Nommo is the Afrikan Newsmagazine at UCLA. It draws its name from the Ki-Swahili term Nommo, which means the magical power of the word. First printed December 4, 1968, Nommo joined UCLA’s Student Media in 1969 to become the first ethnic student run publication on a United States public university campus.

In today’s often confusing and certainly tumultuous societal environment the most obvious fundamental ingredient toward reason, understanding, and progress is improved communication of thoughts and realities. In that sense, Nommo is multipurpose and multifunctional. It fills a deep gap: it helps Black students identify and clarify a vast array of attitudes and goals, and it is an invaluable step toward wider communication between Black students and the campus community and the community-at-large. The world that the news media offers to their Black audiences is almost totally white in both appearance and attitude, save for the moments where Black death enters as a spectacle. In response, Nommo seeks to give currency to the expression of Black power for Black people through the power of the written word. Nommo serves and elevates the voices and perspectives of the Afrikan Diaspora.

In 1963 James Baldwin aptly noted, “The future of the Negro in this country is precisely as bright or as dark as the future of the country.” Nommo prioritizes the Afrikan diaspora community in order to shine light on the issues that reverberate throughout society. It is a beacon that seeks to find and report the truth.

Nommo staff volunteer their time and talent to serve the community through honest and accountable reporting. The cost of training to support the development of Black journalists, the cost of equipment, and the cost of printing all come out of a shoestring budget. Currently, the Nommo budget only supports one print issue per year. As we recommit to both print and digital publication, we ask you to support the work of Nommo Newsmagazine by donating here.