#Fagunwa

[haveyoureadthispoll]

A triumph of the mythic imagination, Forest of a Thousand Daemons unfolds in a landscape where, true to Yoruba cosmology, human, natural and supernatural beings are compellingly and wonderfully alive at once: a world of warriors, sages and kings; magical trees and snake people; spirits, ghommids and bog-trolls. Here are the adventures of Akara-ogun – son of a brave warrior and a wicked witch – as he journeys into the forest, encountering and dealing with all-too-real unforeseen forces, engaging in dynamic spiritual and moral relationships with personifications of his fate, perhaps projections of the terrors and obsessions that haunt man.

[hungwy]

for lunch i ate scrambled eggs with cream cheese and drank double shot espresso. wrote a little bit. been listening to Sherds Podcast, have loved nearly every episode. just finished their discussion of Forest of A Thousand Demons by D. O. Fagunwa, sounds fantastic

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Worldwide Story Structure (also genres): Phantasia Novels

Phantasia novels

As usual, looking for something else and found this instead... I'm still tracking down that fake Aristotle diagram's origin. But I really thought this was interesting. It shows someone can both take from the past and invent if one has enough authority and rather than saying a formula==commercial success (no such thing), question imperial powers and say, but this thing from my culture represents me better and so let's work on this...

[mybeingthere]

Bruce Onobrakpeya, D. O. Fagunwa (translated by Sole Soyinka) Forest of a Thousand Daemons, a Hunter’s Saga illustrations.

[lazyworksinprogress]

The list and links to Scribd/free places to read

The Yoruba: A New History - Akinwunmi Ogundira

Yoruba Modern Practical Dictionary

Yoruba Trickster Tales - Oyekan Owomoyela

Myth, Literature, and the African World - Wole Soyinka

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens - Lilith Dorsey

Forest of a Thousand Daemons - D. O. Fagunwa

Indigo - Molara Wood

Children of the Quicksands - Efua Traore

Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi*

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon - Wole Talabi

What the Forest Told Me: Yoruba Hunter, Culture and Narrative Performance Ayo Adeduntan

The Palm-Wine Drinkard - Amos Tutuola

Encyclopedia of the Yoruba

Gelede: Art and Female Power among the Yoruba

An Ordinary Wonder - Buki Papillon

The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses - Oyèrónkè Oyėwùmí

The Gods Are Not to Blame - Ola Rotimi

Gods and Heroes: Itan—Legends of the Golden Age Book One - Oladele Olusanya

*Read

[gregor-samsung]

“ Se date vostro figlio da allevare a un altro, esaminate con cura che persona è. Molti tutori non apprezzano le qualità di un bambino; non affidatelo dunque a un individuo duro come la pietra, o che gli infligga sofferenze, ma non consegnatelo nemmeno a una persona di cuore eccessivamente tenero, che non faccia altro che viziarlo. Nonno e nonna sono tutori pericolosi, alla larga. Se scoprirete di non poter fare a meno di lasciare vostro figlio con loro, poiché sarà loro di grande aiuto, insomma, non è un gran male, fatelo, ma non rimanetegli troppo lontani: state ben attenti che il vostro tesoro non si rovini. Badate a come parla, liberatelo dalle bugie e non consentite che dalle sue labbra esca un linguaggio sconveniente. Non consentitegli di usare espressioni che facciano rivoltare lo stomaco, discorsi sporchi, parole disgustose, o vanagloriose, o che siano troppo grosse per un bambino. Badate che non diventi un ladro incallito mentre è nelle vostre mani, e un detenuto nelle prigioni in un domani. Se disponete di denaro date un'istruzione ai vostri figli, ma fatelo anche se non disponete di molto, purché non dobbiate ricorrere ai debiti e il cibo quotidiano non costituisca un problema troppo grosso: cercate in ogni modo di dargli un'istruzione. Anche se doveste far legna nel bosco per venderla, cercate comunque di portare a termine l'impresa, tenendo in mente che a un figlio istruito non arrivano a essere pari mille privi di qualsiasi educazione: lui è superiore. Nondimeno, prima di impegnarvi in tale impresa, fate in modo di non dovervi fermare a metà, che la gente non abbia a irridervi con le parole della canzone: "Vergogna, vergogna, hai fatto la promessa ma non puoi mantenerla, vergogna". Il ridicolo, comunque, è il meno: ciò che segue lo supera di centoquaranta volte: la condizione di vostro figlio è ora peggio di quella iniziale: si tratta infatti di una persona istruita a metà. Chi si trova in tale situazione, infatti, si vergogna a dar di piglio al coltellaccio, anche se la quantità di istruzione che c'è nella sua testa non basta a guadagnargli di che vivere; desidera indossare scarpe, ma il suo salario gli consente a stento di comperarsi una buba [leggera tunica yoruba], vi sia dunque ben chiaro che, se non ce la fate, non è obbligatorio: a vostro figlio insegnate un mestiere utile. Se sarà l'agricoltura, che la impari bene: vedete da voi come le nazioni nere siano ricche di terra, è un dono del Creatore ai loro grandi antenati; se sarà il commercio, insegnateglielo come si deve, e se sarà la costruzione delle strade, ne capisca a fondo la tecnica. Non impari un po' di questo e un po' di quello, saltando da una cosa all'altra, poiché chi dà contemporaneamente la caccia a due topi è sicuro di non prendere niente. Ora tocca a voi, ma preparatelo al suo momento; non fate pesare su di lui il vostro risentimento, dicendo: "Non farò nulla per te, perché tua madre si comporta male e non vale niente". Voglio sappiate che, anche se un figlio è alto come un elefante e largo come un bufalo, un padre è sempre un padre. I figli hanno poco buon senso, non più di tanto. La disposizione a imparare è una cosa, quella a pavoneggiarsi, un'altra; dovesse anche la luna apparire di giorno e il sole di notte, la saggezza dei vecchi non può abbandonarli mai. Quindi non gettate nel fango il vostro interesse: educate vostro figlio subito, che non diventi una nullità in questo mondo, che non vi maledica un domani e non dobbiate affrontare la morte con il cuore spezzato. “

