He sighed. “I’ve never told you this either,” he said to Chudi who was looking on quietly. “Most new people we’ve met don’t ask, and Bimbo is the last person to raise the topic. I’d rather not talk about it either.” “I’m sorry,” I put in, “I didn’t mean to pry.” “No, no, it’s not … Continue reading Best Friends Forever – 2
Though I get by, I’m not very good at making friends. In university, I only had two close friends. My girlfriend, Nkechi, left the country after her youth service and we lost contact. As the years went by, I remained close to Chudi, and after we had settled into our jobs, he ended up becoming … Continue reading Best Friends Forever – 1
The decision to self-publish my first book, A Heart to Mend, arose naturally from sharing excerpts of it on my blog. Subscribers loved the story, connected with the characters, and offered genuine feedback. They wanted more, and so I gave them the complete book. Some critics of self-publishing for profit have said that I could … Continue reading Naijastories – Beyond Writing to Community Building
I think of Nigeria as home. A home that has stuff scattered all over the place but is still home. To understand the way Nigeria gets on my nerves, you have to know that I am something of a neat freak, I want things to be in their rightful place around me. I want things … Continue reading Nigeria, My Nigeria
Dunni couldn’t remember when she’d had to creep around like this. She’d thought her job was stressful, now she couldn’t wait to get back to it and leave this Nigerian drama behind. The memorial service and reception were over and her mother had come to where she’d been with the event planner and the caterers … Continue reading Dunni 10 – Babs is an excellent kisser?
It was only as I organized my Nigerian and few other African books in my bookshelf that I realized how much they’ve grown in the past couple of years. It may be because I’m also a writer and author, but there’s also the fact that there a lot more Nigerian authors these days, and they … Continue reading What Does Your Library of Nigerian Books Look Like?
Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko is a novel set between the early 80s and current day Nigeria and the story follows Morayo, a young girl growing up in Ibadan. In the beginning, we meet Morayo and her sister, Eniayo, who is an albino and their age of innocence as they go through … Continue reading Review of Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko
Compared to previous years and previous years shortlists, this latest commonwealth shortlist for both the story prize and the book prize is a slap in the face of Nigerians. I really don’t want to believe the writing quality in Nigeria is diminishing. There are at least two creative writing classes holding annually in Nigeria, and … Continue reading Nigerian Shortlisted for 2012 Commonwealth Writers Prize
“So did you miss me?” he asked. Dunni studied him for a moment and then thought; what the hell! She didn’t know why he was here at this point but she probably wouldn’t see him again after this. “Yes, I missed you. So what are you going to do about it?” He lifted her, and … Continue reading Dunni 11 – Who are you, really?
“Stop this, mama. I can’t listen to this anymore. Stop it!” “You stop it!” Her mother snapped, springing to her feet. “I can’t believe how ungrateful you’re being. So many single girls of your age will jump at this opportunity.” “Then go and offer it to them. I don’t need it, I don’t need you … Continue reading Dunni 9 – Why are you so stubborn?
The sound of the switch as the light came on woke her. Dunni stretched, blinking blearily in the harsh fluorescence. The sound of music playing in the background did not help the small scrimping at the back of her skull, and when she saw her mother standing at the bedroom door, she groaned. It couldn’t … Continue reading Dunni 8 – Abeg, go and sit down!
“Monty is the byproduct of war, not the actual occurrence, but the usually silent yet brutal aftermath that haunts freely as it achieves untold mental damage. The initial setting is a picturesque refugee camp where life oscillates between the grim, the gothic, and the vicious. It is located in the fictional nation of Beuvera, whose … Continue reading Monty by Philip U. Effiong – Book Review
“You never answered my question,” Mary said as she took one of the beef rolls. “What was that?” With images of a toothy, mischievous grin filling her mind, Dunni couldn’t remember what question Mary was referring to. “Do you ever plan on coming back to Nigeria?” This wasn’t the first time she’d been faced with … Continue reading Dunni 7 – Coming back to Nigeria
Loud music and the smell of dried fish filled the air, and Dunni tried not to sneeze as she hopped over a pothole the size of a ditch. They were on their way to what Mary, the event planner her aunt had hired to organize the memorial service for Dunni’s grandparents, called the Ankara Alley, … Continue reading Dunni 6 – Ankara Alley, Balogun Market
As the group waded across a shallow stream filled with rocks in the climb to the pool, Dunni missed her footing and nice smile was suddenly beside her. Forced to take his hand to keep from falling her skin tingled when he gripped her palm firmly. After a couple of steps, she looked up into … Continue reading Dunni (5) – A mutually pleasurable relationship