Witsprouts

Witsprouts was founded by Tope Akintayo in January 2018, initially as a personal development platform{{Cite web |title=About – Witsprouts |url=https://witsprouts.com/about |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250215103613/https://witsprouts.com/about/ |archive-date=2025-02-15 |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=witsprouts.com |language=en-US}}. In 2020, Witsprouts shifted its focus to promoting African creative expression and began to host various cultural projects. One of Witsprouts early initiatives was the Afroanthology series curated and edited by Basit Jamiu{{Cite web |last=africaindialogue |date=2020-07-06 |title=The AfroAnthology Series, Nonfiction as a Revolutionary Act: A Dialogue with Basit Jamiu |url=https://africaindialogue.com/2020/07/06/the-afroanthology-series-nonfiction-as-a-revolutionary-act-a-dialogue-with-basit-jamiu/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Africa in Dialogue |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jamiu |first=Basit |date=2019-04-25 |title=This is What Curating Nonfiction in Africa Taught Me About Life |url=https://themoveee.com/curating-nonfiction-in-africa/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en-US}}, which published its first anthology, Selves, in 2018, followed by additional themed collections in subsequent years.

Witsprouts' publishing division, Witsprouts Books, produces print and digital editions of anthologies and standalone titles by emerging writers{{Cite web |last=Ajose |first=Kehinde |date=2025-04-06 |title=Mustapha Enesi to release short story collection |url=https://punchng.com/mustapha-enesi-to-release-short-story-collection/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Guardian |date=2025-03-15 |title=Witsprouts Books acquires Mustapha Enesi's debut short Story collection |url=https://guardian.ng/news/witsprouts-books-acquires-mustapha-enesis-debut-short-story-collection/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Emmanuel |first=Eniola |date=2025-03-15 |title=Mustapha Enesi's Debut Collection of Short Stories to be Published by Witsprouts Books |url=https://themoveee.com/mustapha-enesis-debut-short-stories-collection-to-be-published-by-witsprouts-books/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en-US}}. Witsprouts Books' anthology titles includes curated collections of short fiction and creative nonfiction: Selves{{Cite web |date=2018-02-09 |title=Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction {{!}} New Project Collects Powerful Nonfiction from Across Africa |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2018/02/afro-anthology-creative-nonfiction-collection-powerful-personal-stories/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Brittle Paper |language=en-US}}, The Year of Free Birds{{Cite web |date=2019-09-03 |title=Introduction to The Year of Free Birds: Stories Featuring Visually Impaired Protagonists {{!}} Lizzy Attree |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2019/09/introduction-to-the-year-of-free-birds-stories-featuring-visually-impaired-protagonists-lizzy-attree/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Brittle Paper |language=en-US}}, Twenty-20: Stories and Lessons from the Pandemic Year {{Cite web |date=2021-12-18 |title=Review of Twenty-20: Stories and Lessons from the Pandemic Year {{!}} Socrates Mbamalu |url=https://iselemagazine.com/2021/12/18/review-of-twenty-20-stories-and-lessons-from-the-pandemic-year-socrates-mbamalu%EF%BF%BC/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Isele Magazine |language=en}}, and Love Grows Stronger in Death{{Cite web |last=Ajose |first=Kehinde |date=2024-04-13 |title=Witsprouts Books to release anthology |url=https://punchng.com/witsprouts-books-to-release-anthology/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lit |first=J. A. Y. |date=2024-03-12 |title=Cover Reveal: Love Grows Stronger in Death Anthology - JAY Lit |url=https://jaylit.com/cover-reveal-love-grows-stronger-in-death-anthology/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Voices |first=Literature |date=2024-07-21 |title=Exploring Terminal Diseases in Grief Writing: An Interview With Mustapha Enesi and David Ben Eke, Contributing Authors of "Love Grows Stronger in Death" by Haneefah Abdulrahman |url=https://literaturevoices.com.ng/exploring-terminal-diseases-in-grief-writing-an-interview-with-mustapha-enesi-and-david-ben-eke-contributing-authors-of-love-grows-stronger-in-death-by-haneefah-abdulrahman/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Litvo |language=en-US}}. Beginning in 2024, Witsprouts Books enlists an advisory board for its anthologies to provide editorial and publishing direction for the project{{Cite web |last=Editor |date=2023-06-13 |title=Witsprouts Anthologies Enlists Advisory Board to Elevate African Literary Excellence - Afrocritik |url=https://afrocritik.com/witsprouts-anthologies-enlists-advisory-board-to-elevate-african-literary-excellence/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en}}.

In April 2025, Witsprouts launched the Witsprouts Storytelling Prize, opening entries to Nigerians for original 5–10 minute video performances on the theme “Rebooting Legends and Memories”.{{Cite web |last=Melbin |first=James |date=2025-03-22 |title=The Witsprouts Project Calls for Submissions to Inaugural Storytelling Prize |url=https://themoveee.com/the-witsprouts-project-calls-for-submissions-to-inaugural-storytelling-prize/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-11 |title=The Witsprouts Project Announces Storytelling Contest {{!}} Deadline: May 31, 2025 |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2025/04/the-witsprouts-project-announces-storytelling-contest-deadline-may-31-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Brittle Paper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=James-Ibe |first=Chinaza |date=2025-04-15 |title=The Witsprouts Storytelling Prize 2025 {{!}} How to Apply (₦500,000) |url=https://www.creativewritingnews.com/the-witsprouts-storytelling-prize-2025-how-to-apply-%E2%82%A6500000/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Creative Writing News |language=en-US}} The inaugural prize offers ₦500,000 to the winner.

Category:Cultural organizations based in Nigeria