Sawaba Fellowship 2026: Funded Opportunity for African Feminist Thinkers, Artists & Activists

Liberation Alliance Africa has announced the Sawaba Fellowship 2026, a unique funded program designed for African thinkers, artists, activists, and community organizers working on transformative social change.

This fellowship offers a powerful platform to explore decolonial feminist ideas, critical consciousness, and knowledge production rooted in African realities.

About the Fellowship

The Sawaba Fellowship is part of the Sawaba Institute for Critical Consciousness Raising, an initiative focused on challenging dominant narratives and creating space for liberation-focused thinking and action.

The fellowship supports interdisciplinary work across:

• Research and academia
• Creative arts and storytelling
• Activism and community organizing

Participants engage in deep reflection and collaboration to contribute toward decolonial feminist futures.

Fellowship Theme (2026)

The 2026 fellowship explores themes around decolonial transformation and African knowledge systems, encouraging fellows to:

• Challenge colonial narratives
• Reimagine identity, power, and justice
• Center indigenous knowledge and lived experiences

This approach promotes new frameworks for social change rooted in African contexts.

Program Structure

• Duration: 3 months
• Start: May 2026
• Begins with a fully funded in-person convening
• Followed by collaborative and independent project work

Fellows produce outputs such as:

• Essays or research papers
• Art, exhibitions, or storytelling projects
• Public talks or community initiatives

Financial Benefits

Selected fellows receive:

• USD 500 per month stipend
• Fully funded travel and participation for the opening convening
• Mentorship and collaboration opportunities
• Visibility and publication support

This allows fellows to focus fully on their work and impact.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be of African descent and currently based in Africa
• Work in fields such as:
  • Academia
  • Arts and media
  • Activism
  • Community leadership
• Demonstrate strong interest in decolonial feminist ideas and social change

The program seeks individuals with innovative thinking and commitment to impact.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit:

• Cover letter
• Project proposal
• CV or portfolio
• Budget outline

Applications are submitted via email as per official instructions.

Application Deadline

• Deadline: April 24, 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Why This Fellowship Matters

The Sawaba Fellowship stands out because it:

• Centers African voices and knowledge systems
• Challenges global power structures and narratives
• Combines research, art, and activism
• Builds a strong network of change-makers across Africa

It is not just an academic program but a movement-building platform.

Final Insight

The Sawaba Fellowship 2026 is a transformative opportunity for individuals committed to rethinking knowledge, identity, and justice through African perspectives.

For those working at the intersection of activism, research, and creativity, this fellowship provides both funding and a powerful intellectual community to drive meaningful change.