Ukamaka Olisakwe, the founder and editor-in-chief of Isele Magazine, shares the realities of starting a literary magazine in 2020 and building it into a key platform for African writers. From navigating challenges like funding to handling submissions from across the globe, Ukamaka shows that passion, dedication, and perseverance are crucial to starting and running a literary magazine.
Show highlights
- The inspiration behind Isele Magazine and its launch during the pandemic.
- Managing funding and AI-generated submissions.
- Insights into building a magazine team and creating a sustainable literary platform.
- What makes a good submission stand out.
- Key advice for writers on submitting their work and cultivating patience.
Listen on Spotify
Listen on other platforms
Watch the show
About Ukamaka Olisakwe
Ukamaka Olisakwe is a UNESCO Africa39 honoree, a University of Iowa IWP fellow, a VCFA Emerging Writer Scholarship winner, a Morland Foundation Scholarship finalist, a Gerald Kraak Prize runner-up, and a Nommo Best Novel Award finalist.
Her works have appeared in the New York Times, Granta, Guernica, Longreads, The Rumpus, Catapult, Google Arts & Culture, and elsewhere. She is the author of Ogadinma (2020), Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name (2023), and the founder/editor-in-chief of Isele Magazine. She is currently writing a TV series, Agoodjie, for Canal+ and StudioCanal.
Artist’s links
Visit Isele Mag: https://iselemagazine.com
Follow Ukamaka on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msolisakwe/
Follow Ukamaka on X: https://x.com/msolisakwe?s=21&t=GLRRSdbhoZNPfjfGWHvv4g
Host’s links
Follow Lola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Sign up for Lola’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hRzE5z
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/