SHORT STORY: My way to happiness by Uzochukwu Okeke
“It’s okay to cry,” Mama whispered, gently patting my shoulder before taking a tray laden with garden eggs into the parlour, where Papa and the kinsmen chuckled amidst conversation. As I watched the men in the parlour, their faces impassive yet their laughter echoing, I couldn’t help but wonder about the hidden cruelties behind their […]
SHORT STORY: About Yesterday by Dumebi Ezekeke
Yesterday, I found myself in the backseat of a car, holding Jasmine as she sobbed into my shoulder. Her tears left streaks on my black shirt, her nose running unceremoniously. Yesterday, we buried her mother, who had fought a heart disease for five years and lost. In these moments, life seems to cast me as […]
SHORT STORY: Making Love by John Ebute
I remove my clothes with the same deliberate intent as a snake shedding its skin. She has done likewise and now reclines on the bed, a vision that sparks primal urges within me. My muscles tense, and my spirit is lost in the turmoil. Who can deny God’s existence? Can the mundane dance of bored […]
POETRY: I Am Not Alone by Yewande Akinse
I am not aloneamidst and throughthis meanderof meaning and void.today, I confront, selfthrough reflecting lenstoday, I challengemy most cherished ismsand the ideologiesthrough which I existin time I am not alone.for I have descendedfrom great ancestry.amidst and througha melanin cladetoday, I confront, selfto interrogate and negotiateexistence and essencethrough the opaque lensof mundane striving& being, in time […]
POETRY: My Relationship Saga by Raheemat Oluwatoyin Jimoh
Popping pills everydayBecause I can’t find a better wayI’m a drug seeker seeking drugs for healingI know what you’re thinking and you’re rightI’m an addictBut not of marijuana or cocaine, but of folic acid and OPIOIDSAddiction takes many forms, and mine wears a mask of healing Like a vampire, I take blood tooFrom sack to […]
POETRY: The Promise of Sun-Kissed Dreams by Tope Ogundare
One day, You will part your lips & suckle on happiness Like the butterfly’s proboscis Plunging into the nectary. Your vision will transform, & the world will burst into bloom In brilliant hues of sun-kissed gold & soft rose pink. Your heart will flutter like a butterfly’s wings; You will pirouette to the wind’s music, […]
7 Books By Nigerian Authors With Female Protagonists Across Genres
For too long, Nigerian literature has painted women in broad, stereotypical strokes, confining them to roles of submissive spouses or seductive sirens. These portrayals were deeply rooted in cultural traditions, the historical dominance of male authors, and colonial prejudices against women’s educational pursuits. However, the narrative landscape is shifting, thanks to a surge of Nigerian […]
The MFA Chronicles: Blessing O. Nwodo
The MFA Chronicles blog series offers perspective on the experiences of Nigerian writers who are currently or have done their MFA programs, shedding light on the challenges and rewards of such a journey. Nigerian writers who aspire to pursue their writing dreams can gain valuable insight into the application process, program selection, cultural and language […]
7 Editors Share Their Advice to Newbie Writers
Last week, I tweeted a call for writers and readers to share their 2023 achievements. It was heartening to read accomplishments like countless books devoured, festivals attended, stories embraced by literary magazines, the birth of new genres, and the thrill of publication. Yet, amidst the triumphs, some candidly confessed their apprehension, unable to muster the […]
The MFA Chronicles: O-Jeremiah Agbaakin
The MFA Chronicles blog series offers perspective on the experiences of Nigerian writers who are currently on MFA programs, shedding light on the challenges and rewards of such a journey. Nigerian writers who aspire to pursue their writing dreams can gain valuable insight into the application process, program selection, cultural and language barriers, and how […]
