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Abdifatah Shataf

 

The Rogue Son

Abdifatah Shafat

A little while later, they gathered around Socane with what they could find of the money, and he counted it. They had long learned that when their father was angry with any of them, none was safe. After he finished the counting, he looked at them grimly; the money was ten shillings short

‘Ye!’ Her exclamation was greeted by a slap so stinging it threw her to the ground. She dug into the earth, wet soil crammed in her nails; pounds of sweat dropped by her side; chills of horror remembered, made worse by this night, a night as black as death.

 

 

Night of Callous thrust

Joy Isi Bewaji
Joy Isi Bewaji
Farai Madzimbamuto

 

The Burden

Farai Madzimbamuto

His former friends had come upon him in broad daylight on the street and clubbed him with sticks and stones and crushed his head. It was said that his brains spilled out, but he continued to breath and fight for life. There was no hope, even when he got to the hospital.

Siraj’s wife and infant son had lived there with him until the day they were both found dead in the Gandhi Memorial Park, shot in the head at close range.
... Siraj was supposed to have committed suicide with his wife, but ... had a change of heart at the last minute.

 

Hajira Amla

 

Hajira Amla
Jennifer Makumbi

 

The Joys of Manhood

Jennifer Makumbi

 

He gave Clive his half-smoked cigarette. Clive lifted an unsteady hand and held the stompie pointing inwards toward his palm as he’d seen gangsters do on television.

‘You look like a bag of dirty clothes Clive. Have you no self-respect? And you stink man!’

 

Tik-Tok

Jennifer Makumbi

 

Marion Grammer
Emmanuel Sigauke

 

Cross-Country

Emmanuel Sigauke

He is standing a little too close. You guess he is Nigerian before he even opens his mouth because of the heavy chains lolling from his neck and the diamonds drooping from his ears. And that ring with a big 'G' that winks every time his hand catches the glare of the sun.

 

You in Paradise

Novuyo Tshuma

Novuyo Tshuma

Sola Osofisan

 

Blood will Call

Sola Osofisan

 

She had pushed Itangbemi, their son, into the world before death’s eager hands could seize him too, giving the Storyteller two reasons to go to the big city for the last time: a baby and a body.

A man sitting slightly out of the circle of men under the shadow of the sun said: “This moustache of yours was already shaved by the Tunjur girls a long time ago, give away this whip of yours to Marieouma to finish off this damned porridge and stop this hollow pretense to manliness!

 

Stirring Ashes

Yousif AlMahri

Yousif Almahri

Timothy Spence

 

Naked Lady

Timothy Spence

The Naked Lady appeared one hot May day along the dusty main road of campus. ... Alone, she carried the same thing she wore, nothing. One hand formed a meaty fist, the other was open, swinging in time with her strong gait.

The man laughs. He squats so that he can look him in the eye. ‘Listen, young man, you’ll never see your father again! But don’t worry; you don’t have to fear me, yet. Your father has chosen an option for you that we did not have.

 

Voice of the Gods

Dango Mkandawire

Dango Mkandawire
Abubakar Ibrahm

 

Closure

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

 

Sabo Dada died exactly thirty-six hours and fourteen minutes after his wedding. He was run over by a cyclist as he made to cross the street. He had gone out to get a phone card to call and thank those who had played a part in his wedding. He died instantly.
Menire had found a carton of beer of reasonable antiquity under his bed. A family of rats had nestled in it, but the liquid contents were fine, really. The hoard of beer was warm, but the evening was cool, anyway.

 

The Fall of Phiri Bombai

Chuma Nwokolo

Chuma Nwokolo

   
       
         
     
     
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