The seventh issue of The Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit) is slated for release later in July 2024. While the anticipation builds, the editorial team has decided to put out the official cover and contributor’s list. The cover features a gorgeous piece from Sheg Aranmolate’s Obirin Series which, in February 2023, was selected for exhibition at The Kimpton Angeler’s Hotel in South Beach Miami, USA.
This is the first issue the journal is putting out since rebranding in March 2024. Generally, it has been made possible by the wonderful contributions sent in by a cohort of writers, poets, photographers, and artistes, a perfect blend of award-winning veterans and relatively new names, all of whom have wowed the editorial team with their awesome talents. Most of these contributions have been meticulously sieved from the slush pile by incredible peer reviewers, and further improved on by tireless editors, to birth one of JAY Lit‘s best issues yet.
The cohort for JAY Lit Issue 7 are from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. While most of this issue’s contributions are in English, the journal is pleased to have also included a poem written entirely in Yorùbà.
The full contributors list is as follows:
POETRY
– Taofeek Ayeyemi
– Ajise Vincent
– Annah Atane
– Timi Sanni
– Arikewusola Abdul Awal
– Aman Bibi Gray
– Leah Ojúọlápé Adéyẹyè
SHORT STORIES
– Mustapha Enesi
– Dismas Okombo
– Enit’ayanfe Ayosojumi Akinsanya
– Súnmisọ́lá Olúdé
– Adédoyin Àjàyí
– Demilade Oladapo
– Olamide Shobowale
– Arjun Aggarwal
– Thabo Clive Mathonsi
– Ekemini Pius
PERSONAL ESSAYS
– Evidence Egwuono Adjarho
– MaryAnn Ifeanacho
PHOTOGRAPHY
– Nnebuifé Kwubeï
– Tajudeen Alaya
ART
– Sheg Aranmolate
JAY Lit publishes literature written by, about, and/or for born-in-Africa youths. The journal’s definition of ‘African’ is not related to colour, race or ethnicity, but rather place of origin and heritage. The youth age category is from 15 to 35 years. JAY Lit publishes literature written by Africans in this age category and by other older individuals who are writing with African youths in mind, whether the writers are resident on the continent or in the diaspora.
JAY Lit has a multilingual approach, publishing work written in any of the countless traditional tongues or in the colonial English, French, or Portuguese. The journal is proud to be at the forefront of championing the young ones who are staking their claims at literary superstardom, as well as celebrating an older generation that has inspired today’s youth.
As readers await the release of JAY Lit Issue 7, the JAY Lit editorial staff is already preparing to receive submission for the journal’s 8th issue which will be its first themed and guest-edited issue. The submission window will open in the last week of July 2024 and stay open until the end of August 2024.
Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim
Ibrahim is a Nigerian writer and editor currently based in the UK. He won the Quramo Writers' Prize in 2022 and was selected for the Best Small Fictions anthology in 2024. He was a finalist for the Faber Children's FAB Prize (2023), the Miles Morland Writing Scholarship (2022), a Masters Review anthology prize (2023), and twice for the Moon City Short Fiction Award (2022 & 2023). He has also been longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2022), the Laura Kinsella Fellowship (2022), and the Dzanc Diverse Voices Prize (2021). He has multiple nominations for both the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net. Among other things, he is currently the Managing Editor at JAY Lit and a Fiction Judge at NYC Midnight. He’s @heemthewriter on Twitter and Facebook, and @writtenbyheem on Instagram and Threads. His work can be found on https://linktr.ee/heemthewriter.
