African mythology, folklore and cultural memory

Official information

Overview

Publication

Oriire

Eligibility

The official submissions page does not state a nationality restriction. The subject matter must be African mythology, folklore and cultural memory, tied to a specific ethnic group, culture, region or historical period.

Writing

Long-form, folktales, essays, interviews, heritage reviews, listicles, encounters

Payment

₦15,000 bonus until 2026-08-22

Currency

NGN

Payment conditions

Standard official rates: ₦10,000 per accepted article and ₦5,000 per accepted codex entry. Temporary bonus through 22 August 2026: ₦15,000 per accepted submission in Encounters, Folktales & Narrative Retellings, or Listicles. After that date the standard rates apply. Payment details are requested on the submission form. Contributors handle their own tax obligations.

When paid

The official page says you get paid when the story is published. A more specific number of days is not stated.

Word count

Not publicly stated

Response time

Review within 1–4 weeks

Status

Rolling

Deadline

Not publicly stated

How to submit

Official submission portal (create an account)

AI policy

AI-generated work prohibited

What they want

• Long-form work on African mythology, folklore and cultural memory inside Oriire’s pillars: Mythology; Deities, Spirits & Cosmologies; Folktales, Legends & Oral Traditions; Ancestry, Destiny & Personhood; Festivals, Rituals, Symbols & Sacred Practice; Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Historical Memory & Heritage; Diaspora, Transformation & Survival.
• Categories: Long-Form Articles; Folktales & Narrative Retellings; Essays; Interviews & Conversations; Heritage Reviews; Listicles; Encounters.
• Specificity is mandatory: tie the piece to a specific ethnic group, culture, region or historical period.
• Verifiable or historical claims must be sourced. Oral material may be attributed by provenance (for example “as told by”).
• At least one relevant image you have the right to use, with a clear caption.
• Voice: research-driven, intellectually grounded, clear. Vivid specific writing is welcome; empty ornament is not.

What they don't want

• AI-generated written content is strictly prohibited. AI-generated images are also prohibited.
• Work published elsewhere.
• Vague “African culture” pieces that are not tied to a specific people, place or period.
• Clichés such as “rich tapestry” and vagueness such as “shrouded in mystery”.
• A recipe on its own (foodways need ritual, symbolic or heritage meaning).
• General political, economic or film history with no heritage or belief thread.
• Repeating a subject already on Oriire without a clearly new angle.
• Titles that end with a full stop, or subtitles that begin “This article explores”.

Requirements

• Create an account and submit through the official portal
• Original unpublished work
• At least one captioned image you have rights to
• Sources for verifiable/historical claims
• Up to 2 articles and 3 codex entries every 14 days (drafts do not count)

Rights

Not publicly stated on the official submissions page.

How to submit

• Create an account via https://oriire.com/join and submit the draft through the official portal.
• Editorial review is stated as 1–4 weeks, then an edit pass, then publication and payment.

Submit / apply (official)

Information can change. Payment rates, submission requirements, eligibility, deadlines and response times are subject to change. Always check the publication's official guidelines before submitting. BRYME verifies listings as carefully as possible but does not guarantee acceptance or payment.