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The Newlywed's Window: The 2022 Mukana Press Anthology of African Writing
Who are Africa’s most promising emerging short story writers? Mukana Press sought to answer that question by scouting the continent for largely undiscovered talent. The result? This collection!
Africa’s stories have largely been relegated to themes of poverty, and war; yet there is so much more brilliance, texture, and layers to our stories. This collection seeks to provide a platform for the rest of the world to become acquainted with the excellence of talent outside of the mainstream, as well as tell our stories from fresh vantage points.
A young woman creates an alternate identity on social media in Nigeria, a little girl discovers hidden photographs of the father she never met, a serial killer stalks his victims, a woman watches the evolution of a newlywed couple’s relationship through their window in Zanzibar. The stories in this collection are eclectic, breathtaking, and illuminate readers to an Africa that has largely been left untold.
Africa’s stories have largely been relegated to themes of poverty, and war; yet there is so much more brilliance, texture, and layers to our stories. This collection seeks to provide a platform for the rest of the world to become acquainted with the excellence of talent outside of the mainstream, as well as tell our stories from fresh vantage points.
A young woman creates an alternate identity on social media in Nigeria, a little girl discovers hidden photographs of the father she never met, a serial killer stalks his victims, a woman watches the evolution of a newlywed couple’s relationship through their window in Zanzibar. The stories in this collection are eclectic, breathtaking, and illuminate readers to an Africa that has largely been left untold.
212 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2022
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July 15, 2022
A very interesting collection of stories by upcoming contemporary African writers. These twelve stories have been selected from 512 entries across 23 countries. Half are by debut authors and a couple have been published only online. Thus what you get is a novel and #OwnVoices glimpse into a culture that rarely gets a voice on the international writing stage.
While many short story anthologies are built around a theme, the only thing common to the stories of this collection is the continent of origin of its writers. The writers come from multiple countries across Africa, and the stories come from genres as varied as horror, contemporary drama, fantasy, and crime thriller. This variety might work negatively for those who prefer a strong theme connecting stories in a single volume or for those who don’t prefer darker genres, but I relished the rich medley.
The events in each story range from the boring to the bizarre. The endings aren’t in your traditional HEA style, nor are they complete. Many stories are in the slice-of-life style, thereby making their endings seem like the end of a scene. But to my surprise, the endings work very well for most of the tales. They left me wanting more, in a very good way, by stopping at the right point of curiosity.
What I loved most about this collection was that the stories were infused with the flavour of the land, just as true cultural fiction should be. I hate it when stories are supposed to be set in a location but they could be transposed to any place on the globe without changing anything in its writing. That doesn’t happen here. Every single story is like an ode to Africa and its richness, and every single story can be set only in Africa.
Of the twelve stories, six reached or crossed the 4 star mark for me. Most of the remaining stories were clustered around the 3-3.5 stars point. My favourite tales were:
👉 "Gasping for Air" – An unusual lead, an unexpected end - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 "Black Pawpaw" – Outstanding writing style. Creepy and captivating at the same time - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 "Our Girl Bimpe" – The horrors of online presence experienced through a young girl’s Facebook account. Quite shocking - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
“Mukana” means “opportunity” in Shona, a language spoken in South Africa. I found this name very serendipitous as Mukana Press seems to have provided a fabulous opportunity to these young writers. I will keep an eye out for their subsequent publications.
3.75 stars, based on the average of my rating for the twelve stories.
My thanks to Mukana Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Newlyweds’ Window”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
While many short story anthologies are built around a theme, the only thing common to the stories of this collection is the continent of origin of its writers. The writers come from multiple countries across Africa, and the stories come from genres as varied as horror, contemporary drama, fantasy, and crime thriller. This variety might work negatively for those who prefer a strong theme connecting stories in a single volume or for those who don’t prefer darker genres, but I relished the rich medley.
The events in each story range from the boring to the bizarre. The endings aren’t in your traditional HEA style, nor are they complete. Many stories are in the slice-of-life style, thereby making their endings seem like the end of a scene. But to my surprise, the endings work very well for most of the tales. They left me wanting more, in a very good way, by stopping at the right point of curiosity.
What I loved most about this collection was that the stories were infused with the flavour of the land, just as true cultural fiction should be. I hate it when stories are supposed to be set in a location but they could be transposed to any place on the globe without changing anything in its writing. That doesn’t happen here. Every single story is like an ode to Africa and its richness, and every single story can be set only in Africa.
Of the twelve stories, six reached or crossed the 4 star mark for me. Most of the remaining stories were clustered around the 3-3.5 stars point. My favourite tales were:
👉 "Gasping for Air" – An unusual lead, an unexpected end - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 "Black Pawpaw" – Outstanding writing style. Creepy and captivating at the same time - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 "Our Girl Bimpe" – The horrors of online presence experienced through a young girl’s Facebook account. Quite shocking - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
“Mukana” means “opportunity” in Shona, a language spoken in South Africa. I found this name very serendipitous as Mukana Press seems to have provided a fabulous opportunity to these young writers. I will keep an eye out for their subsequent publications.
3.75 stars, based on the average of my rating for the twelve stories.
My thanks to Mukana Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Newlyweds’ Window”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
June 9, 2022
The Newlywed’s Window, which is published by Mukana Press, is an absolutely stunning collection of short stories from up-and-coming African authors. Usually, collections like this one tend to follow a single theme that’s woven throughout each story to create a cohesive sense of genre continuity, like weaving a beautiful tartan or dying a colorful batik print that the reader can comfortably wrap themselves up in as they go to create an immersive storytelling experience. Not so with this gorgeous collection!
This book features a dozen stories in total, and each one serves as its own unique window through which the reader may view a perfectly crystalline vision of some of the most masterful storytelling I’ve read in an anthology in a very long time. Each new author offers up a different lens through which the reader views a distinct slice of life that showcases wildly different perspectives on life on the African continent, creating a range of tones and themes that together create a vibrant kaleidoscopic image that dazzles the senses and stimulates the mind.
