Reviewing work of such magnitude has been an honour for us as guest editors for the Journal of African Youth Literature. Not only were we able to swim through a sea of talent of its purest form. We witnessed simplistic storytelling and poetry that all the writers have created and hope that our readers will be able to relate to the lessons and heart healing moments as these spoke directly to our being.
Every piece is individual yet forming a collective narrative. Painting experience of social and/or humanitarian importance. It showcases that Africans, here on home ground and in diaspora are still interconnected through various depicted lifestyles. The stories and poems were structured in such a way to nudge reflective moments woven in deep emotion. The imagery flow loosely around triggers that are evident in many communities, and we got lost in the sobering end that provided an avenue of healing.
Our writers will transport you through time and space. There are stories and poems that will have you in stitches, laughing and reminiscing the good things in life. Fixating about the new and exciting or sometimes familiar experiences. This is strongly highlighted in the story that speaks about the strong-hold a child has over our lives. The antics they release their truths with, and the love and adoration to protect them that comes through to show us yet again that love prevails.
Another story reveals the true state of affairs as they are found in the age-old profession of prostitution as practised worldwide. Through masterful imagery we are carried along to witness the lifestyle some women lead in such spaces. Yet again a perfect example that our experiences in the world are similar yet occurring in different places and time.
What we read for this issue are masterpieces with a focus on current affairs. Mental health, suicide, GBV, abortion, sexual grooming are all at the forefront of discussions in different spaces and our writers equally willed their pens to to depict these truths in there most brutal forms. Emphasising yet again that indeed our artistry is not mere entertainment but a source of learning and avenue to disseminate information, becoming the voice of the voiceless.
Storytelling and poetry have been the backbone of African literature and to see our younger generation taking to the forefront to embrace and promote these crafts into perfection is heartwarming.
The poems particularly depict the way of life, the struggles and hope altogether merged with rhymes and emotion. You can almost imagine the poet on a stage performing his/her words.
We read stories and poems by writers hailing from different parts of Africa, but this issue boasts of much more.
There are also essays, a play, a screenplay, some photography, and original artworks (just peep that beautiful cover!).
Words are a very powerful craft, and so are these other forms of creativity. When merged with emotion and sometimes performance, they have the ability to change minds and the ways of thinking, today and into the future.
We hope that you will submerge into each contributor’s world as you flip through these pages.
We also encourage creatives who are hesitant to show their work to the world to come forward and participate for our next issue.
Thank you to JAY Lit for affording us the opportunity to serve, but more importantly, thank you to each and every contributor to this issue for serving us with their gifts.
Click here for the new issue.
