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June 3, 2024

Adedayo Agarau Wins Poetic Justice Book Prize for “Achingly Personal, Coming-of-Age” Poems

The Nigerian poet and editor of Agbowo’s “searing” The Years of Blood has “vivid, unsettling imagery drawing on Yoruba cosmology and folklore.” It is forthcoming in Fall 2025.
Otosirieze
Adedayo Agarau wins Poetic Justice Book Prize

January 15, 2023

Lambda’s Writers’ Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices

Open Country Mag

September 12, 2022

My Seven Black Fathers by Will Jawando Review—Family, Race, & a Nigerian Son’s Quest

“Without these men standing in for his father, he would have continued feeling ‘like I missed something only he could give me.’ This is a rich tapestry of the power of relationships in molding a precocious, restless kid who is black.”
Ikhide R. Ikheloa
My Seven Black Fathers by Will Jawando

September 10, 2022

Arinze Ifeakandu Leads Shortlist for $50,000 Kirkus Prize

The debut Nigerian author’s short story collection, God’s Children Are Little Broken Things, has seen him compared to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Zadie Smith and praised by Damon Galgut.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Arinze Ifeakandu by Bec Stupak Diop.

August 4, 2022

The Baltic Writing Residency Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest, Judged by Kaveh Akbar

Open Country Mag
A bookshop.org store. Image by Book Culture.

July 28, 2022

Jumi Bello’s Debut Novel Was Dropped for Plagiarism. New Details Show It’s Serial.

An investigative feature in Airmail traced the American Nigerian writer’s history of taking without attribution.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Jumi Bello by Saman Assefi via Airmail.

July 23, 2022

In Conversation with Lan Samantha Chang, Director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The influential Chinese American novelist on running the famed program, new African writing, MFAs, literary genres, and her novel The Family Chao. “There is the possibility of creating the conversation that brings in as many voices as possible,” she said of the Workshop.
Otosirieze
Lan Samantha Chang by IfeOluwa Nihinlola

July 22, 2022

Enter for Simon & Schuster’s $50,000 Books Like Us First Novel Contest

Applicants will submit 25 pages for the first round, and eventually the full manuscript under 80,000 words.
Open Country Mag
okwiri oduor - things they lost - Scribner slash Tristan Offit slash Jacket Art by Lisa Wright

July 16, 2022

Racism and an Unsolved Murder: American Novelist Delia Owens’ Past in Zambia Resurfaces

In the US, the 73-year-old’s novel Where the Crawdads Sing has sold 12 million copies and is now a film. In Zambia, she and her family are wanted for questioning for murder.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Delia Owens. Photo from author website.

July 11, 2022

In Smoking the Bible, Chris Abani Paints a Story of Brotherhood and Exile

The collection, his seventh, has been praised for how it “emanates grit and beauty” and is “spiritual, philosophical, personal, and deeply affecting.”
Paula Willie-Okafor
Chris Abani - Smoking the Bible

July 4, 2022

Apply to Be Managing Editor of Conjunctions Journal at Bard College

Open Country Mag
Conjunctions, issue 68.

June 23, 2022

Roxane Gay Books Is Seeking Manuscript Submissions

The Grove Atlantic imprint, which is also open to unagented writers, is further paying $2,000 for essays for its newsletter.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Roxane Gay Books

June 10, 2022

Photos: Arinze Ifeakandu’s Book Launch in New York City (Exclusive)

The Nigerian writer was in conversation with Booker Prize finalist Brandon Taylor, discussing his debut short story collection God’s Children Are Little Broken Things.
Open Country Mag
Photos from Arinze Ifeakandu's Book Launch by Ebenezer Agu (42)

May 31, 2022

Arinze Ifeakandu: Book Launch & Event Dates for God’s Children Are Little Broken Things

Including chats with Booker Prize finalist Brandon Taylor, bestselling novelist Xochitl Gonzalez, and writers Jonathan Lee, Gbenga Adesina, Ebenezer Agu, and Hannah Eko.
A Public Space
Arinze Ifeakandu by Bec Stupak Diop.

May 28, 2022

Ladan Osman Accuses Filmmaker Joe Penney of Theft and Sexual Harassment

The issue surrounds a short film she worked on with him and the Malian artist Abdou Ouloguem. Both men, she said, created a hostile and sexist atmosphere for her.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Ladan Osman by Joe Penney.

May 4, 2022

Poet Okwudili Nebeolisa Wins Prairie Lights Fiction Contest

“I have always looked for validation for my short stories,” he said of the recognition from the Iowa City bookshop.
Otosirieze
Okwudili Nebeolisa (2)

April 18, 2022

Abdulrazak Gurnah & Warsan Shire Set for PEN World Voices Festival 2022

Other African writers participating include Laila Lalami, Ousman Umar, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Leila Slimani.
Emmanuel Esomnofu
Abdulrazak Gurnah by Mark Pringle.

April 4, 2022

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie & Pemi Aguda Win 2022 O. Henry Prizes

Adichie, who guest-edited the 2021 anthology and is winning for the third time, was selected for her story “Zikora.”
Otosirieze
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie by Manny Jefferson.

March 31, 2022

Tsitsi Dangarembga, Emmanuel Iduma, & Siphiwe Ndlovu Win Windham-Campbell Prizes

Each of the 8 winners will receive $165,000.
Uzoma Ihejirika
Tsitsi Dangarembga. By Hannah Mertz in The Guardian

March 29, 2022

I.S. Jones Named Editor-in-Chief of Frontier Poetry

“My mission,” said the Nigerian American poet, “is to continue giving a space for both emerging writers, international writers, and writers negotiating themselves between multiple languages.”
Otosirieze
I.S. Jones by Nicholas Nichols.