Some of the stories are entrenched in an almost philosophical realism, like Atline Jojo’s “Border Control,” Gladwell Pamba’s “Mareba’s Tavern,” “This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who-” by Idza Luhumyo, and Husnah Mad-hy’s “The Newlywed’s Window.” Each of these stories is deeply rooted in exploring issues surrounding women’s autonomy, identity, and inherent value in a landscape of slowly shifting social structures that is experiencing growing pains initiated by the spread of Western feminist ideals.
Other stories, such as “How Are You?” by Cynthia Nnadi, “Our Girl Bimpe” by Olankule Ologunro, and “Black Paw Paw” by Obinna Ezeodili, center on the seemingly impossible choices young women face as they come of age in a world that is so often hostile to their needs and dreams, the importance of a supportive social and family structure, and the potential emotional and physical danger involved in having those relationships ripped away by either choice or circumstance.
And lastly, we’re given “Gasping For Air” by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel, “Rain” by Muuka Gwaba, “The Daya Zimu” by Vanessa Nakayange, “A Letter From Ireland” by Victor Ehikhamenor, and “Old Photographs” by Hannah Onoguwe, all of which either revolve around old cultural traditions steeped in mysticism balanced with modern social contrivances and newly evolving traditions or are mired in wildly engrossing and oftentimes disturbing aspects of the supernatural.
Each story offers something brilliantly new and wholly irresistible, meaning that the book, when taken as a whole, presents a cohesive collection of tales that render the reader incapable of tearing their eyes away, like a curious neighbor caught in the act of peering out their window onto a world that both dazzles the mind and delights the soul.
This book features a dozen stories in total, and each one serves as its own unique window through which the reader may view a perfectly crystalline vision of some of the most masterful storytelling I’ve read in an anthology in a very long time. Each new author offers up a different lens through which the reader views a distinct slice of life that showcases wildly different perspectives on life on the African continent, creating a range of tones and themes that together create a vibrant kaleidoscopic image that dazzles the senses and stimulates the mind.
Some of the stories are entrenched in an almost philosophical realism, like Atline Jojo’s “Border Control,” Gladwell Pamba’s “Mareba’s Tavern,” “This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who-” by Idza Luhumyo, and Husnah Mad-hy’s “The Newlywed’s Window.” Each of these stories is deeply rooted in exploring issues surrounding women’s autonomy, identity, and inherent value in a landscape of slowly shifting social structures that is experiencing growing pains initiated by the spread of Western feminist ideals.
Other stories, such as “How Are You?” by Cynthia Nnadi, “Our Girl Bimpe” by Olankule Ologunro, and “Black Paw Paw” by Obinna Ezeodili, center on the seemingly impossible choices young women face as they come of age in a world that is so often hostile to their needs and dreams, the importance of a supportive social and family structure, and the potential emotional and physical danger involved in having those relationships ripped away by either choice or circumstance.
And lastly, we’re given “Gasping For Air” by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel, “Rain” by Muuka Gwaba, “The Daya Zimu” by Vanessa Nakayange, “A Letter From Ireland” by Victor Ehikhamenor, and “Old Photographs” by Hannah Onoguwe, all of which either revolve around old cultural traditions steeped in mysticism balanced with modern social contrivances and newly evolving traditions or are mired in wildly engrossing and oftentimes disturbing aspects of the supernatural.
Each story offers something brilliantly new and wholly irresistible, meaning that the book, when taken as a whole, presents a cohesive collection of tales that render the reader incapable of tearing their eyes away, like a curious neighbor caught in the act of peering out their window onto a world that both dazzles the mind and delights the soul.
July 10, 2022
This is a really unique collection of stories. I have to admit it started with quite the bang with the first story. Most collections of short stories have a theme, but the only thing tying these stories together is that the authors are from Africa. I love that so many of the authors are debut authors and I’m glad to see some new fresh voices getting a more wide spread publication. I found a couple of the stories to drag a little, but overall I felt they were well chosen and powerful. I really loved the way a few of them blended the supernatural pieces in a way that still felt realistic. I thought the diverse ways he stories were told were also good. One story is told all through emails from one friend to another. Another is told with narration and Facebook posts and comments. I think my personal favorite was Old Photographs because it is such a fascinating concept. A young girl wants to learn more about her father and finds a strange picture frame with a picture that she is sure is of him, but what she learns is more than she could have imagined.
June 16, 2022
This was such a fascinating anthology that covered not only a wide range of countries and genres, but also engaging themes to be dissected and examined. I individually rated each story - with a short review - as follows:
1. Border Control
Rating: 1/5
Review: This was (I believe) a contemporary short story, but it was very confusing and I’m not quite sure if this was technically a social horror story or not. I was never entirely sure what was happening, or what was imagined by this woman in a very stressful situation. I feel like I misunderstood this story’s symbolism – especially considering that the name felt like it had no relevance to the story. I was especially confused by the continuous mention of “padlocks” this felt like an odd word choice to describe what the character was experiencing, and I could not understand why this specific term was so frequently repeated.
2. Gasping for Air
Rating: 5/5
Review: This was such a creepy story and for being so short there was an incredible build-up of tension. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and the big twist in this story left me in absolute shock!
3. The Newlywed’s Window
Rating: 5/5
Review: Another contemporary short story, but this one was so well-developed. It is a story of someone on the outside looking in and just simply observing the world around them, which really resonated with me. I loved the writing style and felt like the examinations of societal roles and expectations were incredibly interesting in the context of the events we witness with this main character’s added commentary and reflection.
