Six writers selected for ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa Int’l Writers’ Residency 2025 unveiled
By Editor
IN a significant milestone for Nigerian literature, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has announced the cohorts of its inaugural edition of the ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa International Writers’ Residency. This prestigious residency, taking place at the esteemed Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja from August 30 to September 29, 2025, brings together six talented writers who have emerged after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.
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 for whom the residency is named.
The 2025 cohorts are Osedebamen David Oamen, who is a multifaceted creative – playwright, poet, storyteller, songwriter, singer, and cultural activist. As an Associate Professor at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, he has published extensively and manages Forthspring Publishing Venture.
Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema is a prose 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 is a bilingual creative writer, poet, and linguist with publications in Songs of Almajiri: An Anthology of Poems. He is also a community builder through writing and environmental initiatives.
Maymunah Kadiri is 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 is a poet, critic, and literary administrator who has authored two notable books – King of the Jungle and Echoes of the Plateau. He co-founded Plateau Writers’ Society and won the 2024 Sevhage/E.E. Sule Prize for African Literary Criticism.
Joel Oyeleke is 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 ANA OAU sub-chapter.
According to the Residency Manager, Husayn Zaguru, “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.”
