Laipo Magazine is the literary and cultural publication of the Sankofa Initiative for Culture and Development and the official magazine of the Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (IbaFest).
We are interested in the stories, ideas, people and creative work shaping Africa and its place in the world. Through essays, conversations, creative writing, criticism, visual art and cultural reportage, Laipo creates space for thoughtful voices and fresh perspectives on African life and culture.
The name Laipo is inspired by Layipo, popularly known as Bower's Tower, the historic landmark overlooking Ibadan. Like the tower, Laipo seeks to offer a wider view: looking closely at our immediate world while remaining attentive to the larger landscape of African culture and experience.
Rooted in Ibadan but open to voices from across Africa and the diaspora, Laipo is a space for conversation, discovery and reflection. We believe stories can preserve memory, connect generations and help us imagine what comes next.
Laipo lives both online and in print. Our digital publication evolves throughout the year, while our annual print edition, published alongside the Ibadan Book and Arts Festival, brings together a considered selection of the year's conversations and creative work.
What We Publish
Essays
Thoughtful writing on culture, society, history, ideas, politics and the forces shaping contemporary Africa.
Encounters
Conversations with writers, artists, thinkers, educators and cultural practitioners shaping our creative and intellectual landscape.
Reviews & Criticism
Engagements with books, films, music, exhibitions, performances and other cultural works.
New Writing
Original poetry, fiction, drama and literary nonfiction from emerging and established voices.
Visual Culture
Photography, illustration, painting, sculpture, digital art and other forms of visual expression. Submit up to eight pieces.
Dispatches
Short reports, reflections and observations from cultural spaces, communities, festivals and creative projects.