4. Mareba’s Tavern
Rating: 4/5
Review: I really enjoyed this story, perhaps especially because of this communal atmosphere that is so integral to the story itself. The writing style was great at expressing the unspoken feelings of the main character and for creating these anxious moments that had some comedic relief. I do wish this story had been a bit longer though because I think I needed more time with our main character - and more scenes with the daughter - to fully connect with the characters.
5. How Are You?
Rating: 5/5
Review: I enjoyed this one not only because it was incredibly well-written, but also because I definitely related to our main character. It can be incredibly stressful to carry the weight of your family and their burdens on your shoulders, while simultaneously having to figure out the course of your own life in the process. I like that this was a story examining the spoken and unspoken understandings between family members and how parent-child dynamics are renegotiated as our parents age.
6. Black Pawpaw
Rating: 5/5
Review: This story genuinely made my skin crawl and then left me with my mouth wide open at the crazy turn of events! This story relied more on shock value rather than a build-up of tension, but it worked so well with this writing style that you never quite knew what the next move would be.
7. The Rain
Rating: 4/5
Review: I liked that this story used such a different format, but I’m not entirely sure if it was right for this story. I was engaged in the story, but it left feeling like I wanted more from it or that I was missing information since we’re only getting one perspective. It was a very interesting story, but one where I think the format hindered the reading experience rather than enhanced it. Also, there were some errors with the formatting and minor grammar errors that were noticeable.
8. Our Girl Bimpe
Rating: 5/5
Review: I loved the social commentary explored in this story. This was also a character that I found very relatable and was able to fully empathize with that feeling of just trying to find your place. There was also quite a bit of context in this story which was great to get a better understanding of certain aspects of social media use in this specific country.
9. The Daya Zimu
Rating: 2/5
Review: This was an interesting concept for a story, and I was initially intrigued. However, there was just too much suspension of belief for the set-up to really work. Also, this story didn’t really build tension for me, I wanted it to just get to the point. Then, when we got there it was wrapped up so quickly that it all felt very underwhelming. I think this story could have benefited from being just a bit longer.
10. Old Photographs
Rating: 3/5
This was an interesting story but left me with a lot of unanswered questions. It felt like it was almost unnecessarily long when focusing on insignificant descriptions. Then, it was so easily wrapped up when there were so many more interesting aspects left unexplored.
11. This is for my Auntie Penzi Who
Rating: 3/5
Review: This is the story I’m most conflicted on because initially I was really into this story, and I still enjoyed the writing style of it. However, as it went on, I felt like the story was getting bogged down by adding so much in without a real guiding thread to the story. It felt very ambiguous and left me questioning, is this actually Auntie Penzi or not? Something about this story felt very unfinished, especially the ending. There were also multiple grammar errors, and the name of a character is spelled entirely differently from one sentence to the next (M’ake/B’ake) so it just felt more like a rough draft than a finished story.
12. A Letter from Ireland
Rating: 5/5
Review: A great story on traditionalist views vs colonist views and the negotiations of both worlds. I liked that this centered faith and traditions in such a unique way where we see generational gaps as well. Something about the writing style in this story just felt very cozy to me and I really liked our characters.
Overall, I rated this anthology 4/5 stars because I enjoyed a substantial number of the stories included. This selection of stories provides different options for a wide variety of readers to find stories and characters to connect with – as well as themes and discussions to examine that I think will start many discussions about the current societal issues across different countries and cultures. I really enjoyed my reading experience with this anthology and look forward to following along with some of these debut writers careers as they hopefully continue to grow! Thank you to NetGalley and Mukana Press for an e-ARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.
1. Border Control
Rating: 1/5
Review: This was (I believe) a contemporary short story, but it was very confusing and I’m not quite sure if this was technically a social horror story or not. I was never entirely sure what was happening, or what was imagined by this woman in a very stressful situation. I feel like I misunderstood this story’s symbolism – especially considering that the name felt like it had no relevance to the story. I was especially confused by the continuous mention of “padlocks” this felt like an odd word choice to describe what the character was experiencing, and I could not understand why this specific term was so frequently repeated.
2. Gasping for Air
Rating: 5/5
Review: This was such a creepy story and for being so short there was an incredible build-up of tension. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and the big twist in this story left me in absolute shock!
3. The Newlywed’s Window
Rating: 5/5
Review: Another contemporary short story, but this one was so well-developed. It is a story of someone on the outside looking in and just simply observing the world around them, which really resonated with me. I loved the writing style and felt like the examinations of societal roles and expectations were incredibly interesting in the context of the events we witness with this main character’s added commentary and reflection.
4. Mareba’s Tavern
Rating: 4/5
Review: I really enjoyed this story, perhaps especially because of this communal atmosphere that is so integral to the story itself. The writing style was great at expressing the unspoken feelings of the main character and for creating these anxious moments that had some comedic relief. I do wish this story had been a bit longer though because I think I needed more time with our main character - and more scenes with the daughter - to fully connect with the characters.
5. How Are You?
Rating: 5/5
Review: I enjoyed this one not only because it was incredibly well-written, but also because I definitely related to our main character. It can be incredibly stressful to carry the weight of your family and their burdens on your shoulders, while simultaneously having to figure out the course of your own life in the process. I like that this was a story examining the spoken and unspoken understandings between family members and how parent-child dynamics are renegotiated as our parents age.
6. Black Pawpaw
Rating: 5/5
Review: This story genuinely made my skin crawl and then left me with my mouth wide open at the crazy turn of events! This story relied more on shock value rather than a build-up of tension, but it worked so well with this writing style that you never quite knew what the next move would be.
7. The Rain
Rating: 4/5
Review: I liked that this story used such a different format, but I’m not entirely sure if it was right for this story. I was engaged in the story, but it left feeling like I wanted more from it or that I was missing information since we’re only getting one perspective. It was a very interesting story, but one where I think the format hindered the reading experience rather than enhanced it. Also, there were some errors with the formatting and minor grammar errors that were noticeable.