Wole Soyinka, La foresta dei mille demonii, traduzione di Mario Biondi, Arnoldo Mondadori editore (collana Omnibus), 1985¹; pp. 111-13.

[ Edizione originale: The Forest of a Thousand Demons: A Hunter's Saga, Thomas Nelson & Sons publishers Ltd, 1982 ]

NOTA: L’opera è una libera traduzione in inglese del primo romanzo stampato in lingua yoruba, pubblicato nel 1938 dall’autore D. O. Fagunwa col titolo Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmọlẹ̀. Questo testo, che rievoca temi ancestrali con il tono moraleggiante proprio dei missionari cristiani, fu rivisitato da Soyinka durante i due anni trascorsi in prigionia per la sua opposizione alla dittatura militare ed alla incombente minaccia della guerra civile, che si tramutò ben presto nella terribile Guerra del Biafra (1967-70).  

[bollywoodmixtape]

Song: Fagunwa Mein Maro Pichkari (2019) Music: Anupama Raag, Lyrics: Shabbir Ahmed, Anupama Raag Singer: Amit Mishra, Anupama Raag, Payal Dev, Shabbir Ahmed & Ritika -- Fagunwa Mein Maro Pichkari | Amit Mishra | Anupama Raag | Latest Holi Song 2019 (via Times Music)

[deenewsline]

D. O. Fagunwa’s Translators: Burdens Or Assets? By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye Whenever the full history of Nigerian literature is written, Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa (popularly known as D.O. Fagunwa), the Yoruba language novelist, would certainly occupy his rightful place as one of its pioneers.

[mbembhele]

When a man makes an effort at something, the sons of men sneer at him, but when success has crowned his efforts they turn around and hail him - Fagunwa, The Forest of a Thousand Daemons

[doormouseetcappendix]

Afro-Futurist Reading List Vol 2.

Afro Futurism Reading List Vol 1:

Afro Futurism Reading List Vol 2:

Black Speculative Fiction Breakdown by Genre

African Fantasy (early myths and fables from the continent): Forest Of A Thousand Deamons: A Hunter's Saga by Daniel O. Fagunwa The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola Simbi and the Satyr of the Dark Jungle by Amos Tutuola The Brave African Huntress by Amos Tutuola Feather Woman of the Jungle by Amos Tutuola Ajaiyi and his Inherited Poverty by Amos Tutuola The Witch-Herbalist of the Remote Town by Amos Tutuola

Utopia (alternate histories written during the jim crow & antebellum eras): Blake Or The Huts Of Africa by Martin Delany Imperium In Imperio by Sutton E Griggs Light Ahead For The Negro Edward A Johnson One One Blood by Pauline Hopkins Black No More by George Shuyler Lord Of The Sea by MP Sheil

