Activating the Archives of the Nigerian Left - Call for Applications

Applications are now open for a third cohort of grantees who will be supported to explore the digitized and physical Archives of the Nigerian Left in order to produce original work. This round of grants will be awarded to artists, writers, content creators, and multi-modal story-tellers interested in developing original pieces inspired by Nigeria's history or pro-democracy, pro-worker, feminist, and radical anti-establishment struggle. The Archives of the Nigerian Left project invites creative practitioners to explore its unique digital repository of materials from Nigeria's pro-democracy and radical activist traditions. 

About the Archives

The Archives of the Nigerian Left is a growing federated network preserving the often imperilled records of labour movements, student activism, feminist struggles, and radical political thought. It features a diversity of materials from partner archives across the country, including posters, pamphlets, photographs, personal correspondence, and organizational records that chart decades of struggle for democracy and social justice in Nigeria and Africa.

Thematic Focus for Engagement

Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that resonate with the core themes of our archives. We are particularly interested in, but not limited to, works that explore:

The Aesthetics of Struggle — works that interpret the visual, sonic, and artistic cultures of Nigerian activism.

Forgotten Voices & Untold Stories — works that spotlight underrepresented narratives, groups, or individuals within the historical record.

The Internationalist Links — works that examine the pan-African and global connections of local movements.

Then & Now — works that create dialogues between historical archival materials and contemporary social, political, and cultural issues in Nigeria.

What We Offer Selected Applicants

1. Guided access to digitized archival collections, with support from our project team in identifying relevant materials.
2. A production stipend of N1million to support the research, development, and production of the proposed work.
3. The finished work will be featured on the project's digital platforms and considered for inclusion in the physical or digital iterations of the 2026 national travelling exhibition.
4. Opportunity to connect with a network of archivists, historians, activists and fellow creatives.

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from;

• Visual Artists (digital, illustration, painting, mixed media)

• Writers (creative non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, scriptwriting)

• Content Creators (documentary filmmakers, podcasters, digital storytellers, comic artists)

• Researchers and Academics with a creative practice

*Applicants must be based in Nigeria.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must submit:

1. A project proposal (max 500 words) describing the intended work, its format, and the specific thematic/archival focus.
2. A portfolio of 2-3 previous relevant works (links or PDF attachments).
3. A simple production timeline and budget outline for the stipend (kindly note dates below).
4. A CV or bio.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be assessed based on:

• Artistic merit and originality of the concept.
• Strength of connection to the archives and the outlined thematic focus.
• Feasibility of production within the project timeline.
• Potential to engage new public audiences with the historical material.

Timeline

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Selection Announcement: March 5, 2026

Project Development Period: March - April 2026

Final Work Delivery: April 30, 2026

How to Apply

Please submit your application materials via email to 9jaleftarchives@gmail.com with the subject line: "Archives of Nigerian Left Grant_Your Name".

For more information on the Archives of the Nigerian Left, visit nigerianradicalism.net.