8. Our Girl Bimpe
Rating: 5/5
Review: I loved the social commentary explored in this story. This was also a character that I found very relatable and was able to fully empathize with that feeling of just trying to find your place. There was also quite a bit of context in this story which was great to get a better understanding of certain aspects of social media use in this specific country.
9. The Daya Zimu
Rating: 2/5
Review: This was an interesting concept for a story, and I was initially intrigued. However, there was just too much suspension of belief for the set-up to really work. Also, this story didn’t really build tension for me, I wanted it to just get to the point. Then, when we got there it was wrapped up so quickly that it all felt very underwhelming. I think this story could have benefited from being just a bit longer.
10. Old Photographs
Rating: 3/5
This was an interesting story but left me with a lot of unanswered questions. It felt like it was almost unnecessarily long when focusing on insignificant descriptions. Then, it was so easily wrapped up when there were so many more interesting aspects left unexplored.
11. This is for my Auntie Penzi Who
Rating: 3/5
Review: This is the story I’m most conflicted on because initially I was really into this story, and I still enjoyed the writing style of it. However, as it went on, I felt like the story was getting bogged down by adding so much in without a real guiding thread to the story. It felt very ambiguous and left me questioning, is this actually Auntie Penzi or not? Something about this story felt very unfinished, especially the ending. There were also multiple grammar errors, and the name of a character is spelled entirely differently from one sentence to the next (M’ake/B’ake) so it just felt more like a rough draft than a finished story.
12. A Letter from Ireland
Rating: 5/5
Review: A great story on traditionalist views vs colonist views and the negotiations of both worlds. I liked that this centered faith and traditions in such a unique way where we see generational gaps as well. Something about the writing style in this story just felt very cozy to me and I really liked our characters.
Overall, I rated this anthology 4/5 stars because I enjoyed a substantial number of the stories included. This selection of stories provides different options for a wide variety of readers to find stories and characters to connect with – as well as themes and discussions to examine that I think will start many discussions about the current societal issues across different countries and cultures. I really enjoyed my reading experience with this anthology and look forward to following along with some of these debut writers careers as they hopefully continue to grow! Thank you to NetGalley and Mukana Press for an e-ARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2022
The Newlyweds’ Window is a collection of 12 short stories written by African writers. I am very interested in African writing mainly because of Chimamanda Adichie.
The first thing that I'd like to say is that the stories are very well written. They seem authentic and the writing creates nice imagery. However, as it happens with most of the short story collection, not every story is very engaging. But some of them are very interesting and intriguing. I'd like to mention the stories I liked ―
the title story, 1. The Newlyweds’ Window 2. Mareba’s Tavern
3. Black Paw Paw
4. How Are You?
5. Rain
6. The Daya Zimu
Others, as I said, are well written but not so interesting and engaging for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Mukana Press for the copy.
The first thing that I'd like to say is that the stories are very well written. They seem authentic and the writing creates nice imagery. However, as it happens with most of the short story collection, not every story is very engaging. But some of them are very interesting and intriguing. I'd like to mention the stories I liked ―
the title story, 1. The Newlyweds’ Window 2. Mareba’s Tavern
3. Black Paw Paw
4. How Are You?
5. Rain
6. The Daya Zimu
Others, as I said, are well written but not so interesting and engaging for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Mukana Press for the copy.
December 27, 2022
This collection of stories from numerous African writers does not have a unifying theme, but does showcase both debut and established writers from Nigeria, Zimbabwe Kenya, and the United States. The stories, regardless of experience, are polished, and run the gamut from people watching, to identity, to the use of social media, to serial killers, and to body in the revelation about an absent family member.
The stories are were all well done, but I had a few favourites:
-Gasping for Air: Yikes! This one lingered in my head long after I had finished it.
-Black Pawpaw: I felt the frustration and fear of the narrator.
-Our Girl Bimpe: A girl experiences much more than she bargained for when she created her social media presence.
-Old Photographs: This was creepy!
-This is for my Aunt Penzi, Who—: Disturbing,
Thank you to Netgalley and to Mukana Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The stories are were all well done, but I had a few favourites:
-Gasping for Air: Yikes! This one lingered in my head long after I had finished it.
-Black Pawpaw: I felt the frustration and fear of the narrator.
-Our Girl Bimpe: A girl experiences much more than she bargained for when she created her social media presence.
-Old Photographs: This was creepy!
-This is for my Aunt Penzi, Who—: Disturbing,
Thank you to Netgalley and to Mukana Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 5, 2022
This is a collection of 12 short stories from up and coming African writers. The stories didn’t really share any common theme (we meet serial killers, feminist, supernatural spirits and beings, etc) and as with any collection there were both hits and misses. In my opinion the majority of the stories were top notch and even the ones that sort of missed the mark were okay just a little less engaging. I didn’t find a single story that I hated. I’d definitely pick up a book by each and every one of these writers.
August 1, 2022
This was a refreshing and very intriguing anthology!
As Mukana Press mentions in the blurb, Africa’s stories have largely been told through a colonist lens that views it with themes of poverty, tragedy, war and grief. It was lovely to read Africa through Africans in different countries. Especially because none of these stories have been adapted or 'dumbed down' for a foreign audience.
The stories were as authentic as you can get and I kept looking up what various things meant. This gave me a chance to have a richer and deeper understanding and reading experience, It's something I feel we lose out on when the glossary is just put up or an explanation is worked into the story. For example: brands of soft drink that I had no idea existed,snacks enjoyed by locals, 'patapatas' which are flip flops and more such things, phrases that I did not know of before!
While there was no common theme connecting the stories, I enjoyed the variety. Crime, fantasy , thriller, slice of life... they were all thrown in there. Not every story was perfect ; I felt like some details and comprehensive elements were missing from a couple of them, but they were all charming and full of heart.
