Culture Journalists Open Literary Space with Moonbeam Anthology
On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Rovingheights Bookstore hosted a significant literary event featuring six of the 15 culture journalists who contributed to Moonbeam: An Anthology of Short Stories by Nigeria’s Arts and Culture Journalists. Organized by Moonbeam publishers, Narrative Landscape Press, this gathering was not merely a reading session but a platform for contributors to reflect on their creative journeys, the challenges of publishing, and the evolving nature of storytelling in Nigeria. The event also served as a heartfelt memorial for the late journalist, photographer, textile artist, and performance poet Evelyn Osagie of The Nation newspaper, one of the contributors who passed away on August 17, 2025, without seeing the published collection.
Editor’s Vision and Inspiration
Anote Ajeluorou, the editor of the collection, explained that the idea behind Moonbeam was to create a unified body of creative work from arts journalists whose writings are often scattered across newspapers, magazines, blogs, and social media platforms. He noted that despite decades of documenting Nigeria’s cultural landscape, many of these writers rarely have the opportunity to present their creative voices in a single, cohesive format. When asked about the title by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) expert and culture promoter Olatoun Gabs-Williams, Ajeluorou shared that growing up, he consumed numerous folktales from his mother, Obafaaruho, and other elders and playmates. He aimed to replicate this experience in a modern formal medium like a book, with Moonbeam evoking the moonlight tale village setting where various individuals share stories with a willing audience.
Journey to Publication
Ajeluorou disclosed that an earlier attempt to publish the manuscript in 2017 stalled due to high costs. The breakthrough came in 2023 when he encountered a submission call from Narrative Landscape Press. Encouraged by fellow contributor Terh Agbedeh, he submitted the manuscript and received a positive response, although the publisher indicated a two-year production timeline. The eventual release of the book marked the culmination of years of effort and collaboration, bringing together diverse voices in a cohesive anthology.
Contributors’ Stories and Insights
Okechukwu Uwaezuoke discussed his story, All for Nothing, which was inspired by his early professional experience in advertising as a copywriter between 1992 and 1994 before transitioning into journalism. He described the advertising industry as marked by urgency, creative intensity, and frustration, where teams often worked under intense pressure only to have ideas rejected by clients. His story explores themes of effort and futility, shifting perspective to the client’s side to examine the pressures faced by decision-makers, and includes elements like BlackBerry devices to bridge generational gaps.
Nehru Odeh shared that his contribution, Not All Roads Lead Home, was drawn from a novel he had been developing over an extended period. An excerpt that stands independently while retaining connections to the larger narrative, the story serves as a commentary on Nigeria’s socio-political climate, addressing themes of governance, religion, and freedom of expression. Odeh, who participated in a 2008 Creative Writing Workshop facilitated by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, said the experience influenced his approach to fiction and reinforced his commitment to storytelling.
Molara Wood explained that her involvement in the project stemmed from a long-standing interest in creative collaboration and the desire to consolidate years of professional writing into a more enduring format. Her story, The House Next Door, is grounded in close observation of society and employs subtle narrative techniques to explore complex issues, incorporating elements of suspense, the supernatural, and social critique. The narrative challenges assumptions about crime and morality within urban Nigeria, particularly in affluent communities where appearances often mask deeper realities.
Tribute to Evelyn Osagie
A major highlight of the event was the spontaneous tribute to Evelyn Osagie, affectionately known as ‘Big Brother of Zone Four’, whose literary aspirations were realized posthumously through her inclusion in the anthology. Her sister, Amy Osagie, who attended the event, described Evelyn as a passionate and dedicated writer who consistently shared her work with family members and nurtured ambitions of publishing both a novel and an autobiography. She expressed surprise and emotion upon learning after Evelyn’s passing that she had contributed to Moonbeam, noting that a personal dream of the late writer had been fulfilled.
Conclusion and Impact
The event concluded with a renewed emphasis on the importance of storytelling as a means of documenting, interpreting, and challenging societal realities. Contributors highlighted the role of fiction in offering deeper insight into issues that may be constrained by the factual boundaries of journalism, underscoring the anthology’s significance in creating a literary space for culture journalists in Nigeria.
