WELCOME TO NEW CONTRAST MAGAZINE
New Contrast is one of the first South African literary journals and it is devoted to publishing the best of poetry and prose, art, reviews and interviews from both local and international authors.
OUT NOW! NEW CONTRAST Issue 209
Issue 209 features poetry from Kopano Maroga, Kate Thompson Davy, Saaleha Bamjee, Adam van Graan, Chestlyn Draghoender, and many others. Our prose sections features short fiction by Catherine McPherson, Prenesa Naidoo, Carolyn Meads, Afolabi Opanubi, and others. Cover art is by IVukuvuku.
LAUNCH of NEW CONTRAST Issue 209
We’re launching issue 209 in a week! Join us on the 2nd of October at The Museum of Dogs on Keerom Street, to celebrate the launch of an incredible issue. There will be readings by our fantastic 209 contributors, drinks for sale, and fun times to be had all round! Bring your friends, your mom, your crush, your neighbour! You know the drill.
EDITORIAL TEAM 2024
Our editorial team is growing from strength to strength this year with the latest additions of isiXhosa editor, Mthunzikazi A. Mbungwana and Afrikaans co-editors, Shane van der Hoven and Paul Kammies. They join the team alongside Editorial Assistant, Niamh Ahern and Managing Editor, Robyn Paterson. Sindiswa Busuku is the Editor-in-Chief.
NEW CONTRAST AT Open Book Festival 2024
New Contrast had the privilege of hosting a poetry reading at this year’s Open Book Festival held at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town. “Meditations on Silence” featured readings by Zizipho Bam, Uhuru Phalafala and Athambile Masola.
DONATIONS
In 2025, New Contrast celebrates 65 years of publishing the best poetry, fiction, non-fiction and art in South Africa and the world. Thanks to the commitment of our editors, board members and volunteers, thousands of writers have seen their names in print in our journal and we have enchanted lovers of excellent writing around the world for six and a half decades. The best contribution to our future is to subscribe, and we ask everyone who has been published in New Contrast to become a subscriber to keep this marvel of a journal flourishing. Please also consider donating to our Fund for the Future and help us build a sustainable future for New Contrast. These resources will allow us to pay for printing, postage and other crucial costs. Since it is our 65th birthday, help us celebrate this landmark by donating what you can: R65 or R650 or R6 500. Any amount is welcome. Also tell friends, colleagues and students about us. You can contribute to our next 65 years by subscribing here and donating here.
Of Home & The Women Who Raised Me
Siyanda Qoto
Back home, I can tell
by the squeaking of the sole
the thumping of the heel
and the shuffling of the feet
which of the women
Mama, Nox or Di-Anne
is moving to and fro
along Grandma’s wooden floor.
(New Contrast issue 206)
Fallen Son
Kopano Maroga
dear god. if love is a field, let
it be a field of Januaries! let
it be an orchard thick with a boy’s
moan, red with the blood of some
fallen adonis. a bleeding orchard,
yes! let me sleep in the swallow of
an alcoholic lack. prophet! give me
but one sainted night to drink the gold
of his delicate semen. he, my consumable
lover. shepherd of the smallest salmon. teeth
becoming white as i beseech him to live
louder, to live longer. to live goddamnit!
your love has ruined me and the
valley is grief-logged in anemones.
(New Contrast issue 209)
‘n Wind
Breyten Breytenbach
’n wind ruk oor die see
bote pluk aan hul tome
en runnik verskrik
(die see se nekhare rys)
die eerste druppels loop verby
soos ’n skelm kat in die gang
en pis in die hoekie
(New Contrast issue 2)