Sawaba Fellowship 2026: Funded Opportunity for African Thinkers and Creatives

The Sawaba Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for African-based thinkers, artists, and organisers to receive funding, mentorship, and space to explore decolonial feminist ideas. Hosted by Liberation Alliance Africa, this three-month fellowship supports individuals committed to challenging colonial narratives and producing transformative knowledge rooted in African histories, memory, and lived realities. With a strong focus on interdisciplinary and practice-based work, the programme is designed for those seeking to deepen their impact while engaging in critical consciousness and collective reflection.

About the Program

The Sawaba Fellowship is an initiative of the Sawaba Institute of Critical Consciousness Raising, hosted by Liberation Alliance Africa. It brings together a small cohort of fellows from across the African continent to engage in research, storytelling, and creative practice that advances decolonial feminist futures.

The 2026 theme, “Not Pioneers of an Empty Land,” challenges dominant colonial narratives that erase indigenous histories, knowledge systems, and governance structures. Fellows are invited to interrogate and dismantle the myth that African societies lacked complexity prior to colonialism, instead centering ancestral memory, cultural continuity, and collective knowledge.

The fellowship begins with a fully funded in-person convening in May 2026, followed by a three-month period of project development and collaboration. Fellows are expected to produce original work aligned with the theme, which may take various forms including essays, research papers, artistic productions, exhibitions, or public engagements.

Why This Opportunity Matters

In a global landscape where colonial narratives continue to shape knowledge production and policy, opportunities like the Sawaba Fellowship are critical. They provide space for African voices to redefine frameworks of knowledge, identity, and justice on their own terms.

This fellowship goes beyond traditional academic or professional development programmes by prioritising lived experience, collective memory, and indigenous knowledge systems. It recognises that meaningful transformation requires not only new ideas but also a re-engagement with historical truths and suppressed narratives.

By supporting interdisciplinary work and community-rooted approaches, the programme contributes to broader efforts toward epistemic justice and sustainable, inclusive futures.

What Participants Will Gain

Participants in the Sawaba Fellowship will gain both tangible and intangible benefits that support their personal and professional growth.

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of USD 500, enabling them to focus on their projects without financial strain. The programme also includes a fully funded convening, offering a rare opportunity to connect in person with like-minded thinkers, artists, and organisers from across the continent.

Beyond financial support, fellows benefit from a collaborative learning environment that encourages critical dialogue, mentorship, and peer exchange. This creates a strong foundation for intellectual growth and long-term partnerships.

Participants also gain visibility for their work, as the fellowship supports the development of outputs that contribute to public discourse, whether through publications, artistic work, or community engagement. Ultimately, the experience equips fellows with the tools, networks, and confidence to continue advancing decolonial and feminist work beyond the programme.

Who Can Apply

The fellowship is open to individuals of African descent who are currently based on the African continent. Applicants may come from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, including academia, the arts, journalism, activism, and community organising.

Successful candidates are those who demonstrate a strong commitment to decolonial feminist politics, critical thinking, and social transformation. They should also be prepared to engage deeply with the fellowship theme and contribute meaningfully to collective learning spaces.

Application Process and Deadline

To apply, candidates must submit a complete application via email. This includes a cover letter, a project proposal outlining their intended work, a portfolio or CV showcasing relevant experience, and a draft budget.

Applications must be submitted by 24 April 2026. Due to the competitive nature of the fellowship, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Selected fellows must be available to attend the in-person convening in May 2026 and actively participate throughout the three-month programme.

Learn more about the program and requirements in the official description.

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