I spent part of my childhood with my grandparents in a small town in Ghana. My grandfather was blind, so we didnt have a TV. Instead, we listened to the radio religiously and read storybooks from the towns modest library. The radio helped me develop a vivid imagination. The text arrangement and the different illustration styles in the storybooks inspired me to start making things myself.

Ive always wanted to publish my own magazine. In 2011, I registered one with the National Media Commission of Ghana. But when the internet became more widespread and social media began grabbing people’s attention with silly videos, I gave up on that dream.

A few years ago, my life took an unexpected turn. My design career hit rock bottom, and I was struggling. As part of the healing process, I bought a cheap sketchbook and began creating inspirational lettering and typography, often accompanied by simple illustrations. I posted these online every day to encourage others.

Soon, I had enough work to compile into a zine called M, short for Mojaka. This is my own publication, and I have the freedom to do as I please. But the main goal is to use illustration, literature, and typography to stir the mind, awaken the heart, and move the hands to do good.

Relying heavily on black and shreds of yellow, the overall design and layout are intentionally kept as simple as possible to counteract the vast, colourful work AI has been churning out lately.

What youll read in this zine may not necessarily be new, but the presentation is fresh.

Download the inaugural edition of M zine by clicking on this sentence.

And feel free to spread the word.

Discipline
Typography
Illustration
Literature

M zine No.1 front cover
Too broke to work for free artwork for M zine back cover