The internet is one of the catalysts that have led to the growth of literature worldwide in the 21st century. The internet, apart from its use for research, business, education, health, social relationships, news, technology, innovation and so on, has also been helpful to the development of literature worldwide by making literary works available and accessible. It has provided access to authors and their works and platforms for chapbook publication, thereby enhancing the development of literary art.
In the past, Okike Review from Nsukka and Ake Review were the notable literary reviews in Nigeria. But recently, many online literary journals have continued to sprout across Nigeria. These platforms have provided enclaves for young writers to express themselves and allow them to gain visibility in the face of global literature. This has led to a massive increase in writers across Nigeria.
In Niger State, especially Minna, writers from the state have, at one point or the other, pioneered literary journals for the promotion of literature in the state and elsewhere. These journals include Praxis Magazine, Art Muse Fair, Literature Voices (LitVo), The Nigeria Review (TNR), ArtNews.com, NWFjournal, and Voice of Borgu.
The defunct Praxis Magazine was founded in (2015) by Tukura John Daniel (TJ Dan) from Paiko, Paikoro Local Government of Niger State. Paiko is about 10km from Minna, coming in from Abuja. Praxis Magazine was a first of its kind and one that competed favourably with other international journals in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Praxis Magazine was a multi-arts journal focused on poetry, fiction, photography and digital chapbooks. In 2021, Praxis Magazine acquired the assets of The Art Muse Fair, including its stakes in Minna Book and Arts Festival, but little was known of this deal afterwards.
According to TJ Dan, the vision of Praxis was conceived and started operating in 2015. At some points, it was managed by a crop of talented International and Nigerian literary stars such as Prof. Unoma Azuah (Copy Editor), Ukamaka Olisakwe (Fiction Editor and now the publisher of Isele Magazine), Shittu Fowora (Art Coordinator), Estrella Dale (Poetry Editor), Adetutu Olushola (Non-fiction) and Bitrus Lawrence (IT Manager). Later, Laura Kaminski, Jennifer Emelife, Carl Terver, John Oyewale, Miracle Adebayo, Tari Ndoro, Shannon Hopkins and others. Although Praxis was at the top of its game in promoting African literature, the reasons for its folding up were kept private. However, many authors complained of losing their works due to the non-existence of the journal.
The Arts-Muse-Fair Media was founded by Mallam Aminu Sheikh Muhammad (Sheikh of Poetry) in 2017. Aminu Sheikh, a citizen of Minna, is an Environmentalist, Estate Developer, Writer, Art Administrator, and Photography Enthusiast. According to the founder, the Arts-Muse Fair was borne on the dream to provide a free platform to promote Nigerian and African creatives and celebrate African Arts and Culture. Since 2017, the journal has been involved in numerous arts reportage, initiatives, collaborations and events in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. The biggest was the Co-founding of the Minna Book and Arts Festival, which debuted in October 2018 with AMAB Books.
The journal is one of the notable platforms for publishing literary works and photography. His journal has had Paul Liam, Saddiq M. Dzukogi and Musa Yunus as its managing editors. His journal has also supported writers across Nigeria, including a partnership with Minna BAF, HIASFEST and JustForWords Poetry Slam. Art-Muse-Fair currently sponsors the Abubakar Gimba Prize for Non-Fiction, administered by the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Minna.
The Nigerian Review (TNR), like LITVO, was founded in February 2020 by BM Dzukogi. It is a journal of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation (HCAF). The journal is exclusive for book reviews, critical essays and, at some point, interviews. The journal has published over 300+ reviews and critical essays across different genres of literature and art.
The journal is the first in Nigeria, followed by Lagos Review. Its pioneer Editor-in-chief was Saddiq Dzukogi (Author and a professor at the Mississippi State University, USA). It has been guest edited by Prof. Anthony Oha, Dr. Ismail Bala and Prof. E.E Sule. Its Current Editor-in-Chief is Ojo Olumide Emmanuel, and he is supported by Isaiah Gbenga, Sunday Saheed, Abdulrazaq Salihu, Muiz Adeyemi, Mizpah Unevho and Yusuf BM.
Literature Voices (LITVO) is a journal founded through the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation by BM Dzukogi on 6th November 2020. This journal is dedicated to literary interviews. According to the founder, the primary objective is to expand social conversations through art espoused by writers and artists in their works, and on platforms worldwide. Litvo is an elitist journal and accepts critical arts interviews from the public on any writer or artist of national and global standing.
The journal has published over 100+ interviews of notable Nigerian and international writers, including Biyi Bandele, Wale Okediran, Chika Unigwe, Okey Ndibe, Albishak, Mu’azu Maiwada, Saleh Abdu, Lola Shoneyin, Ahmed Maiwada, Ibrahim Dooba, Gimba Kakanda, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Richard Ali and others. The journal is like SprinNG, which is managed mostly by females. They include the pioneer editor, Halima Ahmad Katun and current editor, Haneefa Abdulrahman, supported by Fatima Salihu, Testimony Odeh, Mahmoodah Oyeleye, and Pacella Eke.
Artnews.com.ng was founded in 2022 with Ojo Olumide Emmanuel as its Lead-Editor. The platform publishes the latest news and trends in arts and literature. The journal also publishes poetry and fiction.
NORTHERN WRITERS FORUM JOURNAL (NWFJOURNAL)
Northern Writers Forum (NWF) is another literary organisation from Minna, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2019 and began operations in 2023. It is led by Zakkiyah Dzukogi as its President. Northern Writers Forum has an online journal called NWFjournal. The journal publishes interviews and literary works by emerging writers from anywhere in the world. Its Editorial Board include: Abu Bakr Saddiq, Testimony Odey, Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi, Isah Aliyu Chiroma and Yahuza Abdulkadir.
It is important to note that there are other platforms from Minna, such as Mammoth Spectrum, Voice of Borgu, and Ibababaija, that touch on literary reportage, too. They were not discussed because these platforms were for more than just the promotion of literature but for news content and politics.
