There was an old woman with a ragged scar on her cheek who lived alone on the outskirts of Dahomey. The people all knew of her and would gawk and whisper when she passed them in the market square — the only time she entered the city — to buy fruits and vegetables. At night, they said, as if […]
Archive by Author
The Frozen Heart: Episode Two | The Witches of Auchi Series | Anthony Azekwoh
“To you, oh Goddess, we give our dreams, To you, oh Goddess, we give our faith, To you, oh Goddess, we give our breath. Guide us, heal us, lend us your power. We are your daughters, do not fail us in our need.” Prayer to Oya. *** Sharon Uyai was meant to be happy. She […]
Son of Affliction: Episode One | The Witches of Auchi Series | Anthony Azekwoh
“I was there in the fire, the flames that kindled the world. There was darkness, there was emptiness, there was nothing; except me, that is.” — Doreen, Private Journals 1806. *** On 71 Adelabu Street, Surulere, is a two-storey house split in half. Above is an apartment that gathers dust, mould and cobwebs. Underneath is […]
The Auditory Art of Storytelling in A Small Silence | Reviews by Ainehi
A Small Silence is the debut novel by Nigerian poet Jumoke Verissimo. The story is sad, funny, and inspiring all at once and introduces two of the most intriguing characters I have encountered in Nigerian fiction in a long while. Most importantly, the novel showed me how sound could heighten the emotional intensity of […]
Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Jumoke Verissimo’s A Small Silence
We are happy to share an exclusive excerpt from Jumoke Verissimo’s A Small Silence, which comes out on July 30. The novel tells an unusual story, one that readers will find delightfully surprising. Every day at 9 pm, a young woman named Desire visits an ex-prisoner named Prof. in his dark apartment (he likes the […]
Books & Rhymes Podcast is Using Music to Inspire Readers of African Books
Books & Rhymes, one of our favorite Instagram book review platforms, is expanding into the podcast scene, and we are beyond delighted. The Books & Rhymes podcast is based on the brilliant idea of pairing books and music. The presenter Sarah Ozo-Irabor takes listeners on a delightful journey through the heart of a book, with […]
#PoetryTalk | Poetry is the Excavation of Hidden Things | Interview with Titilope Sonuga
Nigerian-Canadian poet, writer, and performer, Titilope Sonuga is the featured guest of this week’s #PoetryTalk interview series. We discuss her long-awaited poetry collection, This is How we Disappear, Chibok girls, womanhood, female victimization, and poetic form. *** Titilope Sonuga Titilope Sonuga is an award-winning poet, writer and performer who calls both Edmonton, Canada and Lagos, […]
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