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January 26, 2021

Namwali Serpell & Wayétu Moore Up for 2020 National Book Critics Circle Awards

. . . for the essay collection Stranger Faces and the memoir The Dragons, The Giant, The Women, respectively.
Ernest Ogunyemi
Namwali Serpell by Peg Skorpinski.

January 23, 2021

The New Yorker Union Went on Daylong Strike Over Pay Dispute

“We are withholding our labor to demand fair wages and a transparent, equitable salary structure,” the Union said.
Paula Willie-Okafor
A copy of The New Yorker. Credit: AbeBooks.

January 21, 2021

Dominion Anthology Contributors Lead Longlist for 2020 BSFA Awards

It includes eight Africans. Half are contributors to Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora.
Ernest Ogunyemi
Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora.

January 19, 2021

5 Nigerian Spoken Word Albums You Should Listen To

. . . by RezThaPoet, Vector, Wana Udobang, Shegzrhymz, and Titilope Sonuga.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

January 18, 2021

Caine Prize Winner Makena Onjerika on Her Nairobi Writing Academy

The Kenyan writer tells us her motivations and approach to teaching writing.
Paula Willie-Okafor
Makena Onjerika.

January 18, 2021

Nigerian Poet Wins Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize

Wale Ayinla’s To Cast a Dream will now be published by Jai-Alai Books.
Ernest Ogunyemi
Wale Ayinla. From Wale Ayinla.

January 16, 2021

Maaza Mengiste’s Chronicles of Ethiopia

In her novels, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze and the Booker Prize-shortlisted The Shadow King, she explored the Ethiopian Revolution and the Italo-Abyssinian War. Now, with Project 3541, she is building a photography archive.
Otosirieze
Maaza Mengiste by Nina Subin.

January 16, 2021

Maaza Mengiste Is on the January 2021 Cover of Open Country Mag

After two acclaimed books, the historical novelist is now looking to photography to chronicle Ethiopia.
Otosirieze
Open Country Mag Reissues Cover of Maaza Mengiste

January 11, 2021

Tsitsi Dangarembga Wins 2021 PEN Award for Freedom of Expression

The Zimbabwean novelist, most recently on the December 2020 cover of Open Country Mag, was arrested last year for protesting in Harare.
Uzoma Ihejirika
Tsitsi Dangarembga.

January 11, 2021

Bernardine Evaristo’s Project Brings Overlooked Black British Authors Back to Print

The series, “Black Britain: Writing Back,” launches with books by Jacqueline Roy, SI Martin, CLR James, Nicola Williams, Judith Bryan, and Mike Phillips.
Paula Willie-Okafor

January 9, 2021

Chigozie Obioma, Twice Booker Prize Finalist, on Judging the 2021 Prize

Shortlisted for his first two novels, The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities, the Nigerian writer tells us what the prize means to him and what he will look out for on the panel.
Otosirieze
Chigozie Obioma. From Sidewalk Citizen.

January 8, 2021

After 3 Books in 3 Years, Logan February Is Youngest Winner at The Future Awards Africa

Still only 21, the Nigerian poet-musician, author of Mannequin in the Nude, is writing, singing, and ascending on a path all their own.
Ernest Ogunyemi
Logan February. From Logan February.

January 7, 2021

Leila Chatti Joins Poetry Faculty at UW-Madison

From Spring 2021, the Tunisian American will resume as the Mendota Lecturer in Poetry.
Uzoma Ihejirika
Leila Chatti. Credit: Copper Canyon Press.

December 30, 2020

How Tsitsi Dangarembga, with Her Trilogy of Zimbabwe, Overcame

Her debut novel, Nervous Conditions, is a modern classic, and after The Book of Not, she concludes Tambu’s story with the Booker Prize-shortlisted This Mournable Body. But the literary and film icon never planned for these to take almost four decades.
Otosirieze
Tsitsi Dangarembga.

December 30, 2020

Tsitsi Dangarembga Is on the December 2020 Cover of Open Country Mag

Icon in African literature. Icon in Zimbabwean film. Our debut cover story had to be on a writer whose work lights a way.
Otosirieze
Open Country Mag Reissues Cover of Tsitsi Dangarembga

December 30, 2020

Toni Morrison’s Personal Collection of 1,200+ Books

They include books by and about Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, Gayl Jones, Henry Dumas, James Baldwin, Mark Twain, the Obamas, and the Clintons.
Ernest Ogunyemi
Toni Morrison's personal library. Credit: Brown Harris Stevens.

December 26, 2020

After 5 Years, Afreada Goes to Print

Featuring a selection of its published works, this year’s edition, Issue 00, is free. The magazine is giving away 200 copies to readers.
Uzoma Ihejirika
AFREADA print Issue 00. From @AFREADA on Twitter.

December 26, 2020

Open Country Mag’s Launch Stories

We launch with a host of stories: one profile, two spotlight features, three reviews, and news and videos. And more soon.
Otosirieze

December 26, 2020

Remembering the Speech That Ken Saro-Wiwa Wasn’t Allowed to Read at His Execution

“We all stand before history,” it reads. “I predict that scene here would be played and replayed by generations unborn. By our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardised the future of our children.”
Ernest Ogunyemi
Ken Saro-Wiwa. From amnesty.org.

December 26, 2020

Nigerian Literature Needed Editors. Two Women Stepped in To Groom Them.

With Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN), two publishers, Anwuli Ojogwu of Narrative Landscape and Enajite Efemuaye, formerly of Kachifo, are laying foundation for the future.
Otosirieze
Anwuli Ojogwu. From Anwuli Ojogwu.

