The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has published a new anthology of short stories from emerging writers across Africa and the Caribbean, in a push to position the continent’s creative output as a tradable asset within the global economy.
Titled Instances of Exceptional Moments of Hunger, the collection brings together 19 writers from 16 countries who participated in the 2024 CANEX Creative Writing Workshop, part of the bank’s Creative Africa Nexus programme. The initiative is designed to identify and develop literary talent while linking creative production to commercial opportunities.
The anthology spans multiple languages and cultural contexts, with some works translated from Arabic, French and Portuguese into English to reach a broader audience. It was published in partnership with Narrative Landscape Press, which operates out of Nairobi and Lagos.
Afreximbank is framing the project as more than a cultural exercise, tying it to a broader strategy to expand Africa’s footprint in global intellectual property markets, including film and television.
“This anthology represents far more than a compilation of stories—it is a strategic investment in Africa’s creative future. Through initiatives such as the CANEX Creative Writing Workshop, Afreximbank is not only nurturing talent but also building a pipeline of globally competitive intellectual property capable of crossing borders and formats – from literature to potentially film and TV – while further strengthening the African narrative,” said Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development.
The project traces its origins to a workshop held in Aburi, Ghana, where selected writers underwent an intensive development process aimed at refining craft and preparing work for publication.
“When we gathered in Aburi, Ghana, in August 2024 for the inaugural CANEX Book Factory Creative Writing Workshop, we had a clear purpose: to give emerging prose writers from the continent and the diaspora a protected space for craft, discipline, and growth. These writers are announcing themselves and we know that readers will find in this anthology, their arrival,” said Eghosa Imasuen, publisher at Narrative Landscape Press.
Beyond publication, Afreximbank is leveraging its investment arm, CANEX Creations Inc., backed by the Fund for Export Development in Africa, to commercialise the intellectual property generated through the programme. The lender said it will explore opportunities to adapt selected works into film, television and other formats, reflecting a growing focus on monetising African content.
The anthology has also been submitted for consideration for the Caine Prize for African Writing, one of the continent’s most recognised literary honours, signalling ambitions to place the work within the global literary circuit.
The release underscores a broader shift by Afreximbank to treat the creative sector as an economic driver, alongside traditional trade finance. Through its CANEX programme, the bank is seeking to channel investment into creative industries, with the aim of boosting exports, creating jobs and strengthening Africa’s cultural influence internationally.
For the participating writers, the publication marks an entry point into global markets. For Afreximbank, it is a test case in whether structured investment in storytelling can translate into scalable commercial returns.
