Akashic Books releases Kumi Na Moja: New-Generation African Poets, A Chapbook Box Set today, December 2, 2025, marking the eleventh year of the African Poetry Book Fund’s groundbreaking publication series. This limited-edition box set features the work of ten emerging African poets: Abdulkareem Abdulkareem, Hauwa Saleh Abubakar, Aria Deemie, Michael Imossan, Rahma Jimoh, Roseline Mgbodichinma, Adesiyan Oluwapelumi, Leano Debra Ranko, Timi Sanni, and Tjizembua Tjikuzu. Since 2014, the African Poetry Book Fund has partnered with Akashic Books to publish up to a dozen chapbooks annually, creating an essential platform for African poets who have not yet published their first full-length collection.
The series has earned widespread critical acclaim for its commitment to showcasing the best poetry written by African poets working today. The New York Times Magazine has praised editors Kwame Dawes and Chris Abani for undertaking the vital work of publishing short collections by contemporary African poets in beautifully packaged boxed sets, while The Washington Post noted how these collections challenge stereotypes about African writing while exploring the complex relationship between poets and their African identity.
Each chapbook in the Kumi Na Moja box set showcases a distinctive poetic voice while contributing to a larger conversation about contemporary African literature. Previous editions have featured vibrant artwork by Victor Ehikhamenor.
With today’s release, the African Poetry Book Fund continues its decade-long mission to identify and publish emerging African poetic talent. Kumi Na Moja is available now from Akashic Books as a limited-edition collection, offering readers an essential window into the vibrant contemporary literary scene emerging from Africa and its diaspora.
Order the latest set here.
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