Rubanga? Issue 2 open for submissions

In June my friend Kevin and I launched a new project, a journal of arts comprised of the thoughts, reflections and creations of people around the world who are concerned with the plight of northern Uganda. Our first issue included poetry, short fiction and photography from artists in Uganda and America, which were hailed by one reader as "searing the soul."

The journal's title is a question of sorts. The word 'rubanga' has two meanings in the Acholi language of northern Uganda: 'God' and 'hunchback'. This linguistic tension holds a pervasive significance in the situation of northern Uganda, which Kevin and I try to capture by asking on the cover of each issue, "Rubanga?" The same tension fills the pages, as artists from Uganda, America and around the world explore the great questions of humanity.

Now we are inviting you to continue this exploration with us in the second issue. We now accept submissions from anyone concerned with northern Uganda - whether you have casually wondered about the conflict or have lived your life in this war zone. And don't feel that you need to take northern Uganda as your subject; all subject matter is welcome.

We accept any type of creation that is publishable in the form of a digital book, such as poetry, short story, essay, photography, illustration, computer aided graphics, etc. All writing should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents or plain text files. Photography and artwork should be submitted as high-quality jpegs. Unfortunately we can't publish every submission that we receive, but know that we do appreciate and consider every piece that you send.

We are extremely excited to see the creations that we'll receive for this issue. Please send all submissions to rubangamara@gmail.com by August 15, or to Kevin or I, if you have our email addresses. The 2nd issue will be published online in September here at jamestravels.com.

Fine Print: By submitting to Rubanga? you give us permission to publish your creation in this or any future issue. However, unlike some publishers we don't restrict you from publishing your work elsewhere as well. In fact, we retain no rights to your work, save sharing them in our little journal, and we appreciate you giving us permission to do so. After all, we're not paying you. If you submit a written creation whose formatting is important, please make a note to that effect on the top of that document, and all efforts will be made to retain the original formatting.

Rubanga? Eidtor's Note

(This note was supposed to be included in Rubanga? but somehow got deleted in the final draft. Here it is, in its entirety.)

“Rubanga” is a word from the Acholi language of northern Uganda. The most common of its two meanings is “God;” the word that the many Christians of Acholiland use to address the Most High. The other meaning is “hunchback” – the same word wafted to heaven in the incense of prayer is placed like a crown (of thorny irony?) upon the tilted heads of those with scoliosis or growths on their backs.

The title of this journal – “Rubanga?” – is a question that draws its breath from that paradox of the Acholi language, and when it speaks asks the voiceless questions of humanity – those questions that art was created to pursue. But maybe not to answer.

I have been a seeker of answers, my rationality curbed only by a rational understanding of rationality’s limits. And in my quest I have heard them, read them, repeated them – answers to questions that have always been asked, answers that claim for themselves triumph over the most gravitational uncertainties in history. Thus far I have found the answers lacking.

The questions – ah, there are the wonders. The great questions are doors to worlds in which the bravest and most fascinated men have walked, climbed, left their hieroglyphics on the walls. Many of the answers I have learned seem like locks, little shiny padlocks on those doors. Locks locked because behind those doors are mountains of paradox and seas of confusion. Locked because the worlds found through the questions are epic, and explored only with great effort and at great cost. Locked because if the door opens we are compelled to explore.

For me the question “Rubanga?” is such a door, and this journal is part of the exploration. I invite you to join me, not in searching for answers, but in exploring a world or questions.

James A. Pearson
Editor of Various Miscellany

A Surprise

My friend Kevin and I have been working on a new journal of arts.  It's called "Rubanga?", and is designed to give those concerned with northern Uganda a forum to share their artistic creations.

In this first issue I personally have a couple of poems published, and most of the photos used for backgrounds and on the cover are mine.  There are some excellent pieces by others as well, so please check it out.  Right click (or control click, my Mac friends) on the cover page below and choose "Save Target File" or "Download Linked File" or whatever option sounds like one of those.  Other wise you can open it in your browser and save it from there, but it might take a while to load.  You can also find it in the sidebar.

For this first issue we limited our pool of contributors, but next issue the floodgates are open.  If you're reading this blog you are most likely concerned in some way with northern Uganda, and are therefore qualified to submit to "Rubganga?".  You can send writing, photos, or any other art that can be digitally published to rubangamara[at symbol]gmail[dot]com.  Not all submissions can be used, but we appreciate each and every one.  More detailed jargon can be found on page 2 of the first issue.

Enjoy!