Laipo Magazine, the literary and cultural publication of the Sankofa Initiative for Culture and Development, invites writers, artists, thinkers and culture workers to contribute to its maiden print edition, which will be published to coincide with the 2026 Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (IBAFEST).
This edition takes its cue from the festival’s theme, “The Stories We Long to Tell.”
We are interested in work that explores the stories we carry, inherit, suppress, remember, imagine or are still finding the courage to tell. Stories of place, identity, memory, culture, family, history, belonging, loss, hope, transformation and possibility are welcome.
We Welcome
- Poetry
- Short fiction and creative nonfiction
- Personal essays and cultural criticism
- Interviews and profiles
- Visual art, photography and illustration
We especially welcome work that engages thoughtfully with Ibadan, Nigeria, Africa and the wider African experience, while remaining open to stories from elsewhere.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit one original, unpublished work. Poetry submissions may contain up to three poems, while prose submissions should not exceed 2,000 words.
Text-based submissions should be sent as a Word document, while visual art, photography and illustration should be sent as PNG files with your name, email address, phone number and a brief bio included.
Deadline
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Send to
Subject
Laipo Magazine Submission – The Stories We Long to Tell
Laipo Magazine is a not-for-profit cultural publication. Contributors will not receive payment for accepted submissions. However, every published contributor will be eligible to receive a complimentary copy of the maiden print edition.
We are looking for work that stays with us. Work that opens a door, asks a question, remembers something forgotten, or gives language to something waiting to be said.
What is the story you have been longing to tell?