Founded by Chibuihe Achimba and Romeo Oriogun, the intention of Kabaka Magazine is simple; to Amplify Queer Voices in African Literature. Its name gotten from gay 19th-century monarch Kabaka Mwanga II, Kabaka Magazine believes that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex lives are part of the African experience and culture. As such LGBTQI literature is an important part of African Literature. By publishing and making it available to be read, Kabaka affirm that LGBTQI lives are important and African, and that they deserve to live and flourish.
“I have always believed that our stories need to be told, that we need to create platforms through which we can curate and shape these stories, especially when there are very few literary journals willing to publish our stories on the continent except if we’ve won or been shortlisted for a major award.” Romeo Oriogun writes in the introduction of the January issue of the magazine.
As indicated on the website, The Kabaka magazine team comprises of Romeo Oriogun as Co-founder & Managing Editor, Chibuihe Achimba as Co-founder, Photography and Arts Editor, Emma Paulet as Fiction Editor, Pieter Odendaal as Poetry Editor, and Adefolami Ademola as Social Media Manager
Issue I of Kabaka Magazine features Kanyinsola Olorunninsola, Chukwuemeka Akachi, Akpa Arinzechukwu, Itiola Jones, Kopano Maroga, Salimah Valiani, Ruth Sutoye, Abigail George, Alistair Mackay, and Kamnelechukwu Obasi.
Issue I of the Kabaka Magazine can be downloaded here.
