A Continental Conversation with the World
The 15 January 2026 edition of Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) International Magazine is not merely a collection of articles; it is a carefully curated intellectual map of Africa’s dialogue with itself and with the wider world. Published in Nigeria by the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ), this issue affirms journalism as a cultural, ethical, and political act—one that crosses borders, disciplines, and historical timelines.
At the heart of the issue is the cover interview with Nigerian writer and cultural diplomat Esther Adelana, whose journey from teenage philosophical essays to the internationally translated play Ìbálé (The Broken Pot) embodies the magazine’s ethos. Her insistence on using African stories to articulate universal experiences—especially women’s struggles—sets the tone for an edition deeply invested in cultural authenticity and global resonance. Adelana’s work, rooted in Yoruba mythology yet translated into Arabic and Russian, symbolizes Africa speaking in its own voice while being understood worldwide.
This global reach is echoed in Dr. Hussein Bassir’s meditation on Alexandria as a city that “belongs to the universe.” Alexandria emerges not just as a historical metropolis but as a living metaphor for coexistence, knowledge, and plurality—values that CAJ itself champions. From Egypt, the reader is transported to India and Nepal through Mukti Rijal’s deeply personal travel narrative to the Taj Mahal, where wonder, memory, and environmental consciousness converge, reminding us that heritage preservation is inseparable from planetary responsibility.
Art and imagination receive profound attention in Ashraf Dali’s critical reading of Mohammed Yunus’s visual works, where color and movement become spiritual inquiry. This aesthetic reflection is complemented by Eldar Akhadov’s philosophical essay on poetry as the essence of human existence—useless in utilitarian terms, yet indispensable to humanity’s spiritual survival.
Fiction and theatre further expand the issue’s emotional and intellectual range. Mohammed Ibrahim Taha’s novel The Gate to the Life, in translation, explores “transparent borders,” while Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid’s theatrical piece on Hossam El Sokkari portrays reinvention, freedom, and creative resistance through the lens of stand-up performance stripped of taboo themes. Culture here is not static; it is daring, ironic, and alive.
The magazine does not shy away from politics and power. Strong journalistic interventions address global injustice and press freedom: CAJ’s condemnation of aggression against Venezuela, critical analyses of African reactions to global power politics, Hon. James Onifade’s hard-hitting commentary on security and accountability in Nigeria, Eugene Dube’s exposure of media repression in Eswatini, and Donald Tlaka’s nuanced reading of South Africa’s diplomacy in a fragmented world. Together, they reaffirm journalism as a moral stance.
Finally, the journey ends in Indonesia, with Nia S. Amira’s exploration of sacred geography and living tradition in Yogyakarta—another reminder that history, spirituality, and identity remain intertwined.
In sum, CAJ International Magazine January 2026 is a testament to African journalism’s maturity: intellectually confident, culturally rooted, globally engaged, and unafraid to confront beauty and brutality alike. CAJ Chairman Michael Ayodeji Adeboboye is the Editor-in-Chief of CAJ International Magazine, and CAJ Secretary General Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid is his deputy.
The Editorial Board of CAJ International Magazine extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to our distinguished authors and contributors whose insightful works have enriched this edition: Temitayo Adelana, Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Dr. Hussein Bassir, Mukti Rijal, Eldar Akhadov, Mohammed Ibrahim Taha, and Sharqawi Hafez for his accomplished translation, as well as Dela Ahiawor, Mutayoba Arbogast, Hon. Comrade James Onifade, Eugene Dube, Donald Tlaka, and Nia S. Amira. Their diverse voices, spanning literature, arts, travel, philosophy, politics, diplomacy, and cultural studies, collectively embody the spirit of intellectual openness and journalistic responsibility that defines CAJ International Magazine, and we are honored by their commitment, creativity, and trust in this platform.
Source: https://thesilkroadtoday.com/2026/01/10/a-continental-conversation-with-the-world/