Fiery Scribe Review — Masthead 2026

The Board

Founder / Editor-in-Chief

Elisha Oluyemi

Elisha Oluyemi is a Yoruba writer who explores the planes of identity, memory, and madness. His writing has been reviewed in Locus Magazine and appears in Strange Horizons, Lampblack, Lolwe, Mystery Tribune, Broken Antler, Isele Magazine, SledgeHammer, KokonutHead, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Brittle Paper, and elsewhere. Joint-winner of the Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize for Short Story (2023) & winner of the Ikenga Short Story Prize (2023), Elisha was shortlisted for the Isele Short Story Prize (2024) & the YWC Award for Short Story (2022). He is a contributing author for the Love Grows Stronger in Death anthology (Witsprouts, 2024) & Unbound: An Anthology of New Nigerian Poets Under 40 (Griots Lounge, 2024). He serves as a mentor in the SprinNG Writing Fellowship.

Fiction Editor

Olayinka Yaqub

Olayinka Yaqub is a Lagos-based, Nigerian writer. His short works of fiction have won the Sandra Whiteley’s Prize for Children’s Literature and the Awele Creative Trust Award, and have also made the shortlist for the Sevhage’s K&L Prize for Fiction, the HNM Prize for African Storytelling, amongst others. When he’s not writing or researching creative ways to commit murder (in books of course,) he doubles as a chemical engineering undergrad at the University of Lagos. His debut crime fiction novel featuring two rival detectives on the hunt for a Robin-hood-like serial killer in Lagos was published by Masobe Books in August 2025.

Fiction Editor

Okorie Divine

Okorie Divine is a writer, editor, and student of English and Literature at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His works are available in Fiction Niche, African Writers Magazine, The Muse Journal, Brittle Paper and elsewhere. He emerged winner of the 2023 Abubakar Gimba Prize for Creative Nonfiction and was shortlisted for the Sevhage Prize for Creative Nonfiction. He tweets at OkorieDivine9.

Poetry Editor

Adesiyan Oluwapelumi

ADESIYAN OLUWAPELUMI, TPC XI, is a medical student, poet, essayist & Poetry Editor of Fiery Scribe Review from Nigeria. Winner of the Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Prize (2025), An Unserious Collective, Adroit Journal Summer Program, HUES Foundation & SprinNG Writers’ Fellow, he & his works are featured in The Republic, Electric Literature, Only Poems, 20.35 Africa, Isele Magazine, Poetry Sango-Ota, A Long House, Brittle Paper, Fantasy Magazine, Poet Lore, Tab Journal, Poetry Wales & elsewhere. His chapbook “Mouthful with Cinders” was selected by Chris Abani and Kwame Dawes for the APBF New-Generation African Poets Chapbook Box-set Series (Akashic Books, forthcoming 2025).

Poetry Editor

Ayòdéjì Israel

Ayòdéjì Israel is a Pushcart Prize and BotN nominee. He is a Poetry Editor at Fiery Scribe Review and a Poetry Reader at Fahmidan Journal. He was a finalist for the 2025 Rhysling Award, Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize, Sevhage Non-fiction Prize, and Interwoven Poetry Contest. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Channel Mag, Lolwe, Apparition, Transition, Consequence, Fahmidan, Plork Press, Interpret, PRISM international, Obsidian Lit, Bacopa, Bracken, Sandy River, Whale Road, Deadlands & elsewhere. He tweets @Ayo_einstein.

Editorial Programmes Editor

FELIX ESHIET

Felix Eshiet is a Nigerian writer and Efik-Ibibio poet. He has work in ONLY POEMS, Madrid Review, 20.35 Africa, Porter House Review, Efiko, and elsewhere. He is a 2025 Obsidian Foundation fellow and recipient of the 2025 Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize for Poetry.

Features & Interviews Editor

OLAMILEKAN TIJANI

Tijani Olamilekan is a Nigerian Human Anatomy graduate with a First Class degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State. With a strong interest in neuroscience, biomedical research, and medical sciences, he is passionate about understanding the structure and function of the human body and contributing to scientific knowledge through research. His academic experience includes undergraduate research, scientific presentations, and participation in medical science competitions. Beyond his academic pursuits, Olamilekan is committed to education and mentorship, sharing knowledge and supporting students in their academic development. He aspires to further his education in neuroanatomy and medicine while building a research portfolio that contributes to scientific advancement and improved understanding of human health.