Space Opera (far future sci fi worlds of interplanetary travel): Nova by Samuel R Delany Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand by Samuel R. Delany Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor An Unkindness Of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson Rayla 2122 Series by Ytasha Womack Trouble On Triton by Samuel R. Delany Babel 17 by Samuel R Delany Empire Star by Samuel R Delany The Galaxy Game by Karen Lord The Best Of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord Ancient Ancient by Klini Iburu Salaam Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden Ascension: Tangled Axon by Jacqueline Koyanagi Teleportality by T Cisco Nadine's Bible Seris by T Lindsey-Billingsley Nigerians In Space Series by Deji Bryce Olukotun

Aliens (alien encounters): Lilith's Brood Trilogy by Octavia Butler Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor Rosewater Trilogy by Tade Thompson The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbell The Wave by Walter Mosley

Dystopia (oppressive futures and realities): Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjie Brenyah Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi War Girls Series by Tochi Onyebuchi Sunshine Patriots by Bill Campbell Gunmen's Peace by Milton J Davis Dragon Variation by T Cisco

Experimental (literary tricksters): The Ravicka Series by Renee Gladman The Freedom Artist by Ben Okri The Structure Of Dante's Hells by LeRoi Jones The House Of Hunger by Dumbudzo Marachera Black Sunlight By Dumbudzo Marachera Yellow Back Radio Broke Down by Ishmaeel Reed The Last Days Of Louisiana Red by Ishmaeel Reed The Sellout by Paul Beatty Koontown Killing Kaper by Bill Campbell The African Origin Of UFOs by Anthony Joseph Quantum Black Futurism(Theory & Practice Volume 1) by Rasheeda Philips by Rasheeda Philips Spacetime Collapse: From The Congo to Carolinas Spacetime Collapse II: Community Futurisms by Rasheeda Philips consent not to be a single being trilogy by Fred Mot

Post-Apocalyptic (worlds falling apart): The Purple Cloud by MP Shiel Dhalgren by Samuel R Delany The Parable Series by Octavia Butler Brown Girl In The Ring by Nalo Hopkinson

Dying Earth (far future post-apocalyptic worlds + magic):

The Broken Earth Trilogy by NK Jemisin The Einstien Intersection by Samuel R. Delany The Jewels Of Aptor by Samuel R. Delany The Fall Of The Towers Trilogy by Samuel R. Delany Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorofor The Book Of Phoenix by Nnededi Okorofor The Prey Of Gods by Nicky Drayden

Alternate History (alternate timelines and what-ifs): Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed Everfair by Nisi Shawl The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Insh'Allah Series by Steven Barnes Ring Shout by P Djelia Clark A Dead Djinn In Cairo by P Djelia Clark The Black God's Drum by P Djelia Clark Washington Black by Esi Edugyan Pimp My Airship: A Naptown By Airship Story by Maurice Beaudice The Dream Of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer Pym by Matt Johnson, Dread Nation Series by Justina Ireland From Here to Timbuktu by Milton J Davis

High Fantasy (magical kindoms and high adventures): The Neveryorn Series by Samuel R. Delany Black Leapard Red Wolf by Marlon James The Deep by Rivers Solomon & Clipping Imaro Series by Charles R. Saunders The Children Of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi The Children Of Virtue & Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi The Sorcerer Of The Wildeeps by Kai Ashai Washington A Taste Of Honey by Kai Ashai Washington Beasts Made Of Night Series by Tochi Onyebuchi A Place Of Nights: War & Ressurection by Oloye Karade, Woman Of The Woods: A Sword & Soul Epic by Milton J Davis Temper by Nicky Drayden They Fly At Ciron by Samuel R. Delany Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman The House Of Discarded Dreams by Etakterina Sedia

Magic Realism (literary naturalism with surreal, dreamlike, and mythic imagery): The Echo Tree & Other Stories by Henry Dumas The Kingdom Of This World by Alejo Carpentier General Sun My Brother by Jacques Stephen Alexis The Famished Road Series by Ben Okri The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson Montaro Caine by Sydney Portier Mama Day by Gloria Naylor Redemption In Indigo by Karen Lord Mem by Bethany C Morrow

Urban Fantasy (modern citybound fantasy): The City We Became by NK Jemisin  Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead Blue Light By Walter Mosley Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

Time Travel (stories unstuck in time): Kindred by Octavia Butler Version Control by Dexter Palmer Recurrence Plot by Rasheedah Phillips

