Chidima Anekwe is a Nigerian-American short story writer and essayist and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. She is recently graduated from Yale University, where she studied English Literature. Her writing has appeared in or is forthcoming from MAYDAY, Torch Literary Arts, SWING, Chapter House Journal (formerly Mud City), The Madrid Review, and elsewhere. She has received…
A Short Story by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure It has been a year since Harusiyi died. The homestead is brimming with progeny from all over the country and abroad for magadziro aHarusiyi, the Karanga ceremony to bring back the spirit of the deceased into the home to look after the family. Mudzimu will, going forward, be…
Joram was about to exit the hut when his father’s wife said he couldn’t leave yet. She had an urgent issue to discuss with him. He stopped, wondering what could be more urgent than all the things they had done together. He sat on the bed and waited for her to continue. She sat on…
Reviewed by Beaven Tapureta The Testament of Black Jesus (2024), an epic by the award-winning protest poet Philani Amadeus Nyoni, presents a black saviour who, according to the poet’s words, ‘rises to speak great and dangerous words’. The saviour has a responsibility thrust upon her by past events, to spread the legacy, good or bad,…
Story by Beaven Tapureta Some writers go on retreats with a specific structure which subtly or openly calls for participants to have a refined product at the end. There are benefits, of course, drawn from these retreats which involve working with experienced facilitators who closely follow your development for weeks or months. In terms of…
It’s my first time in Kampala; this city that’s as cacophonous as a hen yard. Traders selling their merchandise by the roadside seem to be in a contest to see who can sing in the loudest tone as they try to arrest the attention of passers-by. Several young men stand in circles, watching and cheering on a fellow who’s inside the circle, dancing to Lingala music from a huge cassette player.
Story by Khumbulani Muleya The International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF) 2023, themed “Women of Hope,” took place in Harare from November 28 until December 2, while the Bulawayo edition is slated to run from December 8 to 10. The theme portrays stories of women who make choices about the paths they take at…
Tee Ngugi, the eldest of Ngugi’s offspring is a writer, columnist, and singer-songwriter of note. His short fiction, essays, and commentaries have appeared in several publications including New Orleans Review, St Petersburg Review, Kwani, Brittle Paper, Timbuktu, New Black Magazine, Jahazi, and The East African, among others.
The much-anticipated novel by Christopher Mlalazi is now here, published by Jacana Media (South Africa). “‘There is something I’ve never told you about our king,’ Father was saying as we walked around the palisade. We were three abreast, and I was in the middle. He looked at me. ‘Even Guduza doesn’t know about this too,…
HARARE, ZIMBABWE: While international honour and tributes for the African literary legend Professor Ama Ata Aidoo who died aged 81 on May 31, 2023 are still pouring, Zimbabwe will also bear everlasting memories of her inspiring character. In Zimbabwe, she consolidated her writer’s voice, becoming a full-time writer. Not only that, but when Prof…