My favorite ones were - Our girl Bimpe, Mareba's Tavern and A Letter from Ireland
Thank you to Mukana Press for the ARC.
As Mukana Press mentions in the blurb, Africa’s stories have largely been told through a colonist lens that views it with themes of poverty, tragedy, war and grief. It was lovely to read Africa through Africans in different countries. Especially because none of these stories have been adapted or 'dumbed down' for a foreign audience.
The stories were as authentic as you can get and I kept looking up what various things meant. This gave me a chance to have a richer and deeper understanding and reading experience, It's something I feel we lose out on when the glossary is just put up or an explanation is worked into the story. For example: brands of soft drink that I had no idea existed,snacks enjoyed by locals, 'patapatas' which are flip flops and more such things, phrases that I did not know of before!
While there was no common theme connecting the stories, I enjoyed the variety. Crime, fantasy , thriller, slice of life... they were all thrown in there. Not every story was perfect ; I felt like some details and comprehensive elements were missing from a couple of them, but they were all charming and full of heart.
My favorite ones were - Our girl Bimpe, Mareba's Tavern and A Letter from Ireland
Thank you to Mukana Press for the ARC.
August 7, 2022
The Newlywed's Window is a unique and diverse collection of twelve stories showcasing emerging African writers, many of whom have never been published. They comprise a wide variety of genres including horror. Every story was worthy of inclusion. The stories are powerful, well written and explore themes of family, relationships, tradition, community, societal expectations and gender roles. Many address the intersection of traditional and modern worlds. My favorites were The Daya Zimu, Old Photographs, and A Letter from Ireland, all with supernatural aspects. Our Girl Bimpe cleverly offers insight into the dangers of social media. The author bios, as well as the stories, were interesting and fun to read. I really enjoyed reading these stories and the introduction to new writers. Thank you to Mukana Press and BookishFirst.
July 31, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
This is an anthology of short stories from African writers. I've been making a point to expand my reading horizons, and what I loved about this anthology is that about half the writers are making their writing debut.
This was a great set of stories! There was only one that just didn't hold my interest, but the others were a really great quality. Several of the stories have some kind of mystical/fantastical element, but mostly they're just stories about people going about their days. Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro will feel very familiar to many of us, detailing a story of internet bullying and rape. Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel is just downright creepy, telling the story of a serial killer in love with his intended victim. I also really liked A Letter from Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor, about a young man in a remote village not understanding why his uncle chooses to live in Ireland with a young priest instead of coming home to get married.
I know this anthology is available now, and would recommend getting it. It's not a large book, but the short stories are really wonderful.
This is an anthology of short stories from African writers. I've been making a point to expand my reading horizons, and what I loved about this anthology is that about half the writers are making their writing debut.
This was a great set of stories! There was only one that just didn't hold my interest, but the others were a really great quality. Several of the stories have some kind of mystical/fantastical element, but mostly they're just stories about people going about their days. Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro will feel very familiar to many of us, detailing a story of internet bullying and rape. Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel is just downright creepy, telling the story of a serial killer in love with his intended victim. I also really liked A Letter from Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor, about a young man in a remote village not understanding why his uncle chooses to live in Ireland with a young priest instead of coming home to get married.
I know this anthology is available now, and would recommend getting it. It's not a large book, but the short stories are really wonderful.
July 10, 2022
Rounding this one up to 4 stars even though it was a mixed bag. The Newlywed's Window is like a great appetizer tray full of tasty little morsels, but nothing that ultimately adds up to a meal. Our Girl Bimpe was far and away my favorite and made me feel a lot of feelings, but most of the others felt like they were missing something; either they started with a lot of promise and an intriguing premise but never went anywhere, or they made a full story arc but never quite hooked me.
That being said, this anthology got me excited for all the undiscovered writing talent that's out there. For all its missteps, this book is packed full of original voices and exciting new perspectives. It doesn't assume an American audience (African languages, where included, are not translated; settings are simply presented and not explained). It's fascinating. And I guess a good appetizer does leave you wanting more.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
That being said, this anthology got me excited for all the undiscovered writing talent that's out there. For all its missteps, this book is packed full of original voices and exciting new perspectives. It doesn't assume an American audience (African languages, where included, are not translated; settings are simply presented and not explained). It's fascinating. And I guess a good appetizer does leave you wanting more.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
July 31, 2022
This anthology, a collection of stories, may be small in size, but the stories themselves are big in impact. It truly is a collection of some powerful writing, sometimes surprisingly so! In fact, some of these stories should be adapted into a movie or short series. These are not fairy-tale stories where everything in life is happy or perfect, and I appreciated the suspense that comes with the sometimes gritty aspect of real life. There are seedy characters and criminals, but also students worrying about test scores, people worrying about their parents' old age and trying to meet their parents' cultural expectations. Some characters are grandmothers who pay attention to disturbing dreams.
I am not a reader who naturally gravitated to books of short stories in the past, but this reading experience has changed my mind about what I think I may or may not enjoy. This is my honest opinion in exchange for a copy of the book from BookishFirst.
I am not a reader who naturally gravitated to books of short stories in the past, but this reading experience has changed my mind about what I think I may or may not enjoy. This is my honest opinion in exchange for a copy of the book from BookishFirst.
September 3, 2022
I don't always read short stories, but sometimes I like to. They are easy to get into and quick to read. This is a book that has 12 different short stories by African authors. They were all very good writers and had interesting stories. They ranked from PG to R. But they are all very family oriented. I love reading stories from authors that are different from me. It's a look into how other people live and the things they go through that are so incredibly different than me. This is a good book to read if you are wanting to read about life in Africa. Rain was one of my favorite stories. To me, it was a story about guilt and how it seems to drown you. I also enjoyed Our Girl Bimpe. Bimpe is just a teenage girl looking for acceptance and attention and it doesn't go ideally. And finally, A Letter from Ireland was a good one too. It doesn't end the way anyone thinks it will.