Horror (nightmare, terrors, and hauntings): Beloved by Toni Morisson African Immortals by Tananarivue Due Fledgling by Octavia Butler The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez Lakewood by Meggan Giddings The Ballad Of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff The Changeling by Victor Lavealle Zone One by Colson Whitehead The Between by Tananarive Due The Good House by Tananarive Due Ghost Summers: Stories by Tananarive Due Unhollowed Graves by Nunzo Onho Catfish Lullaby by AC Wise

Young Adult (books for young adults): Akata Witch Series by Nnedi Okorofor Zarah The Windseeker & The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorofor Long Juju Man by Nnedi Okorofor Ikenga by Nnedi Okorofor Tristan Strong Series by Kwame Mbalia A Song Below Water by Bethany C Morrow Daughters Of Nri by Reni K. Amayo A River Of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy 47 by Walter Mosley

Comics (graphic storytelling) George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz (1919-1921) by George Herriman The Boondocks Complete Collection by Aaron Mcgruder Birth Of A Nation by Aaron Mcgrudger, Reginald Hudlin, & Kyle Baker Prince Of Cats by Ronald Wimberly Concrete Park by Erika Alexander & Tony Puryear Incognegro Series by Matt Johnson Your Black Friend & Other Stories by Ben Passmore Bttm Fdrs Ezra Clayton Daniels & Ben Passmore Sports Is Hell is Ben Passmore LaGuardia by Nnedi Okorofor & Tana Ford Bread & Wine: An Erotic Tale Of New York by Samuel R Delany & Mia Wolff Empire by Samuel R Delany & Howard Chaykin Excellence by Brandon Thomas Bitteroot by David F Walker, Chuck Brown & Sanford Greene Black by Kwanza Osajyefo Niobe: She Is Life by Amandla Stenberg & Sebastian A Jones Black Panther by Christopher Priest Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates Shuri by Nnedi Okorofor World Of Wakanda by Roxane Gay Truth: Red, White, & Black by Kyle Baker House Of Whispers by Nalo Hopkinson & Neil Gaiman Naomi by David F Walker, Brian Micheal Bendis, & Jamal Campbell Far Sector by NK Jemison & Jamal Campbell

Short Stories (collections by single authors): Driftglass by Samuel R Delany, Distant Stars by Samuel R Delany Bloodchild & Other Stories by Octavia Butler Unexpected Stories by Octavia Butler Falling In Love With Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson, Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorofor, How Long Til Black Future Month? by NK Jemisin Nine Bar Blues by Sheree Reneee Thomas

Anthologies (collections from multiple authors) Dark Matter edited by Sheree Renee Thomas So Long Been Dreaming edited by Nalo Hopkinson Conjure Stories edited by Nalo Hopkinso Whispers From The Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction edited by Nalo Hopkinson Afro SF: Science Fiction by African Writers edited by Wor. W. Hartmaan Stories For Chip: A Tribute To Samuel R Delany edited by Nisi Shawl Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories From Social Justice Movement edited by Adrienne Marie Brown & Walidah Imarisha Mothership: Tales of Afrofuturism and Beyond edited by Bill Campbell The City: Cyberfunk Antholoy edited by Milton J Davis Steamfunk edited by Milton J Davis Dieselfunk edited by Milton J Davis Griots: A Sword & Soul Anthology by Milton J Davis & Charles R Saunders Griots: Sisters Of The Spear by Milton J Davis & Charles R Saunders

Non-Fiction (histories, essays, and arguments) Afrofuturism And The World Of Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Culture by Ytasha Womack Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise Of Astral Blackness edited by Reynaldo Anderson & Charles E Jones The Black Imagination: Science Fiction, The Future, and The Speculative by Sandra Jackson & Julie E Woody-Freeman Afro-Futures & Astral Black Travel by Juice Aleem The Sound Of Culture: Diaspora & Black Technopoetics by Louis Cude Soke Black Utopia: The History Of An Idea From Black Nationalism To Afrofuturism by Alex Zamalin Afrouturism Rising: The Literary Pre-History Of A Movement by Isiah Lavendar III A Pure Solar World: Sun Ra & The Birth Of Afrofuturism by Paul Youngquist Where No Black Woman Has Gone Before: Subversive Poryrals In Speculative Film & TV by Diana Adesola Mafe Black Kirby: In Search Of The Motherbox Connection by John Jennings & Stacey Robinson Super Black: American Pop Culture & Black Super-Heroes by Adilifu Nama Black Space: Imagining Race In Science Fiction Film by Adilifu Nama Black Super-Heroes, Milestone Comics, And Their Fans by Jeffery A Brown Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changin Worlds by Adrienne Marie Brown

