MATI Residencies
Muzi wa Uhuru
A MATI Archives
Writing Residency
Muzi wa Uhuru welcomes scholars on sabbatical, activists, documentary filmmakers, artists, writers and persons exploring writing, retired persons still engaged in knowledge production, and researchers whose work is in conversation with the intellectual commitments of MATI Archives.
Located in
Peddie, Eastern Cape
South Africa
Muzi wa Uhuru is not a neutral space. It is built on the intellectual commitments of MATI Archives — Grounded Sensing, Black feminist and queer thought, and the conviction that knowledge produced in and from this ground matters.
Residents bring their own work and are in relation with zethu, who offers two dedicated reading and engagement sessions over the course of the stay. Informal sessions unfold naturally — during village walks, while gardening or cooking together. Two dinners a week are shared; all other meals the resident prepares in the comfort of their own studio. Part of every residency is spent at Chintsa, a village by the sea, where residents are hosted by mamadi wa matlhako for three to five days — a change of environment and quality of space that is continuous with, not separate from, the residency experience. Residents are also in relation with the Peddie community — the village, its people, and the particular quality of life and knowledge this ground holds. They leave having completed work they came to do, and immersed in a practice that shifts how their work develops from here.
Two weeks. Full board.
A collection of nearly 1,000 titles.
Two-Week Residency · US$2,000 · Full board
Writing Time
Two weeks of dedicated writing and research time.
Full Board
All meals provided throughout the stay. One or two fellows per intake.
Private Room
Queen bed and private bathroom.
The Research Collection
Full access to the MATI Research Collection — nearly 1,000 titles in Black queer, feminist, decolonial, and pan-African scholarship, literature, performance, theatre, film, photography, and African politics, including rare and out-of-print titles and works in Portuguese.
Study Space
A dedicated study and reading space within the collection.
Shared Spaces
Lounge and kitchen. Wi-Fi for research and communication.
Scholars, writers, artists working in African queer studies, decolonial feminisms, Black Atlantic studies, or related fields.
Both early career and established practitioners are encouraged to apply. The residency is by application and is limited to one or two fellows per intake.
Muzi wa Uhuru · Peddie, Eastern Cape
Supporting a Residency
Muzi wa Uhuru operates in two ways: through individuals supporting themselves, and through fellowship and institutional partnership arrangements. The following rates reflect the full cost of a residency placement, including accommodation, two shared dinners per week, two dedicated engagement sessions with zethu, and the three to five-day Chintsa extension. Basic groceries are provided upon arrival.
International fellowship
Minimum one month. Maximum three months.
Travel to and from Peddie is not included.
Local fellowship
R35,000 / month
Minimum one month. Maximum three months.
Travel to and from Peddie is not included.
Enquiries
Institutions and funders interested in supporting a fellowship placement are invited to write to molo@matiarchives.africa. Individual applications are considered on a case by case basis.
October 2026
Muzi wa Uhuru launches in October 2026, with one to two fellows for the inaugural intake.
Applications for the October 2026 intake will open mid July 2026. To express interest or enquire about future (email address edit) residency dates, please write to us using the form or directly at molo@matiarchives.africa
Express your interest
To express interest in the initial programme or to enquire about future residency dates, please write to us below. Your message goes directly to molo@matiarchives.africa