The eighth issue of The Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit) is slated for release in the first week of December 2024. It is journal’s first guest-edited issue, with Martha Khoeses (prose) and Kaushar Edoo (poetry) doing us the honours. It is also perhaps the journal’s most packed issue yet, brimming with content ranging from poetry to fiction (short stories and flash fiction), creative nonfiction, plays (drama and screenplay), photography, and art. The cover is an #EndSars inspired beauty by the super-talented Olamide Wole-Taiwo, and its depth is a true reflection of all the other amazing pieces that make up the new issue.
This is the journal’s second issue since its rebrand in March 2024, further cementing it’s new artistic direction. The issue has been made possible not only by the amazing contributions received during the journal’s last submission window, but also through the awesome work done by the journal’s editorial team who complemented Martha and Kaushar’s efforts––all 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.
JAY Lit Issue 8 boasts a cohort of creatives whose works have come together to form a truly delightful yet thought-provoking body of work. Like all previous JAY Lit issues, Issue 8 is a perfect blend of award-winning veterans and relatively new names. The contributors are from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, and Zambia. While most of this issue’s contributions are in English, the journal is pleased to have also included a poem written entirely in KiSwahili.
The full contributors list is as follows:
POETRY
– Salama Wainaina
– Ishola Joshua
– Opeyemi Oluwayomi
– Sandile Ngidi
– Magdalene Agweven
– Lerise Johnson
– Abdulrozaq Fholarin
– Aisha A. Bolaji
– Raeez Jacobs
– Agaba Witness
FICTION
[Short Stories]
– Abiola Ojo
– Jesse Jackson Ogolla
– Chidera Nwume
– Rigwell Addison Asiedu
– Bello Taiwo Victoria
– Obaditan Oluwakorede Oluwatosin
– Bankole Joseph Karis
– Victor Ola-Matthew
– Maxwell Kamau
– Nneamaka Onochie
[Flash Fiction]
– Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo
– Akal Mohan
CREATIVE NONFICTION
– Nwajesu Ekpenisi
– Frank Njugi
– Great Opara
PLAY
[Drama]
– Anuoluwa Ngozi
[Screenplay]
– Ogochukwu Umeadi
PHOTOGRAPHY
– Namukolo Siyumbwa
ART
– Olamide Wole-Taiwo
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 8, the JAY Lit editorial staff is already preparing to receive submission for the journal’s 9th issue. Even more importantly, the journal will be sharing some end-of-the-year news in the next few days.
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.
