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Water: New Short Story Fiction from Africa: An Anthology from Short Story Day Africa
Water: New Short Fiction from Africa is Short Story Day Africa's third anthology of short fiction from the African continent and diaspora. This carefully-curated anthology of twenty-one stories is harvested from the over-400 entries to the project’s annual short story competition, the Short Story Day Africa Prize, in 2015.
The collection includes well-known authors – such as Cat Hellisen, Fred Khumalo, Pede Hollist, Mary Okon Ononokpono, Efemia Chela and Louis Greenberg – alongside emerging stars like Megan Ross, Dayo Ntwari, Louis Ogbere and Alexis Teyie. With settings both realistic and fantastical, and stories both lyrical and urgent, this collection is the definitive high watermark for fiction from Africa this year.
The collection includes well-known authors – such as Cat Hellisen, Fred Khumalo, Pede Hollist, Mary Okon Ononokpono, Efemia Chela and Louis Greenberg – alongside emerging stars like Megan Ross, Dayo Ntwari, Louis Ogbere and Alexis Teyie. With settings both realistic and fantastical, and stories both lyrical and urgent, this collection is the definitive high watermark for fiction from Africa this year.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Nick Mulgrew
17 books22 followersNick Mulgrew is an award-winning writer, editor and publisher, currently based in Edinburgh. He is the author of six books, and since 2014 is the director of uHlanga, an acclaimed South African poetry press.
His novels include A Hibiscus Coast, winner of the 2022 K. Sello Duiker Memorial Award. Among other accolades, he is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Pringle Award, the 2018 Nadine Gordimer Prize (for his story collection, The First Law of Sadness), and is the recipient of a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.
His novels include A Hibiscus Coast, winner of the 2022 K. Sello Duiker Memorial Award. Among other accolades, he is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Pringle Award, the 2018 Nadine Gordimer Prize (for his story collection, The First Law of Sadness), and is the recipient of a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 27, 2016
All the stories in this volume come from the entries to the "Short Story Day Africa" project’s annual short story competition from last year. All are directly or tangentially related to the theme of water, and that spans from water shortages to water symbolism. Many of the authors are South African but others come from Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
I was interested to read the stories that had mermaid folklore as a basis. I think of mermaids as being very northern creatures, so to see them alongside Yemaya was entertaining. Mermaids seem to have a connection to disappearing women, witchcraft, and anti-religious leanings.
Speaking of religion, it was interesting to see the various portrayal of religion in the stories, especially since most were set in a future Africa struggling with greater water issues. Some see the future as post-religion, where traditional Muslim or Christian ways are abandoned for secular life. Some see the threat of evangelical government outlawing hybrid people/hyenas. So there is really quite a collection here, well representing some of the diversity in 21st century African short fiction.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy, although this came out earlier in 2016 and may be read now. It fit well inside my original goal of reading more from Africa in 2016.
I was interested to read the stories that had mermaid folklore as a basis. I think of mermaids as being very northern creatures, so to see them alongside Yemaya was entertaining. Mermaids seem to have a connection to disappearing women, witchcraft, and anti-religious leanings.
Speaking of religion, it was interesting to see the various portrayal of religion in the stories, especially since most were set in a future Africa struggling with greater water issues. Some see the future as post-religion, where traditional Muslim or Christian ways are abandoned for secular life. Some see the threat of evangelical government outlawing hybrid people/hyenas. So there is really quite a collection here, well representing some of the diversity in 21st century African short fiction.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy, although this came out earlier in 2016 and may be read now. It fit well inside my original goal of reading more from Africa in 2016.
May 24, 2016
Like a lot of short story collections, there were some good, some bad. Overall, I'd say most of them were pretty good, and I think the collection was boosted by the overall theme, but not by an overall style. The sci-fi, magical, and horroresque stories were really among my favorite, despite those being genres I don't often engage with. I'm looking forward to the next collection.
Want to Read
January 25, 2019Contains short story by Siyanda Mohutsiwa, who can be really funny.
June 16, 2016
Interview with first place winner Cat Hellisen: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/t...
Interview with second place winner Alex Latimer: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/h...
Interview with third place winner Mark Winkler: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/i...
Interview with the editor Nick Mulgrew: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/i...
