When a Character Really Needs a Happy Ending | Review of The Middle Daughter...
Chika Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter is a modern retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone. The story goes that Hades abducts Persephone and takes her to the underworld where she becomes the queen...
View ArticleA Compelling Tale of Love and Anti-Colonialism in 19th Century Sudan | Review...
Rivers Spirit by Leila Aboulela was published on March 7th. A few weeks later on April 15, two dissenting Generals plunged Sudan into armed conflict. The latest report by the UN says that over five...
View ArticleUnsilencing Greatness: The Extraordinary Life of Eswatini Intellectual Regina...
Last fall, Joel Cabrita contacted me, reaching out to send an advance copy for review. Interestingly enough, it was the semester when I was teaching my African Feminisms writing course, and a couple of...
View ArticleGhanaian Writer and Culture Curator Sylvia Arthur is the 2023 Brittle Paper...
It is with great honor that I present Sylvia Arthur as the 2023 Brittle Paper African Literary Person of the Year for her outstanding work as the founder of the Library of Africa and the African...
View ArticleNigeria’s Akada Children’s Book Festival is the 2023 Brittle Paper Literary...
I am delighted to name Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) held in Lagos, Nigeria the 2023 Literary Platform of the Year for championing children’s literature in Nigeria and fostering a safe and...
View ArticleZimbabwean Publisher Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure is the 2023 Brittle Paper...
I am delighted to award Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure the 2023 Brittle Paper Publisher of the Year honor for her work with Carnelian Heart Publishing. Vazhure is a writer, publisher, translator, and...
View ArticleSouth African Content Creator Nokukhanya Ntsaluba is the 2023 Brittle Paper...
I am thrilled to present the 2023 Brittle Paper Social Media Influencer of the Year award to Nokukhanya Ntsaluba (Instagram: @pretty_x_bookish) in recognition of her outstanding contributions toward...
View ArticleCoetzee as Shtick | A Review of The Pole by Jeanne-Marie Jackson-Awotwi
I’m interested in Coetzee above all as a South African writer – yes, still. To many people, including Coetzee himself, this has been far from the ideal way into his work. The reasons for this are...
View ArticleBeyoncé’s Theory of Genre and African Fiction
Beyoncé’s recent Album Cowboy Carter has raised questions about the politics and practice of genre. Can a black woman with deep roots in R&B, pop, and hip-hop make country music? With a repertoire...
View ArticlePsychedelics in African Fiction
Reading certain African fiction can feel like being in the head of someone tripping on a mind-altering drug. The emphasis on sensory details—colors, sounds, tactile sensations— immerses readers in a...
View ArticleThe Biafra War Revisited in Chigozie Obioma’s War Narrative | A Review of The...
The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma is prescient in the context of all the wars taking place today. It was hard not to think of Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine as I encountered Obioma’s depiction of...
View ArticleAre You Hankering for an African Legal Thriller? | A Review of Iris Mwanza’s...
For most of us, a bad day at work could be an unkind email from a boss. For Grace Zulu, the lead character in Iris Mwanza’s The Lions’ Den, a bad day at work is being pushed to the ground by a...
View ArticleThe Art and Politics of African Book Cover Design | InstaLive Event with...
Ever wondered about the story behind book covers? The art that make us decide whether to pick up a book? On July 18, join Dr. Ainehi Edoro and South African graphic designer Megan Ross on Instagram...
View ArticleZambia’s Iris Mwanza and Senegal’s Mai Sennaar Longlisted for the Center for...
Two African writers have been longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, an honor that celebrates outstanding debut novels: Zambian novelist Iris Mwanza for The Lions’ Den and Senegalese...
View ArticleThe African Writer’s Handbook: A Monthly Masterclass Series for Aspiring Authors
Brittle Paper’s Writing Room and The Island Prize are excited to announce The African Writer’s Handbook: A Monthly Masterclass Series for Aspiring Authors. The events are free. Registration (here) is...
View Article43 Short Stories to Get You Caught Up on New African Sci-fi/Fantasy
African science fiction and fantasy is still on the rise. For those who want to catch up on new stories, authors, and trends, we are happy to present this list of 43 stories compiled by Nigerian SFF...
View ArticleHow Zimbabwean Authors Are Monetizing Whatsapp
Zimbabwean authors are using WhatsApp to self-publish novels, build huge following, and make money, according to a report published by Aljazeera. The report, written by journalist Chris Muronzi,...
View ArticleCuba Awards Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Two Prestigious Prizes for...
Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka was honored with two prestigious awards in Cuba. Soyinka, who recently turned 90th birthday, was awarded both the Haydee Santamaria Medal and the Dulce María Loynaz...
View ArticleWhen Falling Apart is a Beautiful Thing | Review of Like Water Like Sea by...
Like Water Like Sea by Nigerian-German author Olumide Popoola is a novel that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s the story of Nia, a young woman in London. When we first meet...
View ArticleCheck out the 12 Books Featured at the 2024 Lagos Book & Art Festival!
Twelve books will be the focus of the 2024 Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF). The festival will run from November 11th to 17th at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, and is themed “Breakout: Hope is a...
View Article