November 13, 2023
Massive thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Newlyweds' Window is an anthology of short stories written by some incredibly talented authors. While most collections include a common theme, each of these stories were unique and only shared one common thread, Africa. And while not having a common theme could leave a reader feeling lost or overwhelmed with all the different writing styles, motifs, etc., this collection brilliantly bypasses it all.
A reader is catapulted into a world full of mysticism, horror, autonomy, identity, realism, love, sex, power, lies, all of it. And each story uniquely portrays a different sliver of life, all while remaining on the same continent.
Out of the entire collection, two stories have remained in the forefront of my mind: "Rain," by Muuka Gwaba and "The Newlyweds' Window," by Husnah Mad-hy. From drowning in loneliness, to examining the phases of a marriage from the comfort of your bedroom window, these stories were captivating. Honorable mentions are "The Daya Zimu" and "Old Photographs." I genuinely was left feeling scared and anxious.
This is a collection that any reader would find fascinating and I would highly recommend to anyone.
The Newlyweds' Window is an anthology of short stories written by some incredibly talented authors. While most collections include a common theme, each of these stories were unique and only shared one common thread, Africa. And while not having a common theme could leave a reader feeling lost or overwhelmed with all the different writing styles, motifs, etc., this collection brilliantly bypasses it all.
A reader is catapulted into a world full of mysticism, horror, autonomy, identity, realism, love, sex, power, lies, all of it. And each story uniquely portrays a different sliver of life, all while remaining on the same continent.
Out of the entire collection, two stories have remained in the forefront of my mind: "Rain," by Muuka Gwaba and "The Newlyweds' Window," by Husnah Mad-hy. From drowning in loneliness, to examining the phases of a marriage from the comfort of your bedroom window, these stories were captivating. Honorable mentions are "The Daya Zimu" and "Old Photographs." I genuinely was left feeling scared and anxious.
This is a collection that any reader would find fascinating and I would highly recommend to anyone.
July 15, 2022
I love short story collections, even though most are uneven in terms of story quality. This book is no different. There were none I thought were bad; half were average, a few very interesting horror stories, and several very good indeed. I particularly liked Mareba's Tavern, Black PayPal, How Are You?, and Our Girl Bimpe. Worth reading.
Thank you, Mukana Press, for sending me this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
Thank you, Mukana Press, for sending me this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
October 16, 2022
***goodreads giveaway win***
This was the book I didn't know I needed. How refreshing was it to read stories written for and about the contemporary lives of folks living in countries I rarely read about. Much like the title story, The Newlywed's Window, this book left me feeling like a voyeur on the lives of people I don't have access to. Love it.
This was the book I didn't know I needed. How refreshing was it to read stories written for and about the contemporary lives of folks living in countries I rarely read about. Much like the title story, The Newlywed's Window, this book left me feeling like a voyeur on the lives of people I don't have access to. Love it.
July 27, 2022
Again, I am reading a collection of short stories. It's not my favorite genre, but in this case, it is very effective in showing the range of writing coming out of Africa these days. I believe these stories were written in English and not translated by another person, so we are hearing the author's words. They come from different countries; Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The stories reflect the different countries they came from. Each shows a different culture. I added the book to my "Around the world" reading list. I don't actively look for books for this grouping, but I enjoy it when one shows up. I think it helps me better understand the world we live in.
As to the stories themselves, they are a diverse grouping. I'm not sure I would have started out with the tale of a serial killer first. Other stories give us ghosts, demons, class divisions and separations by time and distance. All are very human, showing we aren't that different. I would suggest you give the book a try or three.
I received the copy of the book I read for this review from the publisher through Netgalley
The stories reflect the different countries they came from. Each shows a different culture. I added the book to my "Around the world" reading list. I don't actively look for books for this grouping, but I enjoy it when one shows up. I think it helps me better understand the world we live in.
As to the stories themselves, they are a diverse grouping. I'm not sure I would have started out with the tale of a serial killer first. Other stories give us ghosts, demons, class divisions and separations by time and distance. All are very human, showing we aren't that different. I would suggest you give the book a try or three.
I received the copy of the book I read for this review from the publisher through Netgalley
July 30, 2022
The Newlyweds' Window is a collection of stories from authors from Africa. Many have never been published and this collection put together by Mukana Press gives these voices a concrete and large audience. There is no strand that ties these together; they were picked as good stories that move you. This many there are many genres including horror. Of the twelve stories, many resonate after you have closed the book. For me, Black Paw Paw by Obinna Ezeodili and Old Photographs by Hannah Onoguwe are the ones that haunt me the most. Both are horror stories but different kinds. Black Paw Paw is domestic terror and is heartbreaking while Old Photographs us supernatural.
I truly enjoyed having a new cultural experience, reading these stories from the people who live and experience the African culture. At the same time, many of the stories have a global heart that echoes our own struggles.
I truly enjoyed having a new cultural experience, reading these stories from the people who live and experience the African culture. At the same time, many of the stories have a global heart that echoes our own struggles.
July 24, 2022
I had extremely high expectations for this series of short stories and I was not disappointed! For anyone who enjoys dark, bone-chilling stories that leave you feeling skittish, this is for you. My favorite story in the collection was “Rain” by Muuka Gwaba. As I read this story, I could begin to feel the main character’s panic as she wrote to a friend in a series of emails. It took a turn that I did not expect and the ending was abrupt, but good.
Overall, I feel that this truly is an award worthy anthology. It is full of such talented authors! Even though the genres of the stories were similar, I could feel the differences in writing between each author. It was evident that every single author put tremendous amounts of thought into their stories. I also feel that it captures and honors African culture. The only downside to this anthology is that each story ends very abruptly, and sometimes on a cliffhanger, so you’re left wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I would recommend to anyone who has a fascination with spooky stories!
