‘Africa writes back.’ With these words, The Johannesburg Review of Books debuted in May 2017, announcing an ambitious programme to fill a gap in world letters, and delivering a first issue bursting with intellectual endeavour.

Over the next five years, with Editor Jennifer Malec steadfastly at the helm, and an inbox that never rests, The JRB, as it’s come to be known, has replicated its initial feat some forty-nine times. For half a decade, we have delivered on our mission to publish pieces that both stand up to intellectual scrutiny and stand out in the great wash of information and commentary that characterises our sleepless age.

We’ve published through state capture, loadshedding, a global pandemic and extreme economic uncertainty. A new issue of The JRB is always just around the corner—something our community has come to count on.

Looking over what we’ve produced, if any one number emerges as especially salient it’s this: in The JRB’s first fifty issues are to be found some 425 distinct voices, from Africa and all around the world. Five years, fifty issues, 425 contributors—these figures add up, I feel, into a literary equation of some significance. Below, we’ve listed all 425 contributors to our issues to date (including several who, sadly, have passed on during this time). We celebrate them all.

It’s been a signal privilege to be involved in African letters as it has moved to the fore in world literary conversations. As I’ve said on several occasions, with each issue of The JRB that comes out I get a little smarter. Here’s to the next fifty. Thank you for reading The JRB—a luta literária continua—

