Isele Magazine released its much-anticipated, visually-stunning queer-themed issue titled “Queer Joy” this August.

The issue is edited by founding editor Ukamaka Olisakwe, Yvonne Wabai, who also takes credit for the cover design, and Chideraa Ike-Akaenyi. The cover is beautifully illustrated by Taylor Madison.

Kudos to Isele Magazine for their dedication to publishing excellent work! The submission call earlier in the year sought pieces of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography and visual art that “centers and celebrates queer joy in literature.” The published issue includes work by some of Africa’s rising stars including Nora Nneka, who won the inaugural Isele Magazine Prize for Nonfiction, Ishola Abdulwasiu Ayodele, and Yvonne Wangithi, to name a few.

See the content list for the issue below. Go here to access the full “Queer Joy” issue.

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Table of Contents

Fiction

What Manner Of Man | Ali Akawu

Ether | Ema Babikwa

The Second Coming | Mosa Neema Rabannye

Reflections In Turkish Coffee | Isabelle Quilty

passionfruit | Yannick Mutombo

When James Baldwin Came To Atlanta | Charles Stephens

An Extra Hour Of Life | Dave Bachmann

Finding Ozo | Akinyemi Olajesutofunmi

Demon Time | Onyeche A. Onobu

The Tenderness Of Iron | Ishola Abdulwasiu Ayodele

Art & Photography

Fluid Forms, Freedom Embodied | Thandiwe Gula-Ndebele

Art | Zani Sizani

Umthandazo | Thokozile Gumede

An Imaginary Garden With Real Toads In Them | Saturn Akin

Review

A Manual For Magic In Osunde’s VAGABONDS | Oluchi S. Agboola

Poetry

When I see the phrase “queer joy” and my mind goes | Rafiat Lamidi

Strings | Karla Maria

Pride | Hayden Dansky

Metamorphosis | Gaelle Lonji

Five Poems | Linda M. Crate

Two Poems | E.J. Schoenborn

Three Poems | Frances Cannon

elegy for my best friend’s tits | Madeline Turner

Eve | Bex Hainsworth

Five Poems | Cee Chávez

Three Poems | Brooks Schuyler

Three Poems | André Le Mont Wilson

Five Poems | Alison Lubar

Essays

Kissing Joy | Nora Nneka

To Be Known Is To Be Loved | Yvonne Wangithi