The Africa Institute Global Africa Translation Fellowship

The Africa Institute is pleased to announce the Global Africa Translation Fellowship, inviting applications from across the Global South. This fellowship offers a grant of up to $5,000 to support the translation of works from the African continent and its diaspora into English or Arabic. It is a non-residential fellowship, allowing the recipient scholar to work on the translation project outside of The Africa Institute in Sharjah, UAE. The objective of the fellowship is to make important texts in African and African Diaspora studies accessible to a wider readership worldwide.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are welcome from individuals across the Global South.
• The grant request should be for the completion of translations of works from the African continent and its diaspora into English or Arabic.
• Selected projects may include retranslations of old, classic texts, previously untranslated works, poetry, prose, or critical theory collections. The project may be a work-in-progress or a new project feasible for completion within the grant’s timeframe.

Benefits of the Africa Institute Global Africa Translation Fellowship:

• The fellowship provides funding ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the quality and scope of the project.

Selection Process

• All applications will be reviewed by The Africa Institute’s faculty and research fellows.
• Recipients will be selected based on the quality of the proposal and the applicant’s demonstrated capacity to complete the project.
• The monetary award will be disbursed in two installments: the first at the start of the project and the second upon completion.
• The Africa Institute requires a copy of the translation for archival purposes only. The translation will not be published or used for any other purposes without the awardee’s agreement.

Documents Required for Application

• A two-page CV/résumé, including institutional affiliation, educational qualifications (including the highest degree received), and key publications/works produced.
• A two-page narrative explaining the translation to be undertaken during the fellowship period, highlighting the work’s importance and providing a justification for re-translation if applicable. Proposed dates of completion should also be included. The project may be a work-in-progress or a new project that fits within the grant’s timeframe.
• A 4–5-page (double-spaced) sample of the original text(s) and its translation.
• An explanation of the work’s copyright status. If the work is not in the public domain, please include a copy of the copyright notice from the original text and a letter from the copyright holder stating the availability of English language rights to the work.

How to Apply

• All submitted applications must include a statement, sample, copyright status (if applicable), and CV in a single PDF file.
• Name the file with the applicant’s name in the following format: LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME.pdf.
• Use the same name in the email subject heading: LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME application.
• Send the PDF as an email attachment to [email protected].