Ben Williams, Publisher

Contributors to The JRB, Issues 1–50

A Bouna Guazong • Aba Asibon • Abbey Khambule • Abdulrazak Gurnah • Abi Daré • Abubakar Adam Ibrahim • Achille Mbembe • Achmat Dangor • Adam El Shalakany • Adam Smyer • Adekeye Adebajo • Afua Hirsch • Agatha Zaza • Agazit Abate • Ahmet Sait Akçay • Aïda Muluneh • Akbar Hussain • Akwaeke Emezi • Alaa Al Aswany • Alain Mabanckou • Alastair Bruce • Alex Latimer • Alex Lichtenstein • Alistair Mackay • Alithnayn Abdulkareem • Allan Kolski Horwitz • Ama Ata Aidoo • Amatesiro Dore • Aminatta Forna • Andile Ndlovu • Andrew Miller • Andrew van der Vlies • Andries Bezuidenhout • Angelo Fick • Angifi Dladla • Anietie Isong • Anna Moschovakis • Annwen Bates • António Tomás • Aravind Adiga • Arja Salafranca • Arundhati Roy • Ashraf Kagee • Astrid Starck-Adler • Athambile Masola • Ayanda Billie • Ayesha Harruna Attah • Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ • Azad Essa • Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile • Barbara Adair • Barbara Boswell • Ben Williams • Bernardine Evaristo • Bethuel Muthee • Bhakti Shringarpure • Billy Kahora • Binyavanga Wainaina • Bolu Babalola • Bongani Kona • Bongani Madondo • Brandon Taylor • Brendan Joyce • Bronwyn Law-Viljoen • Busisiwe Mahlangu • Bwesigye bwa Mwesigire • Byron Loker • C Pam Zhang • Carey Baraka • CA Davids • Carrie Mae Weems • Catherine Watts • Charles Mungoshi • Cheluchi Onyemelukwe • Cherie Jones • Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan • Chibundu Onuzo • Chigozie Obioma • Chike Frankie Edozien • Chinenye Emezie • Cho Nam-joo • Christa Kuljian • Claudia Rankine • Colleen Van Niekerk • Connor Cogill • Craig Higginson • Dag Henrichsen • Damon Galgut • Dan Magaziner • Danielle Legros Georges • David Attwell • David Diop • David van Schoor • Daylin Paul • Denis Hirson • Deon Meyer • Diane Awerbuck • Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida • Dominique Botha • Donald Parenzee • Dzekashu Macviban • Eckard Smuts • Edson Chagas • Edwige-Renée Dro • Efemia Chela • Elinor Sisulu • Ema Babikwa • Ena Jansen • Esi Edugyan • Esther Mirembe • Eustaquio Neves • Eyoum Nganguè • Fanie Naudé • Farai Mudzingwa • Fatima Okhousami • Faustin Titi • Femi Kayode • Fiona Zerbst • Fiston Mwanza Mujila • Flora Veit-Wild • Francine Simon • Franki Jenkins • Fred Khumalo • Fred Khumalo • Futhi Ntshingila • Gabeba Baderoon • Gail Fincham • Genna Gardini • Geoff Ryman • Geoffrey Philp • George Monbiot • Gideon Mendel • Glenn Diaz • Gloria Mwaniga • Grace A Musila • Gratiagusti Chananya Rompas • Guy Tillim • Hannah Jakobsen • Harry Kalmer • Harry Owen • Hedley Twidle • Helen Moffett • Hélène A Amouzou • Hemley Boum • Hugh Lewin • Idza Luhumyo • Ijeoma Oluo • Imraan Coovadia • Imtiaz A Cajee • Ingeborg Pelser • Ingrid de Kok • Isabella Morris • Isobel Dixon • Itumeleng Molefi • Jacob Dlamini • Jacques Coetzee • James Han Mattson • James Murua • Jamil F Khan • Jared S Thompson • Jason Reynolds • Jean Depara • Jeanne-Marie Jackson • Jennifer Malec • Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi • Jenny Robson • Jerry Chiemeke • Jim Pascual Agustin • JM Coetzee • Joanne Joseph • Joanne Ruth Davis • John Marnell • Jonathan Cane • Jonathan Franzen • Julie Nxadi • Kagayi Ngobi • Kagiso Lesego Molope • Karen Jennings • Karin Schimke • Keith Lewis • Keletso Mopai • Kelwyn Sole • Khaddafina Mbabazi • Khadija Tracey Heeger • Khanya Mtshali • Kibo Ngowi • Kimon de Greef • Kiprop Kimutai • Kirsten Miller • Kole Omotoso • Koleka Putuma • Kopano Maroga • Kopano Matlwa • Kopano Ratele • Kwezilomso Mbadazayo • Lara Buxbaum • Laura Fish • Lauren Michele Jackson • Laurice Taitz • Lebo Mazibuko • Lebohang Mojapelo • Leigh Jackman • Leïla Slimani • Lelissa Girma • Lerato Kumalo • Lesley Nneka Arimah • Lester Walbrugh • Leye Adenle • Lidudumalingani • Lindiwe Nkutha • Lisa Taddeo • Litha Hermanus • Lizzy Attree • Loftus Marais • Lola Akinmade Akerstrom • Lola Shoneyin • Louis Greenberg • Louisa Uchum Egbunike • Maaza Mengiste • Maggie O’Farrell • Makena Onjerika • Makena Onjerika • Makhosazana Xaba • Mandla Langa • Maneo Mohale • Mapule Mohulatsi • Marcus Low • Mariana Enriquez • Mark Espin • Mark Gevisser • Mark Winkler • Mary Carman • Maryse Condé • Masai Sepuru • Masande Ntshanga • Masiyaleti Mbewe • Maureen Isaacson • Maya Surya Pillay • Mbali