Musical Arts-Related Essay Competition 2025
Musical arts-related essay competition: Undergraduate and Honours students
Undergraduate and Honours students are encouraged to enter an essay competition aimed at promoting research, scholarship and good writing about music in Africa. Essays are encouraged to be submitted by students who are conducting African musical arts-related research in music, dance, drama and visual arts. The competition is open to citizens of any African country studying at an African tertiary educational institution.
The winning essay will be published in the internationally peer-reviewed Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa Volume 22, 2025. The closing date for submission of essays is 31 July 2025.
Watch the last essay competition winner talk about her experience here: https://youtu.be/2SQ59l1yOZg
All essays must meet the following requirements:
Essays should address any topic relating to musical arts in Africa, with the proviso that the topic relates substantially to an African context;
The essay should reflect sound research methods, scholarly engagement with relevant literature, logical argument and critical thought;
Length: 3000–5000 words;
Language medium: English, French or Portuguese [French and Portuguese submissions should be accompanied by a 600-word English abstract].
Submit an electronic copy (MS Word format), accompanied by the following documents:
A certified copy of proof of registration at an African tertiary institution;
Please note that essays will only be accepted within a six-month period after students have graduated with the respective degree;
Certified proof of identity (e.g. copy of identity document, passport, etc.);
A declaration signed by the student attesting that the manuscript has been properly edited for language usage stating the name and address of the person who undertook the language editing;
A declaration signed by the student that each significant contribution to and quotation in this essay from the work or works of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced. The adjudicators’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Contact the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa for more information:
Dr Wilhelm Delport
SA College of Music University of Cape Town
wilhelmdelport.jmaa@gmail.com; jmaa@uct.ac.za