Enter the Afrika Day Essay Competition

In celebration of Afrika Month, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is calling on all registered UCT students to participate in the Afrika Day Essay Competition.

The aim of the competition is to reflect on the true meaning of Afrika Month, and to explore and ponder the state of the continent. Organisers have divided the competition into three categories and participants are required to address just one topic:

• Economics – Why is Afrika poor? Participants are encouraged to use examples, critically engage the question and discuss possible economic solutions to the myriad of challenges the continent faces.
• Health – COVID-19 vaccination: Why is Afrika hesitant?
• Politics – Participants are required to reflect on the state of democracy/democratisation processes in Afrika and use practical examples in their writing.

The essay may not exceed 2 000 words, must include a cover page with the students’ personal details, student number and the essay topic, and should be submitted as a single PDF. 

Judges will select one first-prize winner for each category and winners will walk away with R1 000 in cash. The three second-prize winners will walk away with R500 in cash. The top six essays (two from each category) will be published in the UCT Undergraduate Research Journal.

Entries close on 25 May. For more information or to submit an entry email: srcinternational@uct.ac.za.