Open Country Mag

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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 (2020)
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.[3]

Contributors include Dangarembga, Leila Aboulela, Diriye Osman, Chibundu Onuzo, Jamal Mahjoub, and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu.[8]

In March 2023, the magazine announced that it was now the publisher of Folio Nigeria,[9] a content platform that was the exclusive media affiliate of CNN in Africa.[10] The same year, Open Country Mag announced a fellowship for African curators.[11][12][13]

See also

References

  1. "'A Writer Who Has Nothing to Say Has Nothing to Write': Otosirieze Obi-Young's First Draft". The Republic. 11 October 2024. 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 (17 February 2026). "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 (15 December 2025). "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 13 May 2026.
  8. "New Writing & Excerpts". Open Country Mag. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  9. "FOLIO MEDIA PARTNERS WITH OPEN COUNTRY MAG TO REPUBLISH FOLIO NIGERIA BY CNN CONTENT". P.M. Express. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  10. "Times Multimedia Partners with CNN to Create Folio.ng". BusinessDay. Lagos, Nigeria. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. Omonigho, Emmanuella (28 May 2023). "Open Country Mag Curatorial Fellowships (Prize: $6000)". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  12. Ogar, Jude (25 May 2023). "Open Country Mag Curatorial Fellowships 2023". Opportunity Desk. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  13. "African curators can submit entries for this fellowship". i79media.com. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2024.