Despite what can feel like global doom and gloom on the daily, the literary world still finds much to inspire its community to create, share, and engage. While seemingly small, KUDU: A Journal Of South African Writing is a free, professionally designed online publication of poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, and visual art by both new and well-known names with a growing reputation. Twice a year, readers can enjoy reading online or downloading a printable PDF.
While the name may seem unique to those of us on this continent, KUDU is a Khoikhoi term chosen to honor the Khoisan peoples, the first indigenous peoples of South Africa. “It goes back to thousands of years ago,” Founder and Editor Claudio Perinot explains, “to the first recorded inhabitants of South Africa, the Khoisans.”
To Revive and Create Anew
“The word kudu was chosen for two main reasons: first, it is an extremely well-known word and animal in South Africa and is Khoisan. KUDU aims to be a venue not only for the four traditional South African communities (Blacks [African], Coloureds [mixed European and African ancestry], Indians [South Asian descent], and Whites [European descent]) but also for the Khoisans, whose ancient culture succumbed in the racial strife of modern South Africa. KUDU aims to pay tribute to these peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the country, and will endeavor to revive their forgotten legacy. Secondly, the Kudu has powerful twisted horns that make it immediately recognizable and unmistakable, especially to South Africans – thus KUDU, in its own small way, wants to be just as distinctive.”
Acknowledging, honoring, and reviving are a motivating factor in KUDU’s inception, as Perinot explains, “South Africa’s creative potential is enormous but, for various socio-economic reasons, it lies largely underexpressed. The goal is to create a small but dedicated outlet for the publication and promotion of only South African writing and visual art, and to represent the unity in diversity which characterizes the nation. KUDU will also strive to discover/uncover hidden or overlooked talent and encourage beginning writers and artists to submit.”
Editorial Expertise & Expectations
Perinot himself is a South African-Italian retired teacher. His poems have appeared in various publications, and his research on the Eliot–Verdenal friendship is often cited in studies on T.S. Eliot. He reads all submissions and selects the works that will be published in KUDU. “I seek submissions that demonstrate mastery of the subject and genre, showcasing originality, imagination, and technical skill,” he shares. “The work should reflect genuine effort and craftsmanship. Beyond that, it must convey a meaningful message that resonates with readers, offering new insights or challenging existing perspectives.”
Contributors whose works have been selected are notified via email as well as having their names published on the KUDU website four weeks after the submission deadline with no notification of rejection sent to the other submitters.
“For KUDU readers,” Perinot says, “expect a celebration of South Africa’s unity in diversity. Once a deeply divided nation under apartheid, South Africa embraced democracy in 1994, choosing to honor its differences while forging a shared identity. KUDU represents the voices that reflect the country’s social and cultural richness. KUDU believes in a unified South African literature, one that embraces every background, perspective, and story. Readers will (re)discover poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art by South Africans, whether from Tshwane or Wellington, Gqeberha or Miami, with subjects ranging from rural life in the Karoo to the vibrant pulse of urban Jo’burg or working in Hong Kong. They’ll encounter the invaluable cultural heritage of the Khoisan peoples alongside eclectic creativity, bold contrasts, and thought-provoking ideas. KUDU offers a space for South Africa’s complexity — its struggles, triumphs, and the creative spirit of its people expressed through literature and art in all forms.”
Growing from Social Roots
Perinot likens what he looks for Johnny Clegg’s song “Asimbonanga,” which was dedicated to Nelson Mandala. “Rooted in its social context,” Perinot explains, “the work both inspired and faced criticism through debate and censorship. Despite the divisive response, this simple song was a masterful blend of music, language, and meaning that made it persist, ultimately uniting audiences, proving that art that resonates with relevance and depth endures through time.”
Continuing this tradition of patience and persistence are recent contributors Lethokuhle Msimang, Sphesihle Qwabe, Maya Surya Pillay, Cornelia Smith Fick, Kirsty Mac Dougall, Zikhona Tshona, Nontobeko Mtshali, Ling Sheperd, Katrina Esau, Grant Shimmin, Andrea Williams, Lazola Pambo, Telle Hoeses, Caro Robson, and Terry Sadie.
Reflecting on the publication start-up process, Perinot advises, “Don’t expect things to unfold perfectly from the start. It takes a lot of time, work and resilience to keep things on track. Every single day. But it’s worth every single bit.” Keeping this in mind, he hopes “to publish regularly — and I’d like to see more fiction and art — to increase our social media presence, to keep everything free, to develop relationships with other lit mags, and to promote our contributors.”
Stop by KUDU today to engage with this vibrant publication with deep roots and a bright future.
