Open Country Mag

Open Country Mag
Cover of September 2021 with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Editor-in-chiefOtosirieze Obi-Young
CategoriesAfrican literature, Nollywood, and culture
FrequencyOnline weekly
First issue2020
CountryNigeria
Based inLagos
LanguageEnglish
Websiteopencountrymag.com

Open Country Mag is a Nigerian magazine that covers African literature, the Nigerian film industry, and culture.[1] It was founded in 2020 by writer Otosirieze Obi-Young.[2]

The magazine has been praised for "building a permanent record of African cultural figures through long-form storytelling."[3] The University of Maryland's Department of African and African American Studies has described it as "one of the most important and ambitious platforms for African writers."[4]

Features

Open Country Mag publishes culture journalism, commentary, book and film reviews, new writing, book excerpts, and is reputed for its longform profiles.[5] These include cover story features on writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wole Soyinka[6], Teju Cole, Damon Galgut, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Maaza Mengiste, and Chinelo Okparanta, and actor Rita Dominic.[7]

The publication Communique wrote:

Open Country Mag’s work carries a symbolic and practical significance. It shows what is possible when African publications commit to longform storytelling: that the continent’s writers, thinkers, and cultural figures can be chronicled with nuance, rigour, and ambition. Even if its model is difficult to replicate at scale today, it establishes a blueprint, a proof of concept if you may, that longform in Africa is not only feasible but essential for documenting the intellectual and cultural life of the continent.[8]

Contributors include Dangarembga, Leila Aboulela, Diriye Osman, Chibundu Onuzo, Jamal Mahjoub, and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu.[9]

In March 2023, the magazine announced that it was now the publisher of Folio Nigeria,[10] a content platform that was the exclusive media affiliate of CNN in Africa.[11] The same year, it announced a fellowship for African curators.[12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "'A Writer Who Has Nothing to Say Has Nothing to Write': Otosirieze Obi-Young's First Draft". The Republic. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  2. ^ de Waal, Shaun (4 January 2023). "African literature and film in the global conversation – an interview with Otosirieze Obi-Young". News24. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ Otomewo, Oritsejolomi. "Communiqué 105: Open Country Mag makes a case for African longform writing". Communiqué. Substack. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Open Country Mag's Anticipated African Literature of 2023". University of Maryland. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  5. ^ Oguike, Nnamdi (22 March 2023). "5 Outstanding Online Literary Magazines For Lovers Of African Literature". Style Rave. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ Bhatia, Gautam. "Words for Worlds - Issue 110". Words for Worlds. Substack. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Look At Her Now! Rita Dominic Covers Open Country March Issue in Red Ensemble". Exquisite Mag. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ^ Otomewo, Oritsejolomi. "Communiqué 105: Open Country Mag makes a case for African longform writing". Communiqué. Substack. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  9. ^ "New Writing & Excerpts". Open Country Mag. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ "FOLIO MEDIA PARTNERS WITH OPEN COUNTRY MAG TO REPUBLISH FOLIO NIGERIA BY CNN CONTENT". P.M. Express. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Times Multimedia Partners with CNN to Create Folio.ng". Business Day NG. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  12. ^ Omonigho, Emmanuella. "Open Country Mag Curatorial Fellowships (Prize: $6000)". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  13. ^ Ogar, Jude. "Open Country Mag Curatorial Fellowships 2023". Opportunity Desk. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  14. ^ "African curators can submit entries for this fellowship". i79media.com. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
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