Our Readers
‘The Republic is an example of the new intellectual spaces that have opened up in Africa over the past decade. Youthful, tech-savvy and decentralised, its freelance writers touch on topics as diverse as modern slavery or the sexism of Fela Kuti.’
— The Economist
‘Serious journalism from an African worldview.’
— Quartz Africa
‘LOVE The Republic. It is critical, insightful and gorgeously designed.’
— Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Publisher & Co-founder Cassava Republic Press
‘We don’t deserve The Republic. I’ll keep saying this. If any facet of Nigerian leadership (and followership) even as much as glanced at one issue of this journal in good faith, I wonder how many ideas for radical change the citizenry might’ve engaged with by now.’
— Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Novelist
‘Whenever I meet people and they tell me they’ve not heard of The Republic, a part of me is shocked that they’re deprived of such perfection rare on the journalism terrain in Nigeria, and I have to emphasise they search for it and read religiously.’
— Fakhuus Hashim, Activist
‘The Republic is one of my favourite things made by Nigerians and it’s the first journal I ever subscribed to.’
— Mo Isu, Researcher
‘The Republic is getting my subscription, and I subscribe to almost nothing… They’re that damn good. Read them: they’re a Nigerian literary magazine who, to paraphrase Mafeje, insist on their right to be universal.’
— Nimi Hoffmann, Historian &
Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies
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Every generation needs an unequivocal source of truth: something that shows the people of its time, leaving little room for doubt, what they look like. The Republic, first and foremost, is us: the people of this time. And then, it is a magazine and platform of socio-economic and political commentary, criticism and cultural discourse, that explores the world as Nigerian. Behind the magazine is the belief that writing can connect, empower and humanize communities, and a society of people who consider urgent the need for a Nigeria more critical of itself.
Our mission is simple: to create knowledge.
Our ideal readers are the restless and inquisitive, together with whom The Republic seeks to restore the importance of serious readership in Nigeria, and the dignity in studying Nigeria and its place in the wider world. To this end, we strive to press forward on the most critical of issues; to provide an abundance of ideas and knowledge; and to appeal to a general audience without compromising on analytical rigour—in short, to be serious without pretension or alienation. We intend to be sharp, stylish and current; an ever-growing, intelligent companion; a reliable witness to the changing times⎈
Masthead
Editor-in-Chief
Wale Lawal
BSc (Hons), The University of Bath;
MSc, The London School of Economics and Political Science;
MSc, University of Oxford
Associate Editors
Yusuf Omotayo
BA, Obafemi Awolowo University;
MA, University of Lagos
Peace Onafuye
BA, University of Lagos;
MA, University of Lagos
Copy Editor
Ada Nnadi
BSc, University of Lagos
Sub-Editors
Ololade Faniyi
BA, University of Ibadan;
MA, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan;
MA, Bowling Green State University, Ohio;
PhD (in view), Emory University
Osione Oseni-Elamah
LLB, University of Birmingham;
LLM, Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)
Hanna Desta
LLB, SOAS, University of London
Illustrators
Dami Mojid (Essays)
Ezinne Osueke (Essays)
Kevwe Ogini (First Draft)
Commercial Team
Habib Amoo (Accounting)
Jonathan Benson (Sales)
Joseph Enoch (Technology)