10 Word Story Submission Criteria
10 WORD STORY SUBMISSION CRITERIA
The 10 Word Story initiative is one of our most dynamic and inclusive projects. Now entering its second year in 2025, it began with a simple but profound idea: can you tell a story in just ten words? This creative challenge strips away complexity and focuses on pure expression. No more, no less — ten words that can inspire, educate, or provoke thought.
The inspiration came from our annual Calendar of Culture & Weekly Planner, which celebrates ten African diaspora nations — Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, UK, USA, and Venezuela. These countries are home to many descendants of enslaved peoples from the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and each continues to shape the cultural, social, and creative landscape in extraordinary ways.
House of Nyabinghi's 10 Word Story initiative supports Black History Month (BHM) UK's 2025 theme 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride', and we invite the voices from across Black society to share their powerful stories.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA:
Age Group:
From 10 years upwards
Participants:
While House of Nyabinghi welcomes submissions from everyone that is eligible to submit, we are eager to hear from the voices within Black society.
10 Word Story Components:
- Your 10 Word Story must be an original piece of work as the author / writer / submitter. Full responsibility rests with you (the author / writer / submitter) that 100% copyright is owned by you, to use the submitted original piece of work. House of Nyabinghi shall bear no responsibility for checking the copyright of each submission.
- Your 10 Word Story must be based on one of House of Nyabinghi's five value pillars: Creativity, Heritage, Innovation, Love or Ubuntu.
- Your 10 Word Story must be 10 words only. Any more or less words will invalidate the submission.
- Your 10 Word Story can be based on fact, fiction, drama or poetry. We encourage you to have fun with your wordplay and make your story compelling.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI):
Use only the official House of Nyabinghi 10 Word Story - Expression of Interest form to register your interest in participating in the forthcoming initiative when it opens on Friday 10 October 2025.
Once the EOI registration closes, all registered participants will be emailed the official 10 Word Story link on Friday 10 October 2025.
Key Dates:
EOI Registration Opened: 12:00 (BST) | Sunday 10 August 2025
EOI Registration Closed: 23:45 (BST) | Tuesday 30 September 2025
EOI (TikTok) Registration Opens: 12:00 (BST) | Wednesday 1 October 2025
EOI (TikTok) Registration Closes: 06:00 (BST) | Wednesday 8 October 2025
Official Submission Link Emailed: Friday 10 October 2025
Story Submissions Open: 00:00 (BST) | Friday 10 October 2025
Story Submissions Close: 23:59 (BST) | Monday 10 November 2025
SUBMISSION ENTRY:
Use only the official House of Nyabinghi 10 Word Story Submission Form to submit your entry. You may submit more than once however, please ensure you fill in the form fully for one story and press 'submit', before submitting another new entry.
Any form deemed to be using racist, sexist, xenophobic, ableist or homophobic language will automatically be disqualified.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
To keep the conversation flowing for everyone beyond Black History Month (UK), the submission deadline is 23:59hrs Monday 10 November 2025
SIFTING PROCESS:
House of Nyabinghi's panel will select our top 365 (x73 entries per each one of the five value pillars) 10 Word Story submissions to feature in our 4th edition curated Calendar of Culture & Weekly Planner 2027. The sifting process will take place in early 2026.
- All eligible entries sifted above the 366th entry, will be notified via the email address provided on the submission entry form by no later than mid-March 2026.
- All eligible entries sifted below the top 365 entries, will be notified via the email address provided on their submission form by no later than mid-March 2026.
RECOGNITION:
- One entry per day will feature in the 4th edition curated Calendar of Culture & Weekly Planner 2027, so that all 365 entries each get a day.
- All other entries below the top 365, will feature in a commissioned art piece to celebrate House of Nyabinghi's 10 Word Story (to be agreed at a later date).
- Should we receive less than 365 entries, we will still use all qualifying entries within the 4th edition curated Calendar of Culture & Weekly Planner 2027. However, each entry won't receive their own day.
- There is no cash prize alternative.
RIGHTS OF CONTENT COPYRIGHT USAGE:
The author / writer / submitter are the copyright holder of their individual entry/entries. House of Nyabinghi will only use your submitted copyright piece in full within House of Nyabinghi's fashion, lifestyle and culture ecosystem, irrespective of whether it's internal or external facing content or products for current or future business activities.
House of Nyabinghi does not have permission - nor should we seek - to change a part or whole copyright piece of work submitted by the author / writer / submitter. Only in the context of there being a clear and obvious spelling mistake should a copy be made, and an edit performed on the copy of the original submission to correct the spelling error. The original 10 Word Story will always be kept on electronic file unless a request to delete the entry/entries is received by House of Nyabinghi from the original author / writer / submitter of that specific entry/entries.
If House of Nyabinghi enters into a future brand deal in relation to the 10 Word Story initiative, should any submissions be requested for use to copy and reproduce, House of Nyabinghi will seek permission from the individual copyright holder of the requested entry/entries in the first instance.
As the copyright holder, you may request at any time to have your individual entry/entries removed from House of Nyabinghi's fashion, lifestyle and culture ecosystem.
FOR OTHER ENQUIRIES:
You can contact us at hello@houseofnyabinghi.com.