Books & Literature

Interview: Magunga Williams on Building Africa's Biggest Literary Blog

The founder of The Magunga Review talks about creating a platform for African stories, the state of literary criticism, and why African readers deserve better.

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Wanjiku Editor
Sunday, 15 March 20268 min read389 views
Interview: Magunga Williams on Building Africa's Biggest Literary Blog

From Side Project to Institution

What started as a personal blog has become one of Africa's most influential literary platforms. Magunga Williams built The Magunga Review from scratch, creating a space where African books, writers, and ideas take centre stage.

On Literary Criticism

"African literature has a criticism problem," Williams says. "We celebrate publication but rarely engage with the quality of the work. We need honest, rigorous criticism that respects both the writer and the reader."

The Future of African Publishing

Williams is optimistic about the future. "Digital platforms are democratising both writing and reading. A writer in Kisumu can now reach a reader in Lagos without going through London or New York. That changes everything."

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