• Khanya Mtshali

Noni Jabavu was one of South Africa’s most trailblazing writers. Her commitment to elite ambivalence makes it difficult to hail her as a black feminist icon.

• Edith Amoafoa-Smart

For Binyavanga Wainaina, writing about Africa means to to write honestly, benching any attempts to categorize our lived experiences in language that could never accommodate them.

• Paul S. Landau

Nelson Mandela is deified everywhere. But typically missing is an account of his early years, when he insisted that Marxism be responsive to South African conditions.

• Ismay Milford

Ismay Milford’s new book takes us into the world of anticolonialism, giving us a rich account of the struggles of a cohort of activists from east and central Africa.

• Anne Gulick

Writer, filmmaker and activist Tsitsi Dangarembga entwines the troubled story of herself and her country Zimbabwe in the book of essays, 'Black and Female.'

• Anna Wood

What peanut trading in late 19th century Senegal tells us about the fine line between slavery and freedom.

• Ayomide Bayowa

Nigerian Canadian poet Ayomide Bayowa discusses the influences behind his latest poetry collection.

• Tinashe Mushakavanhu

Zimbabwean founding father, Ndabaningi Sithole, has largely been edited out of the country’s history. But thanks to the tremendous archive of writing Sithole left behind, we can edit him back in.

• Eric Burton
• Katharina Föger

Many know Frene Ginwala, the iconic anti-apartheid activist, as democratic South Africa’s first speaker of parliament. But few know of her time building pan-African media in Dar Es Salaam.

• Maya Schkolne

The struggle in Israel-Palestine lacks a sense of inclusivity, like in South Africa, that aims to take over and transform the state into a democracy for all its citizens.

• Arpita Mandal

Leila Aboulela’s historical novel of nineteenth century Sudan tells the story of one of Africa’s first successful, anticolonial uprisings.

• Grégory Pierrot

A fascinating new graphic novel sets out to describe the effects of Nazi and collaborationist policies on the inhabitants of French-controlled colonies and protectorates of World War Two North Africa.

• Barbara Boswell

While editing a collection of the writings of South African feminist Lauretta Ngcobo, Barbara Boswell found inspiration in texts that reflected Ngcobo’s sense that writing is an exercise of freedom.

• Omole Ibukun

The events of May Day 1998 in Nigeria and lessons from Ola Oni on fighting for democracy in multi-ethnic societies.

• Nihal El Aasar

After the Arab Spring, the African left was left demoralized and disorganized. However, a recent book argues that the revolution continues in quotidian life.

• Joel Marie Cabrita

Instead of listing the books that help her write 'Written Out: The Silencing of Regina Gelana Twala,' the author notes five books that shaped Regina Gelana Twala.

• Gopolang Botlhokwane

Against Mahikeng’s failure to honor and preserve his legacy, a new Setswana biography examines Plaatje’s years in this South African town, once a regional capital.

• Zachary Mondesire

If a better world is possible, let us meditate on its constituent parts—the institutions, communities, and relationships, argues Felwine Sarr.

• Akin Adeṣọkan

The author reflects on books that offer a long-historical perspective on African literature and history.

• E.N. Mirembe

In doing the intellectual activist work of editing and supporting cultural production, literary magazines have been crucial for Black cultural renaissance.