We are thrilled to announce a special edition of the WIOMSA Magazine focusing on ocean literacies (OL) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. This special edition aims to explore the diverse ways communities, researchers, artists, and practitioners understand, relate to, and communicate about the ocean—highlighting the richness and plurality of ocean knowledge systems across the region.
Why Ocean Literacies?
We deliberately use the plural term “ocean literacies” instead of the singular “literacy” to acknowledge the myriad ways of knowing, being with, and understanding the ocean. Despite the wealth of ocean knowledge in the WIO, many ocean literacy initiatives are still largely shaped by “Global North” narratives. Our goal with this edition is to shed light on local, Indigenous, and arts-based practices, emphasizing how different cultures and communities perceive and engage with the ocean—past, present, and future.
Call for Contributions
We invite artists, practitioners, researchers, teachers, policymakers, community groups, and anyone passionate about creative and inclusive ways of sharing ocean knowledge to contribute. Contributions can take many forms, including photostories, artworks, poems, stories, articles, or research summaries.
The deadline for submissions is 31st July 2025. Please send your submissions to secretary@wiomsa.org, cc’ing lilian@wiomsa.org.
Special Features & Events
This edition will be curated by the Southern African Resilience Alliance Working Group focused on co-imagining resilient and equitable African futures through arts-based practices. It will be featured at the upcoming 13th WIOMSA Symposium (28th September – 3rd October 2025), which will include a dedicated mini-symposium session on ocean literacies.
Join us in celebrating and amplifying the diverse voices and visions shaping the future of the ocean in the Western Indian Ocean. Your contributions will help illuminate the plural ways of knowing the ocean and inspire new pathways for engagement, understanding, and stewardship.
For full details and submission instructions, please visit the official announcement WIOMSA Magazine – Call for Submissions: Ocean Literacy