To the African writers telling African stories with African readers in mind: Short Story Day Africa salutes you. Be brave. Keep writing. – Karina Szczurek and Rachel Zadok, 'Introduction'
In class for “How Was Your Weekend?”, I stood up and told everyone about our tiger. After I sat down the boy after me made up a story about how his cocker spaniel had hijacked their ride-on mower and driven it into the swimming pool. The tiger was better as a secret anyway. – Alex Latimer, 'A Fierce Symmetry'
He said that he had always wondered why women smoke, because they don’t have any real problems. I remember I laughed at him, despite myself. – Siyanda Mohutsiwa, 'And Then We Disappeared into Some Guy’s Car'
Yet, she had always maintained that to harbour the assumption that an African story must be without sex is to insinuate that nature had not bestowed sexual imagination upon the African. – Donald Molosi, 'Beetroot Salad'
The white man calls it cancer, but its real name is grief. – Chido Muchemwa, 'Finding Mermaids'
It isn’t easy being a mermaid in north-wester storms, especially if you have to stomach your own history. – Christine Coates, 'How We Look Now'
Some nights I dream of walking in the rain I’ve never seen. – Mark Winkler, 'Ink'
I was stirred from my dream by the song of a mosquito. – Mary Okon Ononokpono, 'Inyang'
Do you know what blue sounds like? – Wairimu Muriithi, 'Love Like Blue'
It was as if he had swallowed a wad of steel wool. She stared at him expectantly, and he felt the ball begin to rust, and then rise, a copper globe burning up his chest before camping behind his throat. – Alexis Teyie, 'Mama Boi'
Mother’s Love alone no fit keep your son safe forever, my dear. You hear? – Dayo Ntwari, 'Mother’s Love'
You don’t rush the telling of your story in the beginning, Josiah, my brother. You must make sure the policewoman is interested and that she wants to hear everything. – Thabo Jijana, 'Native Mayonnaise'
She may as well have found his bones for he was nothing but a remnant of a once cheerful, carefree man. – Florence Onyango, 'Nyar Nam (Daughter of the Lake)'
It’s not safe to play at politics anymore. – Louis Greenberg, 'Oasis'
After they had sex, he thought he could smell smoke on his own skin, as evidence of the unholy fire they’d just created. Then she’d light up. Usually saying nothing. Unless he lingered too long. In that case she winked and turned her back to him. And lay down still smoking. That back, where her underclothes had etched themselves into her body. Making lines and creases of secret hurt. – Efemia Chela, 'The Lake Retba Murder (Le meurtre au Lac Rose)'
Even if the carriers could see and hear like bats, they had only a few seconds to decide whether to pull up or cross in front of vehicles travelling through the junction. They chose the risky option, every time. – Pede Hollist, 'The Tale of the Three Water Carriers'
Ma had drowned him. I had just sat on the edge of the river with my knees right up against my chest and cried because ten is too young to know that sometimes your parents have to do what’s best for you even if it hurts you. Even if it hurts them. – Cat Hellisen, 'The Worme Bridge'
If you still had a name I would have written to you. – Wesley Macheso, 'This Land Is Mine'
Not many things are certain in this life, but one thing for sure is that men will be men. And in this neighbourhood, that means men will be arseholes. – Megan Ross, 'Traces'
All I want to do is piss, but I can’t because the kombi is in full speed towards Johannesburg. - Mark Mngomezulu, 'Urgency'
Now, there are storytellers, and there are Storytellers. - Fred Khumalo, 'Water No Get Enemy'
In her sane life, thought Margret, she was probably a pretty woman. - Louis Ogbere, 'Were'
*Please note, I am part of the SSDA team so my opinion might be slightly biased. ;)
Interview with second place winner Alex Latimer: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/h...
Interview with third place winner Mark Winkler: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/i...
Interview with the editor Nick Mulgrew: http://shortstorydayafrica.org/news/i...
