My teacher came as promised. She was a young woman in her early twenties called Miss Jenny, and although she was very sweet and patient, it was rough at first. I couldn’t grasp what she was teaching no matter how hard I tried. After two weeks of struggling with my lessons, Nafisa pulled me into her garden. When we sat on the bench, she asked conversationally, “I’ve heard you’re having some difficulty with your lessons. What do you think is …
“Why is everyone afraid of you?” I asked again, drawing their attention. “You weren’t,” she hedged. “You kept bothering me until I gave in.” I laughed. “That is why I don’t understand. You have good energy.” …
Written by Precious Nwosu Growing up, many of us were taught to extend kindness and empathy to neighbours and strangers as a way of life. Think of the Good Samaritan from the Christian Holy Bible. Think …
Written by Miracle Okah “I will not give birth to a life that will discriminate against my gender. My own flesh and blood must not become a blade turned against me.” “If the world born from …
Written by Nifemi I have a lot of not-so-peculiar things to be grateful for about my human experience. One of these things is the ability to detach myself from the collective, stand at a mental corner, …
I was dreading returning home for the New Year. Kwame and I had enjoyed an amazing Christmas alone on vacation, and it was now time to spend the new year with family. I had missed my …
My internal nervous wreck was not over. I listened with half an ear as Mr Anderson bombarded us with stories about the mines and how much better he was doing than all the neighbours’ mines. I …
Written by By Precious Ologunwa I was twelve — still a child, but already carrying a body the world believed belonged to someone older. My breasts began to grow rapidly, far faster than anything I was …
When they were ready to leave, my mother patted the space on the bed next to her and invited me to come and sit closer. “How have the bedroom activities between you and your husband been?” …
Two months and two weeks after I became a wife, my mother and aunt came to visit. They gushed over the house, as I knew they would. My mother could hardly tear her eyes away from …
Written by Gbemi Trabaye My story is one that several people could probably relate to, but yet – there are always intricate, unique and subtle details that stand out each time. Whenever asked the question, “Where …
