The sixth edition of the Imbiza Journal for African Writing is out and it is absolutely stunning! This August 2023 edition has a special focus on anniversaries and historic moments, while simultaneously recognizing new talent.

Imbiza Journal is a South African publishing platform for creative writing, criticism, academic writing and intellectual engagement for African thinkers, cultural workers and activists. It combines imaginative and scholarly writing to cater for diverse audiences.

The journal is based in South Africa, but intends to extend its reach across the African continent and the diaspora both in its content and distribution. Imbiza is published biannually in both the print and electronic formats.

Siphiwo Mahala, the Editor-in-Chief of Imbiza, writes that the 2023 edition is indeed quite special due to numerous milestones in South African history:

The year 2023 marks the 200th anniversaries of both the founding of Lovedale Press as the first publishing house in South Africa, and the 200th anniversary of isiXhosa as a written language. The legacies of literary greats like our cover star, Sindiwe Magona, who turned 80 on 27 August, and William Bloke Modisane, who would have turned 100 on 28 August, are celebrated in this edition. In recognition of these important milestones, a number of articles critically engage with the works of these writers and highlight the significance of the historic moments. The works of these luminaries are juxtaposed with that of the new generation of authors like Lebo Mazibuko, Tshidiso Moletsane and Lebohang Masango, among others. We also pay tribute to departed artists and public intellectuals like Gloria Bosman, Eusebius Mckaiser and Kole Omotoso.

The literary feast in this edition also features writers from other countries on the continent, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. We are proud of the incredible diversity of this issue!

The issue also includes the regular menu of book reviews, interviews, poems, short stories, and essays, along with the added new element of pinup posters, featuring large images of writers designed to be kept for posterity. This edition features South African writer Sindiwe Magana on the cover.

Copies can be purchased in some of the leading bookstores nationwide. Check out the stunning and diverse issue here.