After reading Ukamaka’s Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. A few months ago, I was having a discussion with one of my mentors, and she was expressing how there was a lack of middle-grade books in Nigeria. We went around the bookstore that day, as we were in […]
This interview took place between Nnaemeka Nnam and Ani Kayode Somtochukwu via email. Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is an award-winning Nigerian writer and queer liberation activist. His work interrogates themes of queer identity, resistance, and liberation. His writings have appeared in literary magazines across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. And Then He Sang A Lullaby is his debut novel. […]
The validity of dreams should never be taken for granted. We see how one encounter or mishap can trigger the imagination beyond expectation. This story encapsulates how dreams can grow wings and fly, although in this case, it sails on a boat. “When the Sky is Ready, the Stars Will Appear“ is a stellar achievement, […]
The Eternal Audience of One is a comic relief written by Remy Ngamije. Based invarious settings. From Rwanda to Namibia to Cape Town and even the city of love; Paris.Shedding light on the strains of the ward and being a refugee. The nostalgia and pain of being awayfrom home while trying to find one’s footing […]
Going on Goodreads after reading a book that was everything and seeing low ratings can be very annoying. I have a bad habit of reading low-rating reviews of my favourite books and shaking my head, wondering if we read the same thing. In this article, I will be telling you five books that I take […]
“Shells are houses, you know. They are abandoned homes.”“You cannot run from that which is part of you. You cannot run from yourself.” After a long reading slump (which has nothing to do with the book but my recent schedules). Ihave been able to finally finish The House of Shells by Efua Traore and I […]
We Need New Names, a presumably semi-autobiographical novel captures the world of childhood of Darling and her friend Bastard, Chipo, Godknows, Shbo and Stina growing up in the ironically named Paradise, a township in Zimbabwe. We enter into their games of playing Find Bin Laden, chanting Who Discovered the Way to India? Vasco da Gama […]
I was promised that time would heal all wounds and genuine apologies or efforts to make amends could right wrongs but life is never, has never and will never be that simple and forgiving. I can’t remember exactly what made me decide that I just had to read City of Girls but I supposeit had […]
Jasmine Warga’s My Heart and Other Black Holes is a debut Young Adult novel first published in 2015 by HarperCollins. The novel revolves around the life of Aysel Seran, a sixteen-year-old Turkish-American girl living in Kentucky, United |States of America. Aysel (pronounced as Uh-zel) is forced to live the life of an outcast after her father is sent to prison for murdering her […]
This conversation occurred between Seun Olubameru and Ifeoma Igwe via text Ifeoma Igwe is a lover and supporter of African literature. Her play was a finalist in the fourth annual Beeta Arts Playwriting Competition and her essay was also shortlisted for the second annual Vogue Business Talent Competition. She enjoys writing contemporary fiction and her […]