Kimbilio

Kimbilio is a haven for Black fiction writers and their stories.  We support the creation, study, and preservation of literature by voices from across 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.  Our programs 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.

Why Kimbilio?

Black authors need mentorship and resources. Research from the Author's Guild 2023 Author Income Survey  found that full-time Black authors earned a median of only $2,412 from their books, as compared to a median of $10,985 for white authors. In fact,  Black authors earn a median of $15,250 and white authors $20,000 in total author related income. Black authors are 10% less likely to be traditionally published. 

Kimbilio Featured Programs

Kimbilio Fellowship & Retreat

Held annually, Fellows and Faculty members gather for a week of writing, solitude, and solidarity. Kimbilio Fellows come from across the diaspora and represent a wide range of visions and voices. To date, there are over 250 Kimbilio Fellows. Our Fellows have been admitted to prestigious MFA and PhD programs, and since our inception, dozens of books have been published by Fellows, books which have been finalists for and/or awardees from PEN, Hurston/Wright, Lambda Literary, the National Book Foundation, Mann Booker, and Whiting, among many others. Fellows such as Deesha Philyaw, Jamel Brinkley, Rion Amilcar Scott, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, and Denne Michelle Norris report that the Kimbilio community provided them with an invaluable boost of recognition that encouraged them in the direction of successful careers. 

Kimbilio National Fiction Prize

The Kimbilio National Fiction Prize is a collaborative project with Four Way Books open for writers of the African diaspora. Current and previous awardees include: A Mother's Truth by Donnetrice Allison (forthcoming, 2027), There's Nothing Left For You Here by Allegra Solomon (2025, shortlisted for the PEN America Robert W. Bingham Debut Short Story Collection), Mulberry Street Stories by Mary McLaughlin (2023), and Malawi's Sisters by Melanie S. Hatter (2019). 

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. Recent readers include Tayari Jones, Sadeqa Johnson, Toni Ann Johnson, Avery Irons, Nikesha Elise Williams and Jennifer Maritza McCauley.

To learn more, head to our website!