To the African writers telling African stories with African readers in mind: Short Story Day Africa salutes you. Be brave. Keep writing. – Karina Szczurek and Rachel Zadok, 'Introduction'
In class for “How Was Your Weekend?”, I stood up and told everyone about our tiger. After I sat down the boy after me made up a story about how his cocker spaniel had hijacked their ride-on mower and driven it into the swimming pool. The tiger was better as a secret anyway. – Alex Latimer, 'A Fierce Symmetry'
He said that he had always wondered why women smoke, because they don’t have any real problems. I remember I laughed at him, despite myself. – Siyanda Mohutsiwa, 'And Then We Disappeared into Some Guy’s Car'
Yet, she had always maintained that to harbour the assumption that an African story must be without sex is to insinuate that nature had not bestowed sexual imagination upon the African. – Donald Molosi, 'Beetroot Salad'
The white man calls it cancer, but its real name is grief. – Chido Muchemwa, 'Finding Mermaids'
It isn’t easy being a mermaid in north-wester storms, especially if you have to stomach your own history. – Christine Coates, 'How We Look Now'
Some nights I dream of walking in the rain I’ve never seen. – Mark Winkler, 'Ink'
I was stirred from my dream by the song of a mosquito. – Mary Okon Ononokpono, 'Inyang'
Do you know what blue sounds like? – Wairimu Muriithi, 'Love Like Blue'
It was as if he had swallowed a wad of steel wool. She stared at him expectantly, and he felt the ball begin to rust, and then rise, a copper globe burning up his chest before camping behind his throat. – Alexis Teyie, 'Mama Boi'
Mother’s Love alone no fit keep your son safe forever, my dear. You hear? – Dayo Ntwari, 'Mother’s Love'
You don’t rush the telling of your story in the beginning, Josiah, my brother. You must make sure the policewoman is interested and that she wants to hear everything. – Thabo Jijana, 'Native Mayonnaise'
She may as well have found his bones for he was nothing but a remnant of a once cheerful, carefree man. – Florence Onyango, 'Nyar Nam (Daughter of the Lake)'
It’s not safe to play at politics anymore. – Louis Greenberg, 'Oasis'
After they had sex, he thought he could smell smoke on his own skin, as evidence of the unholy fire they’d just created. Then she’d light up. Usually saying nothing. Unless he lingered too long. In that case she winked and turned her back to him. And lay down still smoking. That back, where her underclothes had etched themselves into her body. Making lines and creases of secret hurt. – Efemia Chela, 'The Lake Retba Murder (Le meurtre au Lac Rose)'
Even if the carriers could see and hear like bats, they had only a few seconds to decide whether to pull up or cross in front of vehicles travelling through the junction. They chose the risky option, every time. – Pede Hollist, 'The Tale of the Three Water Carriers'
Ma had drowned him. I had just sat on the edge of the river with my knees right up against my chest and cried because ten is too young to know that sometimes your parents have to do what’s best for you even if it hurts you. Even if it hurts them. – Cat Hellisen, 'The Worme Bridge'
If you still had a name I would have written to you. – Wesley Macheso, 'This Land Is Mine'
Not many things are certain in this life, but one thing for sure is that men will be men. And in this neighbourhood, that means men will be arseholes. – Megan Ross, 'Traces'
All I want to do is piss, but I can’t because the kombi is in full speed towards Johannesburg. - Mark Mngomezulu, 'Urgency'
Now, there are storytellers, and there are Storytellers. - Fred Khumalo, 'Water No Get Enemy'
In her sane life, thought Margret, she was probably a pretty woman. - Louis Ogbere, 'Were'
*Please note, I am part of the SSDA team so my opinion might be slightly biased. ;)
October 13, 2020
African culture is laid out through these writers interpretation of one thing: Water. Told through the medium of history, folklore, dystopia, murder-mystery, fantasy and realism, the book emcompasses a truly diverse range of stories. Each is different and beautiful and fully formed, even in their brevity.
It shouldn't need saying that you can't make broad claims about a whole continent, especially one as big as Africa, but often people do. By telling 'Water' through so many interpretations the anthology truly depcits the vivid variety of peoples, cultures, landscapes and problems. The fact that all these styles and writers are often chucked under the 'African Literature' category, as if they're all of a 'type' makes me mad and sad.
This got ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and I'd enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking to diversify authors and stretch their view of the world.
It shouldn't need saying that you can't make broad claims about a whole continent, especially one as big as Africa, but often people do. By telling 'Water' through so many interpretations the anthology truly depcits the vivid variety of peoples, cultures, landscapes and problems. The fact that all these styles and writers are often chucked under the 'African Literature' category, as if they're all of a 'type' makes me mad and sad.