The Readers

Poetry Reader

JOEL OYELEKE

Joel Oyeleke is a culture curator, poet and essayist. Shortlisted for the 2026 Evaristo Prize for African Poetry, he is a Fellow of Ken Saro Wiwa Int’l. Writers’ Residency, Ebedi Int’l. Writers’ Residency, and Griots Lounge Publishing Mentorship. He is currently a Poetry Reader for Fiery Scribe Review. Find him on X @joel_as_poetry, Facebook @joeloyeleke and Instagram @joel.oyeleke

Poetry Reader

OLUSOJI OBEBE

Olusoji Obebe is a Nigerian poet, fiction writer and essayist. He's a 2 x Best of The Net nominee and a law graduate from the University of Benin, Benin City. He is the Winner of the Fidelis Okoro Prize for Poetry 2024, the 3rd Prize Winner of the Prof Barr Osime Essay Writing Competition 2024 and 2nd Runner-up of the African Human Rights Short Story Competition 2023. His works, which explore memory, human experience and environmental justice, have been published widely, such as in Brittle Paper, Lumiere Review, MUSE Journal No. 51, Morrab Library, Salamander, The Shallow Tales Review, Akpata Magazine, Ubwali and elsewhere. Tweet @olusoji_obebe | Instagram: @olusojiobebe

Poetry Reader

MICHAEL OKAFOR

Michael Okafor is an Igbo writer and medical radiographer from Nigeria. His work has been shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize (2025), longlisted for the Alhaji Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize (2026), and was first runner-up for both the Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize (2025) and the SprinNG Annual Poetry Contest (2023). A member of the Nwokike Literary Club, his poetry is featured or forthcoming in Prism International, Chestnut Review, The Shore, and Broken Antler Magazine, among others. He’s on X (@okaformichael_) and Instagram (@okaformichael0808).

Poetry Reader

OSAHON OKA

Osahon Oka hails from Bini/Kwale ethnicity in present day Nigeria. He writes mostly poetry. His work has been published on Icefloe Press, Ubwali, Yarnz Magazine, Poetry Sango-Ota and elsewhere. He is one of the winners of the Visual Verse Autumn Writing Prize 2022, first runner up in the KIS Poetry competition, 2024. His writing focuses on the relationship between ravaged mind and nature, fetching from introspection.

Nonfiction Reader

CHRISTOPHER (NWANNE) AGWU

Nwanne Agwu is from Ọkpọsị, Nigeria. He has been longlisted twice for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and shortlisted for the Isele Nonfiction Prize. Nwanne was the 2026 prose judge of Bucknell University’s Cadigan Prizes for Younger Writers. His writing has appeared in Extra Teeth, Guernica, The Offing, West Branch, Southern Humanities Review, The Republic, Isele, Southword, and elsewhere. On Twitter (X), he is @NwanneAgwu

Nonfiction Reader

WINIFRED ÒDÚNÓKU

WINIFRED ÒDÚNÓKU is a Nigerian writer whose work explores literature, culture, identity, and everyday life. Her writing has appeared in Agbowó, Ubwali, Isele Magazine, Revista Periferias, African Writer Magazine, Carefree Magazine, Smart Mouth, Paste Magazine, AWiM News, Kurating Magazine, and elsewhere. A Best of the Net Nominee, she was longlisted for the 2024 Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Non-Fiction and was named a finalist for the 2025-26 Porter House Review Editor’s Prize for Fiction.

Fiction Reader

MUNACHIMSO OCHIABUTOR

Munachimso Ochiabutor has appeared in Kalahari Review, Efiko Mag, Lolwe, and elsewhere. He was a finalist for the Crystal Wilkinson Writing Prize, 2021 and won the National Entertainment Law Essay Competition in same year. In 2024, his story, “Broken Wings”, was long listed for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He holds a first class law degree from the University of Nigeria; practices law in Lagos, Nigeria; and tweets @munahdavid.

Fiction Reader

PEJUOLA RANSOME

Pejuola Ransome is a fiction reader and book reviewer whose interests lie in literary and contemporary fiction, psychological thrillers, and stories that explore complicated human relationships. She is interested in fiction that unsettles its readers, and finds something revealing in the messiness of human behaviour. Pejuola reads fiction for Reckon Review Magazine, Words-Empire Magazine, and has reviewed books for D’Lit Review, BookTrib, and Literary Denizens.

Fiction Reader

ADEYEYE RIHANAT ADEDIWURA

Adeyeye Rihanat Adediwura is a Nigerian writer, reader, and Human Anatomy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University. With an interest in fiction, poetry, and the complexities of human experience, she enjoys exploring the emotions, relationships, and unspoken truths that shape people's lives. Her appreciation for storytelling stems from its ability to illuminate perspectives, evoke empathy, and give voice to experiences that might otherwise go unnoticed. Beyond literature, she is interested in biomedical sciences and research, particularly neuroanatomy. She is also involved in research and literary communities that encourage collaboration, creativity, and intellectual growth. As a First Reader at Fiery Scribe Review, she looks forward to engaging thoughtfully with more literature and supporting the discovery of compelling voices and stories.