Extending, Nurturing, and Sustaining a Community of Writers from the African Diaspora

Kimbilio® means “safe haven” in Swahili. We are a community of writers and scholars committed to developing, empowering and sustaining fiction writers from the African diaspora and their stories.  Projects include readings, presentations at professional conferences, social media networking, book prizes, and an annual summer retreat for fiction writers who are members of the Kimbilio community.

APPLICATION SEASON IS HERE!

Apply now through March 15 to become a 2024 Kimbilio Fellow

KIMBILIO FEATURED PROGRAMS

Kimbilio Retreat

Held annually on the Taos campus of Southern Methodist University, Fellows and Faculty members gather in the Carson National Forest for a week of writing, solitude, and solidarity.

Kimbilio Mentor Project

The Kimbilio Mentorship Project matches developing and emerging writers with writers who are further along in their careers and focuses on the mentee’s professional goals.

Kimbilio National Fiction Prize

The Kimbilio National Fiction Prize is a collaborative project with Four Way Books. This program is a celebration and affirmation of the best in contemporary fiction. 

Kimbilio Reading Series

As part of Kimbilio’s mission to present and support fiction from diaspora writers, we regularly host readings featuring Kimbilio Faculty, Fellows, and other prominent writers.

The Kimbilio Fellows

… come from across the diaspora and represent a wide range of visions and voices. Among their ranks are people from many generations who have distinguished themselves in an array of professions, and who bring to the community a wealth of knowledge and resources. Some arrive early in their careers; others arrive with impressive publication credentials and prizes already under their belts.

Applications open in January of each year.

Kimbilio is an affiliate of Bookshop, which supports independent booksellers by facilitating the online sale of books by Fellows and Faculty.

Grateful for support, advice and collaboration from these fine organizations

Your support helps to secure the future of this vital organization.

You can make an online donation or support our authors by purchasing one of their books from our online store