Sikakana • Mbali Vilakazi • Mbozi Haimbe • Megan Ross • Mercy Dhliwayo • Michael Barron • Michael Gardiner • Michael Yee • Michiel Heyns • Mikael Johani • Miriam Pahl • Mmatshilo Motsei • Mohale Mashigo • Moshibudi Motimele • Moshumee T Dewoo • Mphuthumi Ntabeni • Mthabisi Sithole • Mthunzikazi Mbungwana • Mubanga Kalimamukwento • Mukoma wa Ngugi • Musawenkosi Khanyile • Muxe Nkonzo • Nadia Davids • Nakhane • Naledi Mashishi • Namwali Serpell • Nana Oforiatta Ayim • Napo Masheane • Natalia Molebatsi • Natasha Omokhodion-Kalulu Banda • Nathan Hill • Nathi Ngubane • Neema Shah • Neliswa Tshazi • Ngwatilo Mawiyoo • Nick Mulgrew • Nicky Falkof • Nicole Dennis-Benn • Nii Ayikwei Parkes • Nikki May • Niq Mhlongo • Nkiacha Atemnkeng • Nnedi Okorafor • Noel Cheruto • Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang • Nosipho Gumede • Novuyo Rosa Tshuma • Nozuko Siyotula • Nqobile Lombo • Ntombizikhona Valela • Ntsika Gogwana • Nuruddin Farah • Obi Nwakanma • Odafe Atogun • Okpanachi Irene Ojochegbe • Olivette Otele • Olivia M Coetzee • Olivia Rose Walton • Olufunke Ogundimu • OluTimehin Adegbeye • Osiame Molefe • Outlwile Tsipane • Palesa Manaleng • Panashe Chigumadzi • Paul Beatty • Paul Gilroy • Paula Comley • Peace Adzo Medie • Pede Hollist • Percy Zvomuya • Perfect Hlongwane • Petina Gappah • Philip Gourevitch • Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa • PR Anderson • Pumla Dineo Gqola • Pwaangulongii Dauod • Raven Leilani • Ray Hartley • Razina Theba • Rebecca Duncan • Rehana Rossouw • Remy Ngamije • Rešoketšwe Manenzhe • Rethabile Masilo • Richard Ali • Richard Conyngham • Richard de Nooy • Richard Poplak • Robert Jones Jr • Robin Moger • Rofhiwa Maneta • Rustum Kozain • Saaleha Idrees Bamjee • Sabata-mpho Mokae • Samuel Fosso • Sandile Ngidi • Sanya Osha • Sarah Johnson • Sarah Ladipo Manyika • Sarah Ruden • Scholastique Mukasonga • Sebastian Murdoch • Shailja Patel • Shanice Ndlovu • Shanthini Naidoo • Shayera Dark • Shuhood Abader • Sibongile Fisher • Sifiso Mzobe • Sihle Ntuli • Simon van Schalkwyk • Sindi-Leigh McBride • Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese • Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu • Siphiwo Mahala • Sisonke Msimang • Siyanda Mohutsiwa • Siza Nkosi Mokhele • SL Masunda • Songeziwe Mahlangu • Sono Molefe • Stacy Hardy • Stella Nyanzi • Stephen Langtry • Stephen Symons • Susan Williams • Ta-Nehesi Coates • Tade Thompson • Tawana Kupe • Tayari Jones • Terry Kurgan • Thando Njovane • Thenjiwe Mswane • Theodora Lee • Thula Simpson • Thulani Angoma-Mzini • Tiah Beautement • Timothy Ogene • Timothy Wright • TJ Benson • TL Huchu • Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor • Tonderai Munyevu • Toni Giselle Stuart • Tony Eprile • Tracey Farren • Trevor Ngwane • Troy Onyango • Tsitsi Dangarembga • Uhuru Phalafala • Uvile Ximba • Vangi Gantsho • Véronique Tadjo • Victor Dlamini • Vonani Bila • Wairimũ Mũrĩithi • Wame Molefhe • Wamuwi Mbao • Wemar Strydom • Wilfred Ukpong • Willem Anker • William Dicey • William Kentridge • Wole Soyinka • Wole Talabi • Xabiso Vili • Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema • Yaa Gyasi • Yagnishsing Dawoor • Yamen Manai • Yemisi Aribisala • Yewande Omotoso • Yovanka Paquete Perdigao • Zadie Smith • Zaina Arafat • Zakes Mda • Zanele Muholi • Zanta Nkumane • Zikhona Valela • Zimitri Erasmus • Zinzi Clemmons • Zoë August • Zoë Wicomb • Zukiswa Wanner

The JRB Masthead

The Publisher and Editor of The JRB are especially grateful for the ongoing contributions and support of our Patrons, Editors and Editorial Advisory Panel members. We wouldn’t have made it to fifty issues without you. Thank you!

Patrons

Achmat Dangor (in memoriam) • Ivan Vladislavić • Makhosazana Xaba

Editors

Bongani Madondo • Efemia Chela • Henrietta Rose-Innes • Lidudumalingani
Niq Mhlongo • Panashe Chigumadzi • Rustum Kozain
Simon van Schalkwyk • Victor Dlamini

Editorial Advisory Panel

Angela Makholwa • Antjie Krog • Bontle Senne • CA Davids • Ekow Duker • Elinor Sisulu • Ellah Wakatama Allfrey • James Murua • Kgauhelo Dube • Lauren Beukes • Mandla Langa • Margie Orford • Nozizwe Cynthia Jele • Nthikeng Mohlele • Patrick Flanery • Petina Gappah • Philip Gourevitch • Rabih Alameddine • Richard de Nooy • Richard Poplak • Tony Eprile • Tymon Smith • Wamuwi Mbao • Yewande Omotoso