Márọkọ́ Magazine: Named after the thriving migrant community east of the Lagos Lagoon, who were violently evicted in the early 90s to make way for one of the most expensive real estate strips in the world, Márọkọ́ captures the raw beauty and joys that connect pan-African and pan-diasporic experiences. Through poetry, prose, visual art, and photography, it traces a contemporary canon across the contours of black urban life.
In its sophomore issue, Márọkọ́ features poetry from João Melo, Ismail Bala, Onyekachi Illo, and Sodïq Oyèkànmí, among others. The prose section includes contributions from Chinonso Nzeh, Ehae Longe, and Osione Abokhai. Notably, the issue includes a profile of Kwame Dawes by Darlington Chibueze, a review of Romeo Oriogun’s award-winning work “Nomad” by Emmanuel Esomnofu, and an embedded anthology of poems and essays from the 2023 Lagos International Poetry Festival’s Here and Now residency. This anthology showcases new and exclusive work from Amanda Thomson, Alycia Pirmohamed, Chika Jones, Edwige Renée-Dro, Heather Parry, and Tolu Agbelusi.
The cover image, designed by Eric Atie with input from Obii Ifejika, features a sandy shore against a sunset background.
In the editor’s note, Dami Ajayi reflects on the privilege of editing Márọkọ́ and the significance of literature as a sacred space for exploring our ancestry and humanity. The theme of this year’s festival, “Sanctuary,” resonates deeply, especially in light of global events. Literature, Ajayi asserts, invites us to be stewards in the vineyard of human expression.
The heart of this issue lies in the Here and Now anthology—a product of a two-city residency spanning the Scottish Highlands, Accra, and Lagos. This collaboration between the Lagos Poetry International Festival (LIPFest) and Moniack Mhor (Scotland’s National Writing Center) enriches the vibrant sophomore return of Márọkọ́.