WELCOME TO NEW CONTRAST MAGAZINE
New Contrast is one of the oldest and most revered literary journals in South Africa – we celebrate our 66th anniversary this year. We are committed to publishing the best poetry, prose, interviews, art and reviews by both local and international authors. Join our readers and enjoy our 66-year-old tradition of excellent writing and art by subscribing. Writers and artists, submit your work at the button above (and please subscribe as well).
LATEST NEWS
A Poetry Tea Party
Dear New Contrast Supporters, please join us for a very special afternoon as we celebrate Keith Gottschalk and his many years of dedicated service to New Contrast. Come and enjoy poetry, conversation, tea, and community while helping to raise funds for the future of New Contrast. This promises to be a memorable occasion as we honour Keith’s remarkable contribution and support the continued work of the journal.
Out Now Issue 211
In memory of Diana Ferrus and Zoë Wicomb. So many of us in this time have turned to words. Words crafted against the impossible, words written in one’s own voice, words spoken in person, conveyed to others by video and audio, words across time zones, listened to, held onto. This is what we give one another and to all those who feel the steep scale of grief in the face of death. Words to lean our bodies against – Gabeba Baderoon
2026 UJ-debuutprys vir Afrikaans
We are very proud to announce that our Afrikaans editor, Shane van der Hoven, have won the UJ-Debuutprys 2026 and our web designer, Jennifer Pape, was on the short list.
waar daar eens ‘n see was by Jennifer Pape (Turksvy Publikasies)
Kruiper – Crawler by Shane van der Hoven (Uhlanga Press)
New Contrast x Ethics Lab Call for Submissions
New Contrast is inviting submissions for a special issue, in partnership with the Ethics Lab at the University of Cape Town. We’re looking for previously unpublished African speculative fiction that grapples with the ethical questions of living alongside new and emerging technologies. This submission call will be open to all writers across Southern Africa and will run from 15 April to 15 July 2026.
LATEST NEW CONTRAST ISSUES
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Ukuthwetyulwa kukaAyanda by Hleze Kunju
Poetry - New Contrast Issue 206
A Fistful of Dahl by by Pravasan Pillay
Prose - Issue 205
Bombyx Mori by by Alice Sholto-Douglas
Poetry - New Contrast Issue 207
FROM OUR PATRONS
“Since its foundation in 1960, New Contrast literary magazine has been and continues to be the best-known and most reliable South African literary vehicle, subscribed to by numerous libraries in the English-speaking world. Many authors who subsequently gained an international reputation published their first work in it. The magazine is an important breeding ground for South African literature; it urgently needs the financial support that will enable it to stay alive and flourish.”
J. M. Coetzee, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and Patron of New Contrast Literary Journal
“New Contrast has for decades, and throughout the benighted years, been a cultural beacon in South Africa. In its showcasing of creativity and especially new writing it has been an inspiration to art lovers and formative for many writers.”
Zoë Wicomb, winner of the inaugural Windham Campbell Prize and Patron of New Contrast Literary Journal