Lolwe, the Kenya-based literary journal, has released its highly anticipated fifth issue.

The cover image, which has generated a buzz on social media for its striking visual, is by the Senegalese photographers by Alex & Frans Odicky. The issue is guest-edited by Zambian writer Mali Kambandu, the American poet Willie Lee Kinard III, and the Lisbon-based Bissau-Guinean writer Yovanka Paquete Perdigão.

The new issue features fiction by A. K. Herman (Trinidad and Tobago), Theophilus Sokuma (Nigeria), Caroline Okello (Kenya), Jedidah Mugarura (Uganda), Nana Afadua Ofori-Atta (Ghana), Shanette Monrose (Saint Lucia). Poetry by Faatimah Solomon (Sudan), Nnadi Samuel (Nigeria), Alicia Valasse-Polius (Saint Lucia), Hollis Druhet (USA), Celia Sorhaindo (Dominica); essays by Eric Otieno Sumba (Kenya), Rabhelani Mguni (Zimbabwe), Aida Muturia (Kenya), Rod Martinez (USA), Shalom Esene (Nigeria); photography by Maroula Blades (UK), Kreative Kwame (Cameroon).

In an editorial note titled “It Takes a Village,” founding editor Troy Onyango cited cohesion and collaboration as the underlying premise of the issue. He also reiterated Lolwe’s fundamental objectives as a journal, including its goal to continue to pay writers for their work.

In less than three years since its founding, Lolwe has made considerable impact on the African literary scene, publishing some of Africa’s most promising emerging as well as established writers. Honors earned so far include publishing a Caine Prize-shortlisted story, as well as being named one of the magazines shaping the African literary scene by The New York Times.

Lolwe also unveiled it’s advisory board made of Zukiswa Wanner (South Africa), Ahmed Aidarus (Kenya), Ayanna Lloyd Banwo (Trinidad & Tobago), Timothy Ogene (Nigeria), Deshawn McKinney (USA), Kalaf Epalanga (Angola) and Ashley Hickson-Lovence (UK).

There is also Lolwe Classes, an online creative writing workshop run by notable African writers, including Zukiswa Wanner, Leila Aboulela and TJ Benson.

Go here to read Issue 5.