We are pleased to announce the Windrush Commissions – Mouth Mek Fi Nyam. This initiative is part of a four-part project celebrating Caribbean storytelling and heritage while supporting the campaign to make Lewisham the UK’s first Borough of Literature.
The wider project includes a series of oral history, gardening, cooking, and poetry workshops with Caribbean elders, highlighting the deep connections between migration, food, and cultural preservation.
About the opportunity
We are seeking two Caribbean short story writers to take part in an oral history event with Caribbean elders on Windrush Day, 22 June 2025, at Catford Library, 2 – 4pm. The event will focus on themes of migration, food, gardening, and cultural preservation, with elders sharing personal experiences of carrying and sustaining traditions across generations. The two chosen writers will attend the event and then use the shared stories as inspiration to create original short stories (1,500-2,500 words) that capture the richness of Caribbean heritage. The commissioned stories will be published in the Mouth Mek Fi Nyam anthology, and each writer will receive a £1,000 fee.
Timeline and fee
- Submission Period: 1 – 25 April 2025
- Shortlisted writers’ interviews (online): 28 April 2025
- Notification of Selection: 30 April 2025
- Event Date: 22 June 2025, 2– 4pm
- Outcome: One short story 1,500- 2,500 words that will be published in the Mouth Mek Fi Nyam anthology
- Fee: £1,000 inclusive
Who are the commissions for?
Two short story writers who are aged 18+, of Caribbean descent and currently living in London. Priority will be given to writers living in or from Lewisham.
Eligibility & Requirements:
- Must be aged 18+
- Must be of Caribbean heritage
- Must be based in London
- Must have experience in short story writing
- Must be available to attend the oral history sharing event on 22 June 2025 in person
How to Apply:
Submissions open 1 April 2025, and close 25 April 2025. There will be an online interview on Monday 28 April, 2025 for shortlisted writers. Selected writers will be notified by 30 April 2025.
To apply, please send:
- A short bio (max 200 words)
- A sample of your short fiction (max 2,000 words)
- A brief statement (max 300 words) on why this project interests you and how your work aligns with the themes of migration, food, gardening, and cultural preservation
- A short paragraph (max 300 words) on how you would engage with the oral history event to develop your short story
If you would like to request any reasonable adjustments to the application process, please contact us via [email protected].
For full eligibility criteria, please see our Terms and Conditions.
This is a unique opportunity to engage with community history, honour the voices of Caribbean elders, and create literary work that continues the legacy of Windrush storytelling. We look forward to reading your submission!
Accessible versions
A word version of this opportunity
An audio recording of this opportunity – coming soon
A BSL interpretation of this opportunity – coming soon
Funded by:
Photo credit: (C) Lola Oh