IKhambi Literary Journal

Celebrating young voices in Nguni languages

Overview

The IKhambi Literary Journal is an annual publication dedicated to showcasing the best new writing by young South Africans in isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, and siSwati. Each volume features poems and short stories from writers aged 18 to 35, selected through an open call for submissions that reaches across the country.

What makes the IKhambi Literary Journal unique is its commitment to bilingual presentation. Every piece is published in its original Nguni language alongside an English translation, making the work accessible to a wider audience while honouring the integrity of the mother-tongue original.

Volume 1 was published in October 2023.

Volume 2 was published in April 2024.

Volume 3 is currently open for submissions.

Our Vision

We believe that literature in indigenous languages deserves the same recognition, rigour, and readership as literature in English. The IKhambi Literary Journal exists to:

  • Create a permanent archive of contemporary writing in Nguni languages

  • Provide publishing opportunities for young writers who might otherwise be overlooked

  • Demonstrate that isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, and siSwati are vibrant, living languages of literature

  • Build a readership for indigenous language writing across generations

  • Connect writers with editors, mentors, and each other

What We Publish

Category Poetry • Short Stories
Languages isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, siSwati
Age 18–35 years
Length Poems: up to 40 lines • Short stories: 800–2,500 words
Format Original language + English translation

We welcome writing on any theme, in any style. Our editors are looking for authentic voices, careful craftsmanship, and work that speaks to the experience of being young in South Africa today—whether that experience is rooted in rural villages, urban townships, or somewhere in between.

From Volume 1 & 2

Amahle Dlamini (22, Pietermaritzburg)

"Izandla Zikamama" (My Mother's Hands)

A three-stanza poem about a mother's labour and love that moved our editorial team to tears. Amahle wrote it at 3 a.m., after watching her mother return from a long shift as a domestic worker. Her poem now hangs framed in her family home.

Sipho Mkhize (19, UMzimkhulu)

"Indlela Eya Ekhaya" (The Road Home)

A short story about a young man navigating the distance between rural life and urban aspiration. Sipho was sixteen when he first attended a Loba Mentorship workshop; his story became one of the most requested pieces from Volume 1.

Lihle Ndlovu (25, Soweto)

"Umthunzi" (Shadow)

A story about a young woman who discovers her grandmother was a sangoma and must reckon with a spiritual inheritance she never asked for. Readers have described Lihle's prose as "devastating" and "haunting."

Thando Maseko (28, Johannesburg)

"IsiNdebele Sami" (My Ndebele)

A poem about longing for a language you understand but struggle to speak. Thando almost didn't submit, afraid fluent speakers would judge his imperfections. His courage has inspired dozens of other writers.

Nolwazi Zondi (31, Durban)

"Umakoti" (Bride)

A poem examining the weight of marriage expectations. Nolwazi wrote nothing for twenty-nine years, then wrote twenty poems in six months. She now facilitates A Sip & Write sessions for IKhambi.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions for Volume 3 will open around June.

What to send:

  • 1–3 poems (max 40 lines each) OR

  • 1 short story (800–2,500 words)

Language:

  • Original work in isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, or siSwati

  • Please do not submit translations of work originally written in English

Who can submit:

  • South African writers aged 18–35

  • Previously published and unpublished writers are equally welcome

How to submit:

  • Email your work as a Word document or PDF to [email protected]

  • Include a brief bio (50–100 words) and your contact information

  • Subject line: "Submission – [Your Name] – [Title of Work]"

Deadline: Volume 3 submissions are not open yet

What Happens Next

All submissions are read by our editorial team. Because we receive many submissions, we are unable to provide individual feedback on every piece. If your work is selected for publication, you will be notified.

Selected writers will:

  • Be published in IKhambi Literary Journal Volume 3 (print and digital)

  • Receive two complimentary copies of the journal

  • Be invited to our annual journal launch event

  • Join a community of writers published in indigenous languages

Purchase the Journal

Volume 1 (October 2023) – R200

Volume 2 (April 2024) – R200

Both volumes – R380

Available at:

  • Imilolozelo NPC online

  • Selected bookstores in Pietermaritzburg and Durban

Proceeds from journal sales support the Loba Mentorship Programme and our other community initiatives.

Support the Journal

The IKhambi Literary Journal is published with support from the National Arts Council of South Africa and the National Department of Sport, Arts & Culture. Additional support comes from individual donors who believe in indigenous language literature.

You can help by:

  • Purchasing a copy for yourself or your local library

  • Sponsoring a subscription for a rural school or under-resourced community centre

  • Making a donation to support our editorial and production costs

  • Sharing our call for submissions with young writers in your network

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be fluent in my language to submit?

We welcome submissions from writers at all levels of fluency. What matters most is the authenticity of your voice and your commitment to writing in your mother tongue.

Can I submit work that has been published elsewhere?

We only accept unpublished work. If your piece has appeared online, in print, or on social media, it is not eligible.

Do you accept work that includes English words or phrases?

Code-switching is a natural part of how many young South Africans speak and write. We welcome work that reflects authentic contemporary language use, as long as the primary language of the piece is isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, or siSwati.

Will I be paid for my work?

As a nonprofit organisation, we are unable to offer payment at this time. Selected writers receive two complimentary copies of the journal and are invited to our launch event.

Who reads the submissions?

Our editorial team includes published writers, editors, and language practitioners who are deeply committed to nurturing new voices in Nguni literature.

Submit Your Work

Your words matter. Your language matters. You matter.

The IKhambi Literary Journal is an annual publication of Imilolozelo (formerly IKhambi Writers Hub), a Non-Profit Company dedicated to preserving indigenous languages through literary arts.

Blogs

Welcome to IKhambi Writers Hub’s blog! This is where we take you straight to the midst of our cultural literally arts events where we celebrate our spirituality and everything that makes us be. If you missed it, this blog will help you feel the experience and if you were there, we will take you back every time you read our blog!

No blogs found

Want to work with us?

Passionate about indigenous languages and youth empowerment? Let’s collaborate and make a lasting impact together.

FOLLOW ME

Powered by

Copyright 2026. Imilolozelo NPC. All Rights Reserved.