ZAM is an international multimedia platform celebrating African creativity and new thinking, priding itself on a network of over 500 African journalists, photographers, writers, artists, academics, visionaries, doers and hundreds of peers in Europe and elsewhere. (Which we can attest to.) The original Dutch version of ZAM Magazine has been around for a while but to widen their reach, the magazine has reinvented itself as “an independent, quarterly print magazine on Africa and beyond” that will be launched in Amsterdam today. The first international issue features contributions by Helon Habila, Achille Mbembe, Paula Akugizibwe and Elnathan John; profiles of artists Jane Alexander and Ayana Vellissia Jackson (the portrait on the magazine’s cover, above, is by Jackson); opinion pieces by Kalundi Serumaga, William Gumede, Kassim Mohamed; Africa is a Country (yes); and much more.

Speakers tonight will be Kunle Adeyemi, Palesa Motsumi and Idsis Akinbajo (with visuals by Bouba Doula and tunes by DJ Bamba Nazar). ZAM’s new facebook page has all the details.

(Tonight’s launch is open to everyone interested so if you’re in Amsterdam, shoot them an email confirming your presence at [email protected] — and tell them Africa is a Country sent you.)