OpenheimaI am getting news of a new opportunity for African writers who engage in fiction to win some extra dosh with the inaugural FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards.

The new awards are aimed at recognising extraordinary artistic talent in three categories – fiction literature, film-making and art across more than 100 emerging market nations. The winner in each category will receive a prize award of $40,000 and will also be featured in a post event magazine and videos profiled on ft.com.

For Africans the category you are eligible for is in writing of fiction. To qualify you must provide proof of residency or a copy of their passport and you must come from any of the following nations;

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo, Rep, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen and Zambia.

Basically the whole continent. Submissions were opened on 30th January and they close on 10th April. The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner event at the New York Public Library on 5 October 2015. Have at it here.