And next on our journey to bring more attention to international lit mags, we have seventeen out of Africa!
I really wish there were more. Are there more? Please tell me any you know. I’ll add them to our database so we can bring more attention to them.
We really need a better awards & anthology system for lit mags outside of North America and the UK.
Like…I know Pushcart is one who accepts work from everywhere, but you have to mail your nominations to Pennsylvania to be considered. I mean…come the fuck on, folks. Really? Thats like a couple who “invites” everyone then has a destination wedding to rule out anyone coming they don’t actually want to be there. Woof.
Let me know where in the world you’d like us to explore next.
And we’ve got a new workshop running over on Write or Die 101! Finding Your Essay's Heartbeat: a personal essay workshop with Andrea A. Firth
(All lessons so far are free)
Now here are 17 African Literary Magazines & Journals!
Fiery Scribe Review
Fiery Scribe Review is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Hybrid, Review, and Interview. "Fiery Scribe Review is an online literary magazine publishing bold, fierce, and spirited poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrids, and other relevant genres." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2-4 weeks.
New Contrast Literary Magazine
New Contrast Literary Magazine is a South Africa, Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 1960 that publishes Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, and Translation. "New Contrast is one of South African's oldest literary journals, specialising in literature and art from writers and artists across the world." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within up to three months.
Lunaris Review
Lunaris Review is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, and Photography. "Lunaris Review was birthed out of the idea that an African journal that would embrace creativity from every corner of the earth is needed on the continent and in the country." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within four months.
Libretto Magazine
Libretto Magazine is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2019 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Review, Art, Photography, and Play. "Libretto Magazine seeks unique works with strong sense of imagery, desire, and emotion; words that resonate, that are produced in styles which push boundaries, complete with an elegant and fascinating use of language or imagery." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
Akéwì Magazine
Akéwì Magazine is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2023 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, Photography, and Play. "Akéwì Magazine is a new literary magazine dedicated to championing the voice of BIPOC writers and artists everywhere." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2-4 weeks.
Nkgwana Magazine
Nkgwana Magazine is a South Africa, Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2023 that publishes Poetry. "Nkgwana is a poetry magazine dedicated to indulgent poets. 'Nkgwana' is our little pot, in Setswana, which holds our rages and the realisations that keep us going." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2 months.
The Shallow Tales Review
The Shallow Tales Review is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2019 that publishes Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, Review, Photography, and Play. "The Shallow Tales Review is an online literary outfit that curates the best literature from Africa and across the world. It was founded in August 2019 by Nigerian writer, critic and editor.
We are looking for brave pieces. We seek to house marginalised voices, too." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 10-40 days.
Salamander Ink Mag Blog
Salamander Ink Mag Blog is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Photography, and Art. "Salamander Ink Mag is an online magazine that publishes fiction, essays, photography, visual art, book reviews and poetry." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
WriteNowLit
WriteNowLit is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2017 that publishes Review, Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, Photography, and Art. "WriteNowLit is an online Literary Journal. We accept submissions year-round for Poetry, Fiction, Personal Essays, Photography and Art, and Literary Criticism from writers across the globe.
" -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2 weeks - 2 months.
Down River Road
Down River Road is a Kenya, Republic of-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Review, Interview, Art, and Photography. "drr is an online and print journal that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and ideas. We are interested in the margins, in the shifting centres and the new spaces that exist in what we’ve come to call the alternative." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2-4 weeks.
Pepper Coast Lit
Pepper Coast Lit is a Liberia, Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Fiction, and Poetry. "We are a magazine from the coast of Liberia. Pepper Coast Lit is a literary magazine that seeks to give attention to brave voices. We are in the hunt for poetry from around the world, cutting across any/and every theme and/or style." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 3-4 weeks.
POETRY SANGO-OTA
POETRY SANGO-OTA is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Poetry, and Translation. "We are interested in poems with a keen connection to a sense of place, nature, or otherworldly geographies. We publish only AFRICAN POETS. We are open for submissions from 1st to 10th of each month." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2 weeks.
POETRY COLUMN-NND
POETRY COLUMN-NND is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2020 that publishes Poetry. "Weekly Poetry Column of Nigerian NewsDirect. Open only to Nigerian Poets." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: Yes - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 1 week.
OneBlackBoyLikeThat Review
OneBlackBoyLikeThat Review is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2021 that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Review, Interview, and Play. "A review and blog which curates poetry, fiction, non-fiction and art forms from all over the world." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
Kikwetu: A Journal of East African Literature
Kikwetu: A Journal of East African Literature is a Kenya, Republic of-based literary magazine that publishes . "An annual online literary journal that publishes both new and established writers from East Africa and beyond in English and Swahili." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions. They respond within 2-4 months.
Communicators League
Communicators League is a Nigeria, Federal Republic of-based literary magazine that publishes Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Review, Art, Photography, Audio, and Video. "An online network of communicators created to bridge the gap between arts and humanity" -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
The Flying Dodo
The Flying Dodo is a Mauritius, Republic of-based literary magazine founded in 2022 that publishes Poetry. "The Flying Dodo is a monthly literary publication. Each issue goes online on the 15th." -C.S. Fee: None | Pay: No - They accept simultaneous submissions.
I found Tampered (a Ghana-based mag and press dedicated to platforming writers in Africa and of African descent) while doing research about lit mags in the creative commons last year! It's super cool: https://tamperedpress.com/
Juste Literary is another Nigeria-based lit mag! https://justeliterary.com.ng/