Has it been seven years already? SEVEN YEARS?! Trust me when I say seven years of publication is amazing for a literary magazine. The ease of starting a mag hides how hard it is to stay relevant and engaged with the world.
The team at FIYAH doesn’t work for riches, but for love of what we do, and for love of an audience that wants to know what Black folk are saying. FIYAH is blessed to have each and every one of you, our supporters, behind us every year. To quote the old slogan from a certain Italian restaurant chain with unlimited breadsticks, “When you’re here, you’re family.”
Here are some highlights from this year::
1: Issue 28 with UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute
During the day, Art Director Christian M. Ivey works with OBI to highlight, foster, and broaden inclusiveness in society. UC Berkeley sponsored FIYAH #28: Belonging, focusing our editorial lens on stories that explore what it means to live in a world that considers Black people as part of its fundamental structures. You can find those stories here.
2: FIYAH Grants 2023
To be a writer is to feel deeply, think carefully, and speak furiously. Our grant winners have passion for what they do; we’re here to stoke the flames of that passion, to help it burn brighter. Learn more about our six recipients here.
3: IGNYTE Awards 2023
Ignyte Awards are still going strong! This year, a panel of younger jurors ages 12-17 was added to vote on YA and middle-grade categories; this should provide equal representation from the intended demographics for those stories. Check out the list of winners and finalists here!
4: Award Nominations
FIYAH saw nominations from the Hugo Awards and Locus Awards this year.
Finally, during 2023, FIYAH Literary Magazine published 31 authors who shared 9 poems, 19 prose works, and 3 nonfiction pieces. We hope you’ve enjoyed their offerings. We promise to continue delivering content from new writers, established elders, and kick-ass cover artists. As always, we are immensely grateful for the support we’ve received, and we look forward to bringing you new, exciting content in 2024..
FIYAH Literary Magazine is eligible for 2023 semiprozine award categories.
STAFF
Publisher: Troy L. Wiggins (Issues 25); DaVaun Sanders (Issues 26, 27, 28)
Executive Editor: DaVaun Sanders
Poetry Editor: B. Sharise Moore
Nonfiction Editor: Margeaux Weston
Web Editor: Chavonne Brown
Acquiring Editors: Genine Tyson, Emmalia Harrington, Tonya R. Moore, Rebecca McGee, Kerine Wint, Joshua Morley
Special Projects Manager + Webmaster + Magazine Layout: L. D. Lewis
Art Director + Social Media Manager: Christian Ivey
Sponsor Coordinator + Technical Assistant: Nelson Rolon
PROSE
Executive Editor: DaVaun Sanders
Acquiring Editors: Emmalia Harrington, Genine Tyson
| Title | Author (Last, First) | Word count | Story Type |
| Issue 25- January 2023 | |||
| A Small Bloody Gift | Day, Naomi | 6167 | Short |
| Tet fe Mal | Rocklyn, Zin E. | 5865 | Short |
| The Plaster | Barker, Laura | 3802 | Short |
| We Grew Tall and Strong by the Water | Andelsmith, Leah | 12999 | Novelette |
| Issue 26 – April 2023 | |||
| Night of the Living Spa Weekend | Ayinde, M H | 4079 | Short |
| Kudzu Boy Dreaming | Powell, SJ | 6506 | Short |
| Spell for Grief and Longing | Dunbar, Eboni J. | 8650 | Novelette |
| Arboretum | Dokubo-Asari, Habiba | 5000 | Short |
| Homo Minimalensis | Schumann, Tasha | 5158 | Short |
| Issue 27 – July 2023: CARNIVAL | |||
| The Spirit of Bois | Díaz, Karyn | 3133 | Short |
| Sentience | Chaka, Nkone | 8667 | Novelette |
| Capsule of Souls | Joseph, Dexter F. I. | 5471 | Short |
| Petunia | Mahlangu, Lerato | 5076 | Short |
| Issue 28 – October 2023: BELONGING | |||
| Moonlight and Needle Teeth | Walker, K.S. | 3015 | Short |
| Vardøger | Abraham, Zebib K. | 4920 | Short |
| Knoxmarion Burning | Brown, Erin | 4045 | Short |
| Hers Too | Weston, Wolf | 4468 | Short |
| Water Walkers | Frazier, Shawn | 3856 | Short |
| Akaboré Be Quiet | Adaare, Bryan | 5705 | Short |
POETRY
Poetry Editor: B. Sharise Moore
Acquiring Editor for Poetry: Tonya R. Moore
Our poets are eligible for the Rhysling Awards
| Issue 25- January 2023 | Author (Last, First) |
| My Mother, she ate me | Hope, Akua Lezli |
| Questions for the Coming Age of the God of Meat | Scott, Denzel Xavier |
| Recounting the Cat-Child’s Birth to the Elders | Godley, Joanne |
| Issue 26 – April 2023 | |
| Coding a Demi-griot (An Olivian Measure) | Boone, Armoni “Monihymn” |
| Abecedarian For Light and Change | Oghenekaro, Omodero David |
| Sea Beat Blues | Mainoo, Gabriel Awuah |
| Issue 28 – October 2023: BELONGING | |
| Imported Entry Into An Android Cosmos | Sullivan, Nwuguru Chidiebere |
| Woz Quartz V | Flo, Lysz |
| Defiling Stone | Thompson, Jarred |
NONFICTION
Nonfiction Editors: Margeaux Weston (in-issue), Chavonne Brown (on site)
| Issue 25- January 2023 | Author (Last, First) |
| The Magic is in the Roots: Cultural Reconnection through Magical Realism | Flo, Lysz |
| How Cyberpunk 2077 Became The Definitive Example of Afrofuturism | Garrett, Ural |
| Issue 26 – April 2023 | |
| ÀBÍKÚ: THE TRUTH IN THE MYTH | AFRIKA, SISI |
ART
Art Director: Christian Ivey
Artists are eligible for semipro/fan artist categories
 |
 |
| FIYAH #25 | FIYAH #26 |
| Artist: Raki Sy | |
 |
 |
| FIYAH #27 | FIYAH #28 |
| Artist: Manny Edeko | Artist: Ava Glori-Jean Tuitt |
Got questions? Email admin[at]fiyahlitmag.com. And from all of us, thank you for reading and for loving what we do.
What Have You Done? What Have You Loved? 2023 Edition – acwise.net
[…] Fiyah Magazine […]