{
  "id": 18481362,
  "title": "Women writers’ residency concludes with commitment to African storytelling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/women-writers-residency-concludes-with-commitment-to-african",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T07:32:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/women-writers-residency-concludes-with-commitment-to-african-storytelling/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ten emerging African women writers concluded a month-long residency in Nairobi, vowing to continue telling African stories. The 2026 Africa Women Writers Residency (AWWR) organized by Majesty Publishing House Africa brought together writers from ten African countries. Over 450 applications poured in from 23 African countries, resulting in the selection of ten participants. The three-week virtual residency was followed by a week of in-person sessions in Nairobi. The program aimed to help participants develop their individual voices, hone their writing skills, and explore the African contexts and audiences for their work. The first week focused on identity and personal perspectives, while the second week delved into African storytelling and target audiences. The final week concentrated on creative techniques such as creative non-fiction and character development, led by writers Kinyanjui Kombani and Harriet Anena, also known as Ber Anena. The residency also featured five days of masterclasses and discussions with authors, a media practitioner, and a literary scholar. Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor addressed how women find and express their voices through writing, while Mary Njoki, CEO of Glass House PR, discussed connecting work with intended readers and audiences. Professor Miriam Maranga-Musonye explored the evolution of Africa's literary heritage, while June O'Sullivan discussed writing about people, places, and history. The program's founder and CEO, Lorraine Onduru, emphasized the importance of providing African women writers with time, editorial guidance, and peer support. The participating writers will showcase their work in an upcoming anthology titled 'New African Voices: Stories That Shape Africa's Future'. The residency was supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya, which highlighted the initiative's role in promoting gender equality and amplifying diverse voices.",
  "summary": "Author Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor engaged participants on how women find and express their voices through writing, while Glass House PR Chief Executive Officer Mary Njoki addressed how writers can connect their work with intended readers and audiences. The post Women writers’ residency concludes with commitment to African storytelling appeared first on KBC Digital .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}