Love in Detty December is Noisy Streetss’ annual storytelling series celebrating love during Africa’s most electric season. It began with a simple idea: to explore what it truly means to love in December in Africa.
For three consecutive editions, we invited writers to bring us romantic love, chaotic love, tender love. From those calls came our much-beloved collection, Ponmo is a Bird That Has No Place in a Cultured Culinary Sky & Other Stories. After selling and distributing 1,000 copies across Africa and the UK, we are ready for the fourth.
For the fourth edition of Love in Detty December, we invite African writers to share stories about love during the December season.
We are seeking stories that explore the full spectrum of romance — deep, transformative connections and fleeting infatuations; traditional relationships and unconventional expressions of love; romantic love, platonic love, and the love between family. What does it mean to be in love in December in Africa?
We are also asking you to stretch. Think beyond jollof-filled parties, clubs, IJGBs, beaches, Lagos, ‘chaos’, and ‘mess.’ Consider December in a small city in Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, or Kenya. Tell us ghost stories. Stories about gods. Arranged marriages, all Christmas-themed, of course! A Christmas rooted in a specific African culture or tradition. Surprise us. The best submissions will be the ones that could only have been written by you, about us.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
Open to African writers of all experience levels, based anywhere in the world. Stories must be rooted in Africa — featuring African settings, characters, or experiences.
Submission Window
15 June 2026 – 15 August 2026
Genre
Fiction and creative nonfiction
Language & Style
All submissions must be written in English, with consistent verb tense and proper grammar throughout. Use of local, indigenous, and regional languages, dialects, slangs, and expressions within the story is welcomed and strongly encouraged. Capitalise proper nouns and ensure factual accuracy.
Word Count
4,500 – 5,000 words.
Originality
We accept only original, unpublished work. Plagiarised or AI-generated content will be immediately rejected, without exception.
Format Requirements
- Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
- Include the following in your document header: story title, full name, email address, social media handles or profile URLs (Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook), and exact word count.
How to Submit
Send your submission to submissions.noisystreetss@gmail.com in the following format:
Subject line: Title of Story | LIDD Vol. 4 | Author Name
Body of email: Include a short author bio with your phone number and social media handles, as well as a brief synopsis of your story.
For any other questions or issues, reach out to us at contact@noisystreetss.com.
Our editorial board will carefully review all entries. Selected pieces will go through a collaborative editorial process, and chosen writers will receive financial compensation and royalties, and be published in our third print anthology.