January 26, 2021

Namwali Serpell by Peg Skorpinski.

Namwali Serpell & Wayétu Moore Up for 2020 National Book Critics Circle Awards

. . . for the essay collection Stranger Faces and the memoir The Dragons, The Giant, The Women, respectively.
Ernest Ogunyemi

January 23, 2021

A copy of The New Yorker. Credit: AbeBooks.

The New Yorker Union Went on Daylong Strike Over Pay Dispute

“We are withholding our labor to demand fair wages and a transparent, equitable salary structure,” the Union said.
Paula Willie-Okafor

January 21, 2021

Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora.

Dominion Anthology Contributors Lead Longlist for 2020 BSFA Awards

It includes eight Africans. Half are contributors to Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora.
Ernest Ogunyemi

January 19, 2021

5 Nigerian Spoken Word Albums You Should Listen To

. . . by RezThaPoet, Vector, Wana Udobang, Shegzrhymz, and Titilope Sonuga.
Emmanuel Esomnofu

January 18, 2021

Makena Onjerika.

Caine Prize Winner Makena Onjerika on Her Nairobi Writing Academy

The Kenyan writer tells us her motivations and approach to teaching writing.
Paula Willie-Okafor

January 18, 2021

Wale Ayinla. From Wale Ayinla.

Nigerian Poet Wins Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize

Wale Ayinla’s To Cast a Dream will now be published by Jai-Alai Books.
Ernest Ogunyemi

January 16, 2021

Maaza Mengiste by Nina Subin.

Maaza Mengiste’s Chronicles of Ethiopia

In her novels, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze and the Booker Prize-shortlisted The Shadow King, she explored the Ethiopian Revolution and the Italo-Abyssinian War. Now, with Project 3541, she is building a photography archive.
Otosirieze

January 16, 2021

Open Country Mag Reissues Cover of Maaza Mengiste

Maaza Mengiste Is on the January 2021 Cover of Open Country Mag

After two acclaimed books, the historical novelist is now looking to photography to chronicle Ethiopia.
Otosirieze

January 11, 2021

Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Tsitsi Dangarembga Wins 2021 PEN Award for Freedom of Expression

The Zimbabwean novelist, most recently on the December 2020 cover of Open Country Mag, was arrested last year for protesting in Harare.
Uzoma Ihejirika

January 11, 2021

Bernardine Evaristo’s Project Brings Overlooked Black British Authors Back to Print

The series, “Black Britain: Writing Back,” launches with books by Jacqueline Roy, SI Martin, CLR James, Nicola Williams, Judith Bryan, and Mike Phillips.
Paula Willie-Okafor

January 9, 2021

Chigozie Obioma. From Sidewalk Citizen.

Chigozie Obioma, Twice Booker Prize Finalist, on Judging the 2021 Prize

Shortlisted for his first two novels, The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities, the Nigerian writer tells us what the prize means to him and what he will look out for on the panel.
Otosirieze

January 8, 2021

Logan February. From Logan February.

After 3 Books in 3 Years, Logan February Is Youngest Winner at The Future Awards Africa

Still only 21, the Nigerian poet-musician, author of Mannequin in the Nude, is writing, singing, and ascending on a path all their own.
Ernest Ogunyemi

January 7, 2021

Leila Chatti. Credit: Copper Canyon Press.

Leila Chatti Joins Poetry Faculty at UW-Madison

From Spring 2021, the Tunisian American will resume as the Mendota Lecturer in Poetry.
Uzoma Ihejirika

December 30, 2020

Tsitsi Dangarembga.

How Tsitsi Dangarembga, with Her Trilogy of Zimbabwe, Overcame

Her debut novel, Nervous Conditions, is a modern classic, and after The Book of Not, she concludes Tambu’s story with the Booker Prize-shortlisted This Mournable Body. But the literary and film icon never planned for these to take almost four decades.
Otosirieze

December 30, 2020

Open Country Mag Reissues Cover of Tsitsi Dangarembga

Tsitsi Dangarembga Is on the December 2020 Cover of Open Country Mag

Icon in African literature. Icon in Zimbabwean film. Our debut cover story had to be on a writer whose work lights a way.
Otosirieze

December 30, 2020

Toni Morrison's personal library. Credit: Brown Harris Stevens.

Toni Morrison’s Personal Collection of 1,200+ Books

They include books by and about Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, Gayl Jones, Henry Dumas, James Baldwin, Mark Twain, the Obamas, and the Clintons.
Ernest Ogunyemi

December 26, 2020

AFREADA print Issue 00. From @AFREADA on Twitter.

After 5 Years, Afreada Goes to Print

Featuring a selection of its published works, this year’s edition, Issue 00, is free. The magazine is giving away 200 copies to readers.
Uzoma Ihejirika

December 26, 2020

Open Country Mag’s Launch Stories

We launch with a host of stories: one profile, two spotlight features, three reviews, and news and videos. And more soon.
Otosirieze

December 26, 2020

Ken Saro-Wiwa. From amnesty.org.

Remembering the Speech That Ken Saro-Wiwa Wasn’t Allowed to Read at His Execution

“We all stand before history,” it reads. “I predict that scene here would be played and replayed by generations unborn. By our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardised the future of our children.”
Ernest Ogunyemi

December 26, 2020

Anwuli Ojogwu. From Anwuli Ojogwu.

Nigerian Literature Needed Editors. Two Women Stepped in To Groom Them.

With Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN), two publishers, Anwuli Ojogwu of Narrative Landscape and Enajite Efemuaye, formerly of Kachifo, are laying foundation for the future.
Otosirieze

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