thelagosreview.ng is hosting its inaugural writing weekend in September for 15 lucky members of its first cohort. The workshop will run for 3 days, from today to September 12, focusing on how to write compelling and insightful music, book, and movie reviews, as well as essays.

Facilitators will include Adewale Maja Pearce, Eghosa Imasuen, Oris Aigbokhaevbolo, Akumbu Uche, co-founder Toni Kan, and more.

A statement from the organisers said: “When we set up The Lagos Review, our intention was clear – to interrogate our literary output by building an ecosystem of literary taste makers and gatekeepers who will earn an income as writers.”

The statement added that, “Seven years down the line, we believe we have made a huge difference. This writing weekend will help us grow a new corps of reviewers and essayists who will continue to inform, interrogate and improve our literary and cultural ecosystem.”

Since launching in 2019, thelagosreview.ng, co-founded by Dami Ajayi, Peju Akande and Toni Kan, has become one of Africa’s most respected literary magazines.

The Lagos Review has also produced writers and contributors who have become literary and cultural arbiters and tastemakers. Seven have received or progressed to MFAs, 5 have received global talent visas, and two have won the CORA-Saro Wiwa review prizes.

The review has published almost 2,500 reviews and essays, and two of its writers were chosen to write for the Financial Times special edition on Lagos in 2025.

The writing weekend promises three days of intensive, insightful, and immersive master classes on writing, free return airfare from any location in Nigeria, hotel accommodation, a N100,000 honourarium, the opportunity for regular publication on thelagosreview.ng, and participation in a public reading.

The Lagos Review Writing Weekend will conclude with a reading on Saturday, 12 Sept, at 4 pm by Toni Kan and Eghosa Imasuen from their books – Riding the Storm: The Untold Story of Africa’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and The Challengers: The Disruptive Nigerian Entrepreneurs Creating a Billion-Naira Company at RovingHeights Bookstore, Oniru. Toni Kan will also speak with Toyin Akinosho.

The 15 lucky participants in the first cohort are, in no particular order: Mariam Abdullahi, Peter Adeyemo, Lateefat Balogun, Sima Essien, Charity Ezeja, Hubaidat Ishola, Deborah Iyalagha, Joseph Jonathan, Seyi Lasisi, Azubuike Obi, Adewande Oreshade, Ahmad Mubarak Tanimu, Shalom Tewobola, Keyukemi Usani, Yusuf Zay. The Open Society Foundation supports the workshop.