Zambian storytelling, like our cooking, is very straightforward: each dish has a list of trusted ingredients, and the method of preparation is tried and tested. Ubwali, our staple, is cooked over high heat with just two ingredients––mealie meal and water, one pot, one cooking stick and a little bit of patience. Our food and stories are just as elegant, polished, and confident.

At  Ubwali Literary Magazine, we want stories that are as sure as this Zambian favourite, stories that you can come to many times over and leave satiated yet knowing you will return again. We want poems that feel like an old friend telling us a new yet familiar story. We want essays that know where the perfect full stop is, how to leave us wondering what happened next, searching for this author's new words. Give us photographs that capture the elegance of Zambia and the depths of her flavours.

Ubwali’s core mission is to publish and promote work by Zambian artists. In honour of Africa Day, though, every May, we also include work by artists from across the African continent alongside work by Zambian artists.

Ubwali Literary Magazine is volunteer run and supported through your readership and financial support. It is a registered Non-Profit Organisation that was founded by Mubanga Kalimamukwento.

UBWALI ON THE WEB

Announcing the Launch of Ubwali Literary Magazine , Afreecan Read

Ubwali, Zambia’s newest literary magazine, launches ,Writing Africa

Announcing the launch of Ubwali Literary Magazine, Emmanuella Omonigho, Creative Writing News

Introducing The Hope Prize Shortlist, JAYLit

The Story Becomes a Fire, Chloe Duensing, Shenandoah

Check Out the Shortlist of the Zambian Hope Prize Launched by Mubanga Kalimamukwento, Kuhelika Ghosh, Brittle Paper

MUBANGA KALIMAMUKWENTO, FORMER TEJUMOLA OLANIYAN FELLOW, LAUNCHES HOPE PRIZE IN ZAMBIA, The Africa Institute

Ubwali Literary Magazine Announces the Hope Prize Mentorship Program, JAYLit

Mukandi Siame Wins Inaugural Ubwali Hope Prize, JAYLit

How Zambia’s modern literary movements are nurturing talent, Oliver Ochieng, bird story agency

“Trying to Support as Many Different Kinds of Writers and Writing as I Can.” A Chat with Beth Staples & Mubanga Kalimamukwento, Editors of Shenandoah, Becky Tuch, Lit Mag News

Enjoying our work? Please consider supporting us with a one-off donation or regularly through PayPal

*Image by Alex Frood on iStock