Peter Kimani’s novel Dance of the Jakaranda—published in the UK by Saqi Books—makes for an enlightening and beguiling read. At one level, it is the story of Kenya’s transition from British colonial rule to independence in 1963, told from the perspectives of a diverse range of protagonists. But as the narrative proceeds, Kimani gradually adds […]
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The Magic of Things Fall Apart
Sometime in April, I received an email from the BBC Culture’s editor to nominate five stories that I believed had “the most impact on shaping ideas and changing minds through history.” The same invitation had been sent to other writers, critics, and academic the world over. 108 people from 35 countries responded, including myself. On […]
This Essay Collection is a South Africa-Inspired Feminist Anthem for All Women
In the era of #metoo and #timesup, we are, more than ever before, in need of writing that deepens our understanding of feminism and the female experience. Women writers are stepping up to the task, spearheading all kinds of literary projects centered on exploring all the complexities of gender inequality while proposing strategies for resistance […]
Review | Lagos Noir, Edited by Chris Abani | Tendai Huchu
Lagos: city of myth. A sprawling megalopolis, home to 21 million souls and 21 million stories. Contemporary Nigerian fiction returns often to the city as a place for inspiration, but genre crime remains the best lens for interrogating urban locales. The crime writer is attracted to the underbelly, places far from the tourist trail, the […]
Review | Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction | Adefolami Ademola
READ: Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction | New Project Collects Powerful Nonfiction from Across Africa Just like previous generations have produced platforms like The Horn, Black Orpheus, the Mbari Club, The New Horn, amongst others, that captured new voices, culminating in the creation of the literary periods in the country, it is imperative, for every […]
Chibundu Onuzo is Coming to America! | See All the Dates
US-based fans of Chibundu Onuzo are in luck. Her critically acclaimed second novel Welcome to Lagos will officially be released in the US market on May 1 by Catapult. Onuzo kicks off a month-long US tour on the same day of the release. It promises to be an exciting tour. She will stop at major US […]
Introducing Brittle Paper’s Brunel Prize Poems Review Series
The entry of African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) expanded in more than one way the African literary scene. With its chapbook series and prizes, it helped revolutionize the poetry landscape on the continent. While the Glenna Luschei Prize, which honours a collection, and the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets, which recognizes best first […]
I hold a doctorate in English from Duke University and recently joined the Marquette University English faculty as an Assistant Professor. I love teaching African fiction and contemporary British novels. Brittle Paper is the virtual space/station where I play and experiment with ideas on how to reinvent African fiction and literary culture.
