The 10th issue of The Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit) is slated for release later in December 2025. Here is announcing the covers and contributors.
JAY Lit Issue 10 boasts of great width in terms of content and exploration, with contributions spanning poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, critical essays, and photography. Contributors are by African writers from Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Cameroon, and Eswatini. There are contributions from relatively new names as well as seasoned veterans, with a shared creative excellence being the common denominator.
The cover and aesthetic theme are inspired by photography contributed by the hugely talented Anjola. Among other names, there are contributions from 2025 Ubwali Hope Prize winner, Isaac Kanyinji, and multiple award-winning author, Oyinkan Braithwaite, whose excerpts from the novel Cursed Daughters appear courtesy of her publishers, Narrative Landscape.
Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry contributors are being considered for The 2025 JAY Lit Awards, the shortlists of which will be announced alongside the new issue.
As always, this issue has been made possible, particularly by the efforts of our editorial staff (editors and peer reviewers), and generally by the wider efforts of everyone else at JAY Lit––most of whom are volunteers contributing their time and skills to the growth and positioning of the journal in pursuit of its mission of empowering African youths through literature and the arts.
The full list of contributors is as follows:
POETRY – Daniel Naawenkangua Abukuri, Star Zahra, Ferdinand Emmanuel Somtochukwu, Reme Abel Nakruah Nawoe, Mungai Njenga M’mbogori, Gloria Ameh, Princewill Ticha, Olusegun Ajayi, Godwin Obaji, Valerie Mainoo, Isaac Kanyinji
FICTION – Oyinkan Braithwaite, Fiske Nyirongo, Nnamdi Anyadu, Cynthia Nnadi, Sivuse Mbingo, Mukandi Siame, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, Onilude Ayomide, Mali Kambadu, Ayo Deforge
CREATIVE NONFICTION – Naomi Nduta Waweru, Taslimah Woli
CRITICAL ESSAYS – Raphael Onyejizu, Elohor Ogaga-Edafe
PHOTOGRAPHY – Anjola, KlacictheCreator, C. Anre John, S. Abdulwasi’h Olaitan
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 10, the JAY Lit editorial staff is already preparing to receive submission for the journal’s 11th issue. The submission window will be open all through January 2026.
