa International Writers Residency
By Adeola Ogunrinde –
The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has announced the cohorts of its inaugural edition of the ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa International Writers’ Residency. The prestigious programme, scheduled to hold at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja from August 30 to September 29, 2025, brings together six talented writers who emerged after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.
In a statement by the Residency Manager, Husayn Zaguru, the association noted:
“Under the visionary leadership of ANA President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, this landmark residency represents a bold step in strengthening the culture of literary residency in Nigeria. The selected residents embody the fearless and imaginative spirit of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria’s renowned writer and environmental activist.”
The 2025 cohorts are:
Osedebamen David Oamen, a multifaceted creative—playwright, poet, storyteller, songwriter, singer, and cultural activist. An Associate Professor at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, he has published extensively and manages Forthspring Publishing Venture.
Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema, a fiction writer known for exploring themes of alienation through speculative fiction. She is the founder of a creative writing community for secondary school students and has been published in several notable journals.
Aliyu Muhammad, a bilingual creative writer, poet, and linguist, with contributions to Songs of Almajiri: An Anthology of Poems. He is also a community builder through writing and environmental initiatives.
Maymunah Kadiri, a celebrated storyteller, poet, screenwriter, and editor whose work interrogates justice, identity, and women’s lives. She has won multiple awards, including the ANA Kogi/Yusuf Ali Short Story Prize.
Bizuum Yadok, a poet, critic, and literary administrator, author of King of the Jungle and Echoes of the Plateau. He co-founded the Plateau Writers’ Society and won the 2024 Sevhage/E.E. Sule Prize for African Literary Criticism.
Joel Oyeleke, a poet and essayist whose works explore apologetics, literature, and therapy. He is the author of God is a Poet (2024) and serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the ANA OAU Subchapter.
According to the organisers, the residency promises to be a transformative experience for these emerging voices, providing them with a rare opportunity to deepen their craft, collaborate across genres, and contribute to Nigeria’s vibrant cultural life.
“As they embark on this month-long creative journey, literary enthusiasts and readers alike eagerly anticipate the innovative works and collaborations that will emerge from this historic gathering,” the statement added.
