Issue 4 of Bakwa.

Bakwa, Cameroon’s leading Anglophone magazine founded by Dzekashu MacViban, is open to submissions for its 10th issue, themed “Family.” The deadline is April 1, 2020.

Here is the call for submissions:

“Fredo, you’re my older brother and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again, ever” – Michael Corleone in The Godfather by Mario Puzo

What constitutes a family has changed over time, not just in composition but also in definition. In our changing world, gender roles in the family have also been questioned. The breadwinner of the family is no longer a tag meant for men only. How do all these fit into our understanding of the family?

Is blood really thicker than water? What does family mean? How do we relate to it? How does it make or unmake us? Is it defined exclusively by blood ties? How often does it fuck us up? How often does it protect us? We are interested in nonfiction and fiction that answer these questions or ask different questions entirely.

Can friends become brothers/sisters and can brothers/sisters become strangers? We want to see the vulnerability in understanding how we relate with family and who we consider to be family. What intrigues happen within families? What secrets bind and unbind them?

For its 10th issue, Bakwa Magazine seeks nonfiction, fiction and poetry that address these issues. We accept submissions in English, French & Pidgin English and pay a token fee of USD 25 for each accepted piece.

Submissions can be emailed to [email protected].

Find out more here.