Issue #24 of i-jusi, titled "South African Stories." 2007

From a historical and cultural perspective, i-jusi is one of the most significant and collectible publications in post-apartheid South African design history.

Birth of a "New Visual Order"

i-jusi (the Zulu word for "juice") was founded in Durban by prominent graphic designer Garth Walker in early 1995—just a year after South Africa’s historic first democratic elections. With the fall of apartheid, Walker launched the experimental magazine to challenge the dominant, Western-centric design aesthetics of the time. The publication asked a fundamental, radical question for a newly reborn nation: "What makes me African—and what does that look like?"

Radical Rarity (Never For Sale)

Despite gaining a massive international cult following and having its archives acquired by institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Victoria and Albert Museum, i-jusi has never been commercially for sale. It was published entirely as a non-commercial, self-funded passion project with an incredibly small print run—typically only around 300 copies per issue—and distributed for free to designers, artists, and contributors who shared its vision.

The "South African Stories" Issue

Issue #24 brought together an extraordinary roster of South African creative heavyweights to interpret local narratives. The issue featured contributions from award-winning speculative fiction author Lauren Beukes, acclaimed contemporary artist and satirist Anton Kannemeyer (co-founder of Bitterkomix), and designer Brandt Botes, alongside Walker himself.

Contributors include: Lauren Beukes - Brandt Botes - Rikus Ferreira - Adri Goosen - Roger Jardine - Anton Kannemeyer - Steven Kotze - Wilhelm Krüger - Travis Lyle - Andrew Miller - Phehello Mofokeng - Blake Pickering - Gareth Pike - Andrew Rich - Carl Roose - Alex Sudheim - Sifiso Taleni - Simon Villet - Garth Walker - Henning Wagenbreth.

Celebrating Local "Vernacular" Design

Historically, the raw, comic-vanguard art style on this cover reflects i-jusi's core mission: documenting and elevating South African street culture, township vernacular typography, and informal hand-painted vendor signage into a celebrated fine art form. It served as a vital, unfiltered platform for visual commentary during the country's complex transition into democracy.

207mm x 297mm

Very slight wear; top right of first few pages wrinkled.

R800