June 3, 2024

Adedayo Agarau wins Poetic Justice Book Prize

Adedayo Agarau Wins Poetic Justice Book Prize for “Achingly Personal, Coming-of-Age” Poems

The Nigerian poet and editor of Agbowo’s “searing” The Years of Blood has “vivid, unsettling imagery drawing on Yoruba cosmology and folklore.” It is forthcoming in Fall 2025.
Otosirieze

January 15, 2023

Lambda’s Writers’ Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices

Open Country Mag

September 12, 2022

My Seven Black Fathers by Will Jawando

My Seven Black Fathers by Will Jawando Review—Family, Race, & a Nigerian Son’s Quest

“Without these men standing in for his father, he would have continued feeling ‘like I missed something only he could give me.’ This is a rich tapestry of the power of relationships in molding a precocious, restless kid who is black.”
Ikhide R. Ikheloa

September 10, 2022

Arinze Ifeakandu by Bec Stupak Diop.

Arinze Ifeakandu Leads Shortlist for $50,000 Kirkus Prize

The debut Nigerian author’s short story collection, God’s Children Are Little Broken Things, has seen him compared to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Zadie Smith and praised by Damon Galgut.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

August 4, 2022

A bookshop.org store. Image by Book Culture.

The Baltic Writing Residency Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest, Judged by Kaveh Akbar

Open Country Mag

July 28, 2022

Jumi Bello by Saman Assefi via Airmail.

Jumi Bello’s Debut Novel Was Dropped for Plagiarism. New Details Show It’s Serial.

An investigative feature in Airmail traced the American Nigerian writer’s history of taking without attribution.
Paula Willie-Okafor

July 23, 2022

Lan Samantha Chang by IfeOluwa Nihinlola

In Conversation with Lan Samantha Chang, Director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The influential Chinese American novelist on running the famed program, new African writing, MFAs, literary genres, and her novel The Family Chao. “There is the possibility of creating the conversation that brings in as many voices as possible,” she said of the Workshop.
Otosirieze

July 22, 2022

okwiri oduor - things they lost - Scribner slash Tristan Offit slash Jacket Art by Lisa Wright

Enter for Simon & Schuster’s $50,000 Books Like Us First Novel Contest

Applicants will submit 25 pages for the first round, and eventually the full manuscript under 80,000 words.
Open Country Mag

July 16, 2022

Delia Owens. Photo from author website.

Racism and an Unsolved Murder: American Novelist Delia Owens’ Past in Zambia Resurfaces

In the US, the 73-year-old’s novel Where the Crawdads Sing has sold 12 million copies and is now a film. In Zambia, she and her family are wanted for questioning for murder.
Paula Willie-Okafor

July 11, 2022

Chris Abani - Smoking the Bible

In Smoking the Bible, Chris Abani Paints a Story of Brotherhood and Exile

The collection, his seventh, has been praised for how it “emanates grit and beauty” and is “spiritual, philosophical, personal, and deeply affecting.”
Paula Willie-Okafor

July 4, 2022

Conjunctions, issue 68.

Apply to Be Managing Editor of Conjunctions Journal at Bard College

Open Country Mag

June 23, 2022

Roxane Gay Books

Roxane Gay Books Is Seeking Manuscript Submissions

The Grove Atlantic imprint, which is also open to unagented writers, is further paying $2,000 for essays for its newsletter.
Paula Willie-Okafor

June 10, 2022

Photos from Arinze Ifeakandu's Book Launch by Ebenezer Agu (42)

Photos: Arinze Ifeakandu’s Book Launch in New York City (Exclusive)

The Nigerian writer was in conversation with Booker Prize finalist Brandon Taylor, discussing his debut short story collection God’s Children Are Little Broken Things.
Open Country Mag

May 31, 2022

Arinze Ifeakandu by Bec Stupak Diop.

Arinze Ifeakandu: Book Launch & Event Dates for God’s Children Are Little Broken Things

Including chats with Booker Prize finalist Brandon Taylor, bestselling novelist Xochitl Gonzalez, and writers Jonathan Lee, Gbenga Adesina, Ebenezer Agu, and Hannah Eko.
A Public Space

May 28, 2022

Ladan Osman by Joe Penney.

Ladan Osman Accuses Filmmaker Joe Penney of Theft and Sexual Harassment

The issue surrounds a short film she worked on with him and the Malian artist Abdou Ouloguem. Both men, she said, created a hostile and sexist atmosphere for her.
Paula Willie-Okafor

May 4, 2022

Okwudili Nebeolisa (2)

Poet Okwudili Nebeolisa Wins Prairie Lights Fiction Contest

“I have always looked for validation for my short stories,” he said of the recognition from the Iowa City bookshop.
Otosirieze

April 18, 2022

Abdulrazak Gurnah by Mark Pringle.

Abdulrazak Gurnah & Warsan Shire Set for PEN World Voices Festival 2022

Other African writers participating include Laila Lalami, Ousman Umar, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Leila Slimani.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

April 4, 2022

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie by Manny Jefferson.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie & Pemi Aguda Win 2022 O. Henry Prizes

Adichie, who guest-edited the 2021 anthology and is winning for the third time, was selected for her story “Zikora.”
Otosirieze

March 31, 2022

Tsitsi Dangarembga. By Hannah Mertz in The Guardian

Tsitsi Dangarembga, Emmanuel Iduma, & Siphiwe Ndlovu Win Windham-Campbell Prizes

Each of the 8 winners will receive $165,000.
Uzoma Ihejirika

March 29, 2022

I.S. Jones by Nicholas Nichols.

I.S. Jones Named Editor-in-Chief of Frontier Poetry

“My mission,” said the Nigerian American poet, “is to continue giving a space for both emerging writers, international writers, and writers negotiating themselves between multiple languages.”
Otosirieze

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