We need your help!
Maktaba.org is celebrating International Swahili Day 2023 with an Essay Writing Contest!
Submit your essay about a proverb before 7/7/23
- First place ➜ 50,000/= TSh or $20 USD
- Second place ➜ 25,000/= TSh or $10 USD
- Third place ➜ 12,500/= TSh or $5 USD
Contest Rules
Step 1: Choose a proverb. The proverb can be in any language, but it should be a real proverb that many people know, not one that you made up. If you can’t think of one, check out our books of proverbs here!
Step 2: Compose a short essay that explains what the proverb means in your view.
Requirements
- Language: The essay must be in English or Kiswahili.
- Length: The essay must be typed, between 80 and 1000 words long (longer than a sentence, but not more than 2 pages)
- Copyright: Your work will be distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which says, in short, that anyone can copy, change, translate or print your work without your permission, as long as you are mentioned as the creator.
- Origin: Explain the origin of the proverb, if known. Remember to cite your sources.
- Common Uses: Explain when and how the proverb is usually used, giving examples.
- Creative Writing: Write a poem or tell a short fictional story that relates to the principle of the proverb
- Personal Experience: Tell a personal story that illustrates the proverb from your own experience.
- Application: Suggest how readers can apply the principle of the proverb to improve their daily lives
- Anecdote: Share a related anecdote from science, history, mythology, or literature. Remember to cite your sources.
- Similar Proverbs: Find similar proverbs from around the world.
- Opposite Proverbs: Are there any proverbs that contrast with this one?
- Discussion: Asking questions that invite readers to reflect on and share their own thoughts and experiences.
- Illustration: Draw, take or find a picture that illustrates the proverb and include it in your essay.
Deadline: 7 July 2023
If you have any trouble submitting your essay, you can also email it to us at tuzo@maktaba.org. Don't forget to provide your payment information in order to receive your cash prize if your essay is chosen.