Overall, I feel that this truly is an award worthy anthology. It is full of such talented authors! Even though the genres of the stories were similar, I could feel the differences in writing between each author. It was evident that every single author put tremendous amounts of thought into their stories. I also feel that it captures and honors African culture. The only downside to this anthology is that each story ends very abruptly, and sometimes on a cliffhanger, so you’re left wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I would recommend to anyone who has a fascination with spooky stories!
September 2, 2022
Averaging together an individual rating of each of the short stories in this anthology is how I factored my rating of Mukana Press’s The Newlywed’s Window as being 4/5 stars, rounded up from around 3.9/5. The rounding up, to which I would go up even to 4.5/5 if that were only possible, I will credit as being my appreciation for Mukana Press’s endeavors and goals — “uplifting African writers” and “getting more African talent on the world stage” — in and for curating this book.
The act of picking favorites, no matter the scope or topic, is typically not easy for me. But if I had to declare my top three stories from this collection, I would come to the carefully considered decision (in no particular order) of: “The Newlywed’s Window,” “Our Girl Bimpe,” and “Gasping For Air,” with an honorary mention to “Rain,” courtesy of my indecisiveness. Everyone’s taste is different, of course, so don’t let this raise your expectations too high for those four stories, nor dash too low your expectations for the other eight.
I wouldn’t classify myself as someone who prior has read an ample amount of short stories, so I am pleasantly satisfied with the exposure to the art of the short story that this anthology provided me. I would certainly be interested in adding future years’ Mukana Press anthologies of African writing to my shelf alongside this debut 2022 edition if this becomes an annual publication.
Thank you to Mukana Press for the advance reader copy of this book, won in a Goodreads giveaway, and, most importantly, for getting these debut/up-and-coming writers’ stories in print and out onto the world stage.
The act of picking favorites, no matter the scope or topic, is typically not easy for me. But if I had to declare my top three stories from this collection, I would come to the carefully considered decision (in no particular order) of: “The Newlywed’s Window,” “Our Girl Bimpe,” and “Gasping For Air,” with an honorary mention to “Rain,” courtesy of my indecisiveness. Everyone’s taste is different, of course, so don’t let this raise your expectations too high for those four stories, nor dash too low your expectations for the other eight.
I wouldn’t classify myself as someone who prior has read an ample amount of short stories, so I am pleasantly satisfied with the exposure to the art of the short story that this anthology provided me. I would certainly be interested in adding future years’ Mukana Press anthologies of African writing to my shelf alongside this debut 2022 edition if this becomes an annual publication.
Thank you to Mukana Press for the advance reader copy of this book, won in a Goodreads giveaway, and, most importantly, for getting these debut/up-and-coming writers’ stories in print and out onto the world stage.
August 10, 2022
The Newlywed’s Window is a short-story collection set in various countries on the African continent and features a variety of characters subjected to experiences ranging from admirable quests for a better or different life than what society demands for them to paranormal situations (often rooted in African myth and folklore - curses, malevolent spirits, and witches are mentioned). The narrator’s points of view range from children, adults, the elderly and even insights/obsrvations of a demented predator/stalker.
While I didn’t understand some of the terms used in the stories, I believe I deduced the meaning(s) accurately. Although set on a different continent than my own, there were very relatable, familiar themes and topics within stories involving the mindset of a serial killer, a young girl’s ill-fated foray on social media, a blind mother’s discovery of her son’s truth via the lens of her grandson, a young mother in labor hints at the inequities and tragic ordeals of underprivileged birthing mothers in sub-par health care facilities, etc.
There is a bit of something for everyone in this anthology: speculative fiction, mystery/suspense, social commentary, coming-of-age stories, family relationships (good and bad), and glimpses of culture and tradition in various communities.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
While I didn’t understand some of the terms used in the stories, I believe I deduced the meaning(s) accurately. Although set on a different continent than my own, there were very relatable, familiar themes and topics within stories involving the mindset of a serial killer, a young girl’s ill-fated foray on social media, a blind mother’s discovery of her son’s truth via the lens of her grandson, a young mother in labor hints at the inequities and tragic ordeals of underprivileged birthing mothers in sub-par health care facilities, etc.
There is a bit of something for everyone in this anthology: speculative fiction, mystery/suspense, social commentary, coming-of-age stories, family relationships (good and bad), and glimpses of culture and tradition in various communities.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
August 24, 2023
Thank you to Mukana Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of The Newlyweds' Window. I finished this book last year itself, in October 2022, but was unable to provide a review due to personal reasons.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly! This collection of unique and diverse short stories opened a window to the talented writers' minds, each of whom brought their distinct writing styles and individuality in thought to their stories. Each story was extremely different in its plot but had one thing in common: they were all very realistic stories that brough to light our strengths and vulnerabilities as humans.
My favourite stories in the collection were: The Newlyweds' Window, Gasping for Air, How Are You, The Rain, Our Girl Bimpe, This Is For My Auntie Penzie Who, Mareba's Tavern and A Letter From Ireland. So like more than half the collection!
Rating this 4/5 because I enjoyed all the stories (even the ones I did not mention here), albeit not equally. I recommend this collection to anyone who's looking to read something "interesting" - the collection has stories from a variety of genres so it's got something for everyone!
I enjoyed this book thoroughly! This collection of unique and diverse short stories opened a window to the talented writers' minds, each of whom brought their distinct writing styles and individuality in thought to their stories. Each story was extremely different in its plot but had one thing in common: they were all very realistic stories that brough to light our strengths and vulnerabilities as humans.
