[3][4] ATCAL campaigned for greater diversification of the "English literature" traditionally taught in UK schools at that time, and sought to get writers such as Derek Walcott, Jean Rhys and V. S. Naipaul included on the A-level syllabus.

[6] As noted by a reviewer of the 20th-anniversary issue, "Writing Across Worlds": "Since its foundation...the literary magazine Wasafiri has focused on the idea of the writer as someone who transports the imagination beyond the maps of narrowly defined borders, and has promoted a range of new and established voices as well as signposting new waves in contemporary literature worldwide.

"[7] On its 25th anniversary Wasafiri was described by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour as having "provided a platform for hundreds of writers struggling to be heard at the outset of their writing careers, many of whom have since gone on to become world-renowned, award winners.

[16] Judges of the prize have included over the years: Aanchal Malhotra, Aida Edemariam, Andrea Stuart, Andrew Cowan, Anthony Joseph, Beverley Naidoo, Bidisha, Blake Morrison, Boyd Tonkin, Brian Chikwava, Caleb Femi, Christie Watson, Colin Grant, Daljit Nagra, Diana Evans, Diran Adebayo, Elleke Boehmer, Hirsh Sawhney, Imtiaz Dharker, Inua Ellams, Jackie Kay, John Haynes, Kerry Young, Leila Aboulela, Louise Doughty, Malika Booker, Margaret Busby, Marina Warner, Maya Jaggi, Mimi Khalvati, Monique Roffey, Moniza Alvi, Nikesh Shukla, Raymond Antrobus, Roger Robinson, Romesh Gunesekera, Sabrina Mahfouz, Simon Prosser, Tabish Khair, Tishani Doshi, Toby Litt, Vesna Goldsworthy, Warsan Shire, Yasmin Alibhai Brown, as well as Susheila Nasta.

A collection of specially commissioned essays "exploring the place of the writer, past and present, the value of critical thinking and the power of the written word", it includes contributions by Bernardine Evaristo, Githa Hariharan, Eva Hoffman, Romesh Gunesekera, James Kelman, Tabish Khair, Kei Miller, Blake Morrison, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Hsiao-Hung Pai, Olumide Popoola, Shivanee Ramlochan, Bina Shah, Raja Shehadeh and Marina Warner.