*cover image from Ytasha Womack’s “Afrofuturism: The World Of Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Culture”

(please post anything I might have left out in the comments) 

[i-am-iya]

Ayan is the brother of Sango. Ayan is the orisa of sacred music, to which Sango (the Will of God) dances. It is important that you heard the word SACRED, because non-spiritual music cannot claim Ayan. To evoke the power of Ayan thru music, you must be calling on the divine world.

If you have ever heard true African spiritual music, you will hear the heavens come to Earth. The dundun, balafon (a xylophone), the kora (a harp), the djembe, kakaki (a trumpet), the bata drum, ngoni (a guitar), the goje (a violin), etc. These are the original sacred African instruments of Ayan.

When Ayan's music is played, you will feel the rush of the divine taking possession of you and you can accomplish the Will (Sango) of Olodumaré.

The power of divine music is immense, which is why your enslaver has hijacked Black music and has you misusing it to k is over. Respect Ayan and restore the power of the African sacred sound. Asé.

Bábá Fagunwa

[thewellzine]

Some books I’ve acquired or read (or both) during quarantine.

By William Page 

Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith

I recently added a bunch of middle grade speculative fiction by Black authors to my list because 1. I’ll never outgrow good middle grade fiction and 2. I want to be able to give better recs to young Black readers. The blurb told me that the main character’s name is actually Hoodoo (Hatcher). Wasn’t expecting that. It also alludes to a central conflict between Hoodoo and a sinister stranger with “black magic,” a characterization that Courtney Reid-Eaton long ago brought to my attention as problematic (equating blackness or darkness with evil). Still, I haven’t come across many middle grade books dealing with Black folk magic, and I’m interested in seeing what the author does with it.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Has been on my radar for a while. I’ve heard it described as a collection of feminist retellings of “traditional” fairytales and myths, which I can definitely get down with. It does make me think about conversations we’ve had during the course of the DDP re: subverting the “canon” vs. forgetting it/making a new one.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

I can’t overstate my love for this person. The Underground Railroad blew my mind. The Nickel Boys was great in a completely different, often more subtle way. His oeuvre makes a case for him as the most versatile writer writing. I also had a chance to hear him give a talk once, and can personally attest to his wit and humor. I’d never read this one, and reached for it as a relevant quarantine/pandemic read (i.e. it takes place in the aftermath of a pandemic that has turned most people into zombies). Unfortunately, though, the beginning didn’t grab me, and I eventually put it down. This has happened with books that I’ve later come back to and loved (most notably One Hundred Years of Solitude), so I’m hopeful that this just wasn’t the right time.

Forest of a Thousand Daemons: A Hunter’s Saga by D. O. Fagunwa

Marlon James put me on during an episode of his podcast with his editor, Jake Morrissey (“Marlon and Jake Read Dead People”). He sighted it as one of the works that influenced his Black, queer, epic, epic, epic fantasy masterpiece, Black Leopard, Red Wolf. Fagunwa’s novel is considered the first ever written in Yoruba, and it predated fantasy “classics” like Lord of the Rings. It’s strictly episodic in form, and I most enjoyed the rich depictions of the mythological beings inhabiting the forest.

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Same as with Hoodoo, I want to read this partially because I want to be able to recommend more Black, speculative works to young Black readers! The blurb told me that it’s a retelling of a classic Haitian folktale, “The Magic Orange Tree,” which I’m not familiar with. Rather, I was drawn by the title, which reminded me of the mako jumbie that makes a brief but memorable appearance in Nalo Hopkinson’s Midnight Robber. Haillee Mason also recently introduced me to moko jumbies. So, I guess I’ve been thinking a fair amount about jumbies.

Meji: Book One by Milon Davis

Milton Davis writes what Charles Saunders coined “sword-and-soul,” or sword-and-sorcery (a fantasy subgenre) centering African histories, cultures, traditions, mythologies, etc. (Davis wrote a short sword-and-soul primer that can be found at https://www.miltonjdavis.com/post/a-sword-and-soul-primer.) Sword-and-sorcery/soul isn’t typically my go-to speculative subgenre, but I’m excited to give it a try.