This got ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and I'd enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking to diversify authors and stretch their view of the world.
March 21, 2022
Ah
It's always good to read stories about home, Africa and South Africa in a little book about water. All the familiar characters and places and language, it's quite comforting in a way. That said, I expected more from these shorts, especially surrounding the theme of water, I wanted so much to be moved or excited and that didn't really happen. But while I found most of this collection just okay, I really really liked The Lake Retba Murder, Native Mayonnaise, The tale of the three water carriers, and maybe How We Look Now too. Overall, the stories in this collection were quite good, but unfortunately they kind of bored me.
It's always good to read stories about home, Africa and South Africa in a little book about water. All the familiar characters and places and language, it's quite comforting in a way. That said, I expected more from these shorts, especially surrounding the theme of water, I wanted so much to be moved or excited and that didn't really happen. But while I found most of this collection just okay, I really really liked The Lake Retba Murder, Native Mayonnaise, The tale of the three water carriers, and maybe How We Look Now too. Overall, the stories in this collection were quite good, but unfortunately they kind of bored me.
February 11, 2026
Stories read: A Fierce Symmetry, Ink & The Worme Bridge
All stories were interesting, but the third one was my favourite. I liked the allusions to Christianity. And it was super weird (in a positive way). Maybe the best part was the narration done by a 10yrs old boy who knew too much for his age.
"I breathed in the smoke from my final cigarette. It tasted like acceptance of growing up. Drowning would hurt, I knew. But first, I had a house to burn down."
"The smoke tasted like learning the truth and it always made me choke."
"Ma was always like that - telling me what it was time for me to believe in."
All stories were interesting, but the third one was my favourite. I liked the allusions to Christianity. And it was super weird (in a positive way). Maybe the best part was the narration done by a 10yrs old boy who knew too much for his age.
"I breathed in the smoke from my final cigarette. It tasted like acceptance of growing up. Drowning would hurt, I knew. But first, I had a house to burn down."
"The smoke tasted like learning the truth and it always made me choke."
"Ma was always like that - telling me what it was time for me to believe in."
February 12, 2018
It took me ages to get through this book! I find it difficult to hop from story to story, character to character without taking some time in between. A real mixed bag - some stories were brilliant, others extremely dull, just as you would expect from any collection I guess. Some authors used the concept of water in really interesting ways.
February 14, 2018
It’s always hard to review a book of short stories, especially when they are written by different authors with some vastly different genres. I loved some of the stories but others I found to be lacking in character and story. Since there is more to like than not, I went for a 3 out of 5 stars.
March 14, 2018
All the stories are recently written, and some are very good. Maybe the book should be called Water: short stories from white South Africa and beyond. Eight out of 21 stories were by South Africans, most with European surnames; many of the others were from neighbouring countries.
August 27, 2018
The book was an interesting picture of the various experiences of Africans in different countries. I enjoyed the diverse and unique way in which each of the stories was told. Definitely worth a read for anyone who is interested in reading writers from this great stretch of dirt that we call home.
September 22, 2020
Some excellent stories.
April 5, 2021
I LOVE WATER. Such great writing. Each short story was a different drop. One of the best short stories I have ever read
December 4, 2016
Really loved this collection of short stories.
such a variety of writing styles and genres.
I especially enjoyed the story Oasis - and how there are no standard (he/she) pronouns used throughout the story.
such a variety of writing styles and genres.
I especially enjoyed the story Oasis - and how there are no standard (he/she) pronouns used throughout the story.
October 9, 2020
In this book,I read things of the sort that I never would have picked up on my own. Tightly woven stories that surprise and transcend. They express a broad diversity of African literature. I enjoyed the ones leaning toward magic and myth and mermaids the most.
May 4, 2017
An interesting collection of 21 short stories (selected blindly among 456 sent in) from mostly southern Africa. The stories are diverse in topics and genres; water boys, mermaids, returning diaspora - this collection has it all including sci-fi and a murder mystery!
And it is great examples of the genre: Short and to the point. Read it for the literary qualities or for the diverse depictions of life in and out of Africa.
And it is great examples of the genre: Short and to the point. Read it for the literary qualities or for the diverse depictions of life in and out of Africa.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews