Dear Storyteller, We See You
The submissions window for TYWA 2025 officially closed on April 27th, and like the first week of a new year, our hearts are full of excitement and anticipation.
Stories have poured in like a long-awaited rain, from every corner of the country, flooding a parched desert. To every young writer who dared to share a piece of their creativity with us: we see you and thank you!
It’s not child’s play to sit with your thoughts, shape them into words, and release them into the world like paper boats into the tide - unsure of where they’ll end, but brave enough to let them go nevertheless.
We are in awe.
We read stories of love so tender it could melt steel, of fear crawling like shadows in a storm, of faith burning like candles in the wind, and of survival stitched together with threads of quiet strength. What this tells us is simple but profound: though we come from different places, our humanity sings the same songs.
And so, whether you make the shortlist or not, know this: you are a writer. You did something many only dream of. You started, and you finished. You let your voice rise above the noise, and that alone is a kind of victory.
The truth is, not everyone will come first, second, or third. We already know that excellence is not a destination; it's a journey through countless drafts and moments of self-doubt. It's a fire you keep tending, one word at a time.
So keep writing.
Keep dreaming.
Keep showing up for your story.
Because the world needs it.
Because someone, somewhere, is waiting to feel less alone - and your words just might be the bridge that gets them there.
Soon, we will announce our shortlist here on the website. However, you must never forget that the boldness to tell your own story is your first victory.
From all of us at TheGoodFelo Africa, thank you.
Keep your pen moving… the next chapter is already calling.