Let’s Play White by Chesya Burke

I just started reading this collection of stories. The first, “Walter and the Three-Legged King” (which surprised me with the collection’s titular phrase[?]), was just okay to me. The second, “Purse,” was really short and disturbing (not a bad thing). The third, “I Make People Do Bad Things,” was a well-rendered, somewhat morbid period piece (definitely Harlem, seemingly sometime in the early part of the 20th century, though I don’t think it’s stated explicitly) with several big characters. The fourth, “The Unremembered,” was very tender and fed my interest in explorations of legacy and inheritance. All were undoubtedly unique in concept. I’m looking forward to the rest.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

I don’t read a ton of brand-new releases by author’s I’m not already somewhat familiar with, but this one drew me for whatever reason. I saw it described as a story about a group of travelling, queer librarians in an unambiguously fascist, dystopian, near-future American West. The story moves pretty quickly (with lots of action), and I found myself wishing it was longer. Still, the author develops the two main characters well and I was at times audibly rooting for them. The depiction of the various forms that resistance can take and the ways in which community underpins it all felt very relevant.

Lakewood by Megan Giddings

Land, who owns the bookshop where I work, brought me this advance copy from the American Booksellers Association’s 2020 Winter Institute. I didn’t get around to it for a few months, and therefore didn’t realize that he got her to sign it to me :) It (the book) was chilling primarily because of how plausible it felt thanks to our country’s long history of race-based medical experimentation and violence.

The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson

Nalo Hopkinson is one of the O.G.s of Black Caribbean speculative fiction. I have a bunch of her novels (including the aforementioned Midnight Robber), but had never heard of this. The blurb doesn’t give much away regarding the mechanism of the main character’s power, and that makes me really curious about it. The power to find lost things sounds ideal, but it’ll clearly be much more complicated than that.

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

I don’t post much on IG, but The City We Became brought me out of the woodwork. Since I already wrote that, I’ve copied it below.

It's like she wrote a love letter to NYC and let us read it. And by "love letter," I don't mean trite, or even always that warm, or rooted in romanticization. The city I met as a reader felt genuine, with a definite edge. Also taut, maybe? Somehow still very tender. Gritty (this one might be trite, but, if so, charge it to me, not her). Frustrating in ways that rang true and which were often tooooooo familiar. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that soul-sucking gentrification, general anti-Blackness, the ways that capital and power operate in art spaces, and a host of other ills not unique to any one place figure prominently in the story. And in this case, they become magnified in an interdimensional way, become harbingers and footholds for something incomprehensible and deeply unsettling (her imagery for this element, in particular, is striking). The story was also, at times, kind of hilarious. And thrilling. And everything but simple or straightforward, which makes sense given that it's a meditation on cities (which are neither of those things). What are they, then, really? What gives them their soul? In what ways are they strong, and from where does this strength flow? And what might one do or sacrifice for their own? It's not difficult to get some sense of how she feels about hers (in her acknowledgements she says she's both hated and loved the city, and I immediately thought about Jimmie Fails iconic quote from The Last Black Man in San Francisco: "you don't get to hate it unless you love it.") It definitely caused me to reflect more on mine. At this point, I have her to thank for way more than a few trippy and magnificent reading experiences. How lucky I feel to be living in the time of N.K. Jemisin.

[riverheadbooks]

"A delirious smoothie of cultural influences and tributes, from Kurosawa films to superhero comics to the seminal work of the 1930s Nigerian writer D.O. Fagunwa." Slate.com on Marlon James' BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF! 

[ololadeaolawale]

Great book.

[naijavoicemedia]

Petrol station workers charged with N83m theft

Petrol station workers charged with N83m theft

Four employees of an Oando Service Station in Alapere, Ketu Lagos have been arrested by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for allegedly defrauding their employer, Mrs Funmi Alebiosu of N83 million.   The suspects identified as Obande Emmanuel, Dauda Akeem, Fagunwa Michael and Abdul Samson were arraigned on a five count charge after being accused of conspiring to steal N22,234,000 from an Oando…

[newshubnaija]

Four employees charged with N83m theft

Four employees charged with N83m theft

Four employees of an Oando Service Station in Alapere, Ketu Lagos have been arrested by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for allegedly defrauding their employer, Mrs Funmi Alebiosu of N83 million.   The suspects identified as Obande Emmanuel, Dauda Akeem, Fagunwa Michael and Abdul Samson were arraigned on a five count charge after being accused of conspiring to steal N22,234,000 from an Oando…