Unveiling ‘Moonbeam’: A Sparkling Anthology of Stories by Nigeria’s Finest Culture Journalists

The literary world was abuzz with excitement as “Moonbeam: An Anthology of Short Stories by Nigeria’s Foremost Culture Journalists” made its debut on bookshelves across Nigeria. This captivating collection of stories was the brainchild of 15 seasoned culture journalists, each with their own unique voice and perspective.

As the editor, Anote Ajeluorou, a former Arts Editor of The Guardian and publisher of online arts and culture platform, TheArtHubNg, noted, “Moonbeam is a victory for culture reporting in Nigeria, and hopefully, elsewhere, too.” The anthology was more than just a collection of stories – it was a testament to the creative genius of journalists who had spent years honing their craft.

The contributors to Moonbeam were a Who’s Who of Nigerian literary talent. Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspaper, brought his sharp insights to the page. Adeniyi Kunu, a Senior Broadcast Journalist and Trainer at Lagos Talk FM 91.3, added his own brand of wit and humor. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke, Deputy Editor of ThisDay newspaper, and Henry Akubuiro, Deputy Editor of The Sun newspaper, also lent their talents to the project.

Other notable contributors included Toni Kan, publisher of (link unavailable) and (link unavailable), and author of “The Carnivorous City”. Molara Wood, author of “Indigo”, brought her own unique perspective to the anthology. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, former Arts Editor of Daily Trust and author of “When We Were Fireflies”, added depth and nuance to the collection. Akeem Lasisi, an oral performance poet and author of “Night of My Flight”, brought his signature style to the page.

The anthology had already made a splash at the Quramo Festival of Words (QFest 2025), where it was showcased in a panel discussion titled “The Place of Anthologies in a Book Ecosystem”. The discussion, moderated by Ajeluorou, featured contributors like Akubuiro, Terh Agbedeh, Uwaezuoke, and Omatseye.

The book would also be featured at the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) 2025, where the theme “Moonbeam: Interrogating the Intersection of Journalism and Creative Storytelling” would be explored. Additionally, the anthology would be discussed at the Lagos Fringe Festival in a session featuring some of its contributors.

Sadly, one of the contributors, Evelyn Osagie, had passed away before the book’s publication. Ajeluorou paid tribute to her fervent imagination, saying, “We’re comforted that through Moonbeam we will continue to celebrate her fervent imagination.” The book was dedicated to her memory, and the legacy she left behind.

“Moonbeam” was available at major bookshops in Nigeria, the Narrative Landscape Press office, and on Amazon. As readers devoured the pages of this captivating anthology, they were treated to a rich tapestry of stories that showcased the best of Nigerian literature. The world was finally getting to see the creative talents of these journalists in a whole new light.