By Goda Buikute, Joanne Spence Thomas, Briony Viele and Laurence Wise
Established in 1984 by founder Susheila Nasta, Wasafiri, a leading international contemporary literature magazine, is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. Chosen to deliberately make people question what it was, the name stems from the Kiswahili word for “travellers,” with the first issue's front cover depicting people crossing a desert. The idea was “cultural traveling, which in 1984 was really important, and actually as it happens, is really important again now” (Susheila Nasta, for Queen Mary University of London, Show and Tell podcast).
The magazine's original mission was to “provoke cross-cultural dialogue” and to “provide much needed literary and critical coverage of writers from African, Caribbean, Asian and Black British backgrounds” that were not getting adequate attention from mainstream media. In the last six years, the British Library has archived the magazine as part of Britain’s cultural heritage. Having “pioneered a shift in literacy, cultural and critical landscape,” the magazine nowadays publishes a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, interviews, essays and reviews that are read around the world. It continues to introduce readers to “the best international writing,” and at the same time, by “opening spaces for reading and writing across borders,” it “encourages readers to travel the world by word.”
Named in honour of its partnership with Queen Mary, University of London, the Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize saw its fifteenth award on 23 October 2024. Recognising “some of the most exciting new voices in life writing, poetry, and fiction from around the world,” the event returned to the iconic Southbank Centre after a fifteen-year hiatus. With prize-giving, guest speakers and opportunities to mingle with editors and writers of the magazine, the sold-out evening was a vibrant celebration of international literature.
The bustling Foyle Pavilion suite was quieted as Yomi Ṣode opened proceedings with a reading from his 2022 T.S. Eliot Prize-shortlisted collection, Manorism. Later highlights included Isabel Waidner, winner of the Goldsmiths Prize, sharing an excerpt from her buoyant and brilliantly subversive novel Corey Fah Does Social Mobility, and Hannah Silva, quoting her Granta Book of the Year, My Child, the Algorithm.
The prize itself is divided into three categories: Fiction, Life Writing and Poetry. Each nominee shared a video-recorded snippet of their work, offering guests a tantalising glimpse into the judged material. The distinguished judging panel, chaired by Margaret Busby and including Cristina Rivera Garza, Meena Kandasamy and Isabel Waidner, all praised the exceptionally high standard of entries and highlighted the narrow margins that determined each winner.
Taking the leading spot for Fiction was Thảo Tô, a Vietnamese writer with Love in the Time of Migration. This piece was praised for its ability to turn feelings of “abjection” into “pure life,” the writing encompassing an exciting energy. Joey Garcia scooped the top prize for Life Writing with her piece A Public Space. Tackling complex issues of gender and race, this is a piece that “directly implicates readers,” and is hailed for its bold line of questioning. A Belize-born writer, Joey worked as a teacher while also receiving growing literary acclaim.
Lastly, Nasim Luczaj won for her poem, ‘The Village’. Despite its short length, it was widely admired for its strength in provoking readers to alter their perspective, encouraging different points of view. An English-Polish translator, her work has been published in many literary journals, and the New Writing Prize, adding to her list of accomplishments.
In celebration of Wasafiri’s fortieth anniversary, the latest issue, Futurisms, explores the voices of writers historically side-lined. Staying true to Wasafiri’s tradition, the issue features contributors from across the globe, aiming to connect readers and writers across borders and oceans. This new edition is complemented by the Paper Chains exhibition, a collaborative project with Angelique Golding, a PhD student, held at the Queen Mary University of London's library. The exhibition highlights Wasafiri’s forty-year history of amplifying minority voices, bringing them into mainstream media, and fostering connections between writers, readers, academia and the publishing industry. Using artistic displays, magazine archives and historical artefacts, the exhibition creatively forms ‘paper chains’ to weave these themes together. It is open until January 3 2025 and is accessible to external visitors with a pass.
Although submissions for Wasafiri’s fiction, life writing and poetry categories have recently closed, most other genres remain open year-round. This includes critical articles, interviews, reviews and essays, which can be submitted through the Wasafiri website’s portal, where detailed guidelines and updates are also available.
The magazine is celebrated for publishing emerging writers who later achieved significant success in their careers. Looking to the future, Wasafiri plans to continue championing underrepresented voices while delving into themes like alternative histories, interlinked heritage, climate change and speculative futures. They also seek to expand their reach through digital platforms and print subscriptions.
This is an exciting time for Wasafiri’s team, audience, future writers and independent publications across the UK. Wasafiri continues to demonstrate how words can bring people together, how small publications can make a big impact and how the literary landscape can evolve. The Futurisms of a more connected world might just be out of reach, but not for long.