Let us Conspire and Other Stories

by Billy Kahora (Editor), Idza Luhumyo (Contributor), Munira Hussein (Contributor)

These stories emerged from workshops held over three weeks in May 2022 by Jahazi Press in collaboration with creative writing teaching platform Saseni! We also solicited stories from some of the most talented writers working in Kenya today including Idza Luhunyo, Kiprop Kimutai and Dennis M?gaa. The stories from the workshop represent every genre imaginable – African horror-fantasy using folklore, traditional realism, modernist angst and even auto-fiction. Alongside this they take on every contemporary Kenyan Literary subject imaginable – fathers and daughters, new hope and eventual loss, queer love, village cautionary tales and urban politics.

Genres: African Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2024

Reviews

[Wamuyu Thoithi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories. Some more captivating than others but overall recommend!

[Riam Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let Us Conspire and Other Stories was a mixed reading experience for me.

Like many short story collections, some stories immediately pulled me in while others didn't leave much of an impression. The anthology covers a wide range of themes, including family, identity, love, power, and social issues, and I appreciated the diversity of voices and perspectives throughout the collection.

The writing is strong, and a few stories were genuinely memorable, making me pause and reflect after I finished them. However, I found it difficult to connect with every story, and the quality and emotional impact felt uneven from one piece to the next. There were moments when I wanted more depth or a stronger conclusion.

Overall, I'm glad I read it because it introduced me to different storytelling styles and perspectives, but it wasn't a collection that completely won me over. I'd still recommend it to readers who enjoy literary fiction and short stories—you'll likely find a few gems even if not every story resonates.

[Sage Abena Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many interesting stories. I wanted them to go on and on.

[J Kuria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 - Almost all of these were pretty damn dull.


Standouts:
Hindure or I Remember Herereza
Memories in the Sand