My favourite stories in the collection were: The Newlyweds' Window, Gasping for Air, How Are You, The Rain, Our Girl Bimpe, This Is For My Auntie Penzie Who, Mareba's Tavern and A Letter From Ireland. So like more than half the collection!
Rating this 4/5 because I enjoyed all the stories (even the ones I did not mention here), albeit not equally. I recommend this collection to anyone who's looking to read something "interesting" - the collection has stories from a variety of genres so it's got something for everyone!
August 29, 2022
I enjoy reading anthologies and finding new authors so I was excited to read this collection. However, the stories I found inside was often confusing and mediocre at best. They often seemed to ramble and go off on tangents and never wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion.
The topics these stories dealt with varied from story to story with very different protagonists facing very strong adult conflicts. Themes such as murder, kidnapping, infidelity, divorce, and more were featured and I never felt anything hopeful from any of the stories. The title story The Newlyweds' Window, features a woman who watches a couple through her window in their most intimate marital moments and speculates on their relationship as time progresses.
This anthology might be wonderful for others to read, I just don't think I am the correct or best audience for these stories.
The topics these stories dealt with varied from story to story with very different protagonists facing very strong adult conflicts. Themes such as murder, kidnapping, infidelity, divorce, and more were featured and I never felt anything hopeful from any of the stories. The title story The Newlyweds' Window, features a woman who watches a couple through her window in their most intimate marital moments and speculates on their relationship as time progresses.
This anthology might be wonderful for others to read, I just don't think I am the correct or best audience for these stories.
April 18, 2023
This book is an anthology of writings from Africa’s most preeminent emerging short story writers. It strives to provide a platform for the world to become familiar with the prevalence of talent found outside of the mainstream, and aspires to tell the stories of the authors from fresh at age points. The story’s scopes range from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Kenya and beyond. Mukana means opportunity in Shona, a language spoken in Southern Africa, and this is the 2022 Mukana Press Anthology of African Writing. Twelve separate chapters are followed by a section devoted to the authors’ biographies. The work provides an interesting and refreshing perspective on authors that might not be readily accessible by any other means.
August 12, 2022
Dynamite stories from Africa!
“I open my fridge and the cornea and lenses are beautiful, the eyes that stare back at me from different transparent containers….”
That’s the line from the first story.
Here’s the opening to the second story:
“Open your legs! I lie flat on my back to sacrifice myself into a wider Y for Nurse Clara, who wants to peer deeper into my nether regions.”
See? How could I resist? This is a collection of short stories by African writers, put together by Mukana Press, which wanted to showcase new African writers. Some numbers: there are 12 stories, which were picked from 512 entries across 23 countries. Man, did they choose some good ones! It’s all I can do not to include a quote-athon! Ha, as soon as I say that, I realize I have to add a couple more gemmy lines:
“I try remembering the last time I crossed my legs. I make a mental note to treasure that moment.”
“Another contraction threatens to kiss tomorrow off my calendar.”
“What she hated was idle time, when she could hear her thoughts.”
“Ma reminds me of a lotus. The kind that grows in muddy ponds: beautiful on the surface, with a lot of ugliness going on underneath.”
“Did I not clear the cobwebs between your legs just last week?”
There were a couple stories I didn’t like (they were about the supernatural, which I hate), a few that were just okay, and the rest I loved. I even liked a couple that had magical realism. A few stories lacked endings, but that often happens in collections. One story (“This is for My Aunt Penzi, Who—") had way too many sentences in an African language, and there was no translation to English; it says something that I still liked the story even though half the time I didn’t know what was being said! Still, the press maybe shouldn’t have picked that one for its international audience.
There are two stories that made me grab my pogo stick:
“Black Pawpaw” had me holding on for dear life. It’s a (literary) thriller about sexual abuse. I loved it so much I took a trip with Google and found out that the author, Paul Ezeodili from Nigeria, had another work available, and I promptly bought it on Kindle. I was surprised that a man wrote this story, the point of view is so very female; I would have bet money that it was a woman writer. His bio at the end of the book is a kick.
“Our Girl Bimpe,” by Olakunle Ologunro (also of Nigeria), also grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It’s about a girl who takes on a new identity on social media. I’m telling you, this story will stay with me a long time. Of course, I went to Google again, and damn, I couldn’t find anything else written by the author. But I did find a picture of him with Adichie, a writer whose short stories I love—I’m so excited that they know each other! Hopefully, we’ll see more by this author. I am waiting in line.
-
There’s a serial killer, a woman in labor, a woman watching newlyweds from her window, a couple of girls coming of age, to name a few of the plots. Lots of genres. One character thinks she’s being attacked by an incubus while sleeping. I had to look up “incubus”—it’s a demon who has sex with a sleeping woman. Now that got my attention! All the stories are well-written and really give you the flavor of life in Africa. There’s a list of author bios at the end of the book, and some of them are entertaining as hell.
I’m so glad that Mukana Press put together this collection, giving new voices from Africa some exposure.
What made me request this advance copy? Well, two of my favorite books are from Africa: Stay with Me and The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After. Also, I like short stories by Adichie (I didn’t like one of her novels, but I’m still in love with her writing), so African short stories appealed to me. I was massively curious about this collection, and it didn’t disappoint.
If you like short stories, especially those from different cultures, check this book out. I’d love to see it get more press.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
“I open my fridge and the cornea and lenses are beautiful, the eyes that stare back at me from different transparent containers….”
That’s the line from the first story.
Here’s the opening to the second story:
“Open your legs! I lie flat on my back to sacrifice myself into a wider Y for Nurse Clara, who wants to peer deeper into my nether regions.”
See? How could I resist? This is a collection of short stories by African writers, put together by Mukana Press, which wanted to showcase new African writers. Some numbers: there are 12 stories, which were picked from 512 entries across 23 countries. Man, did they choose some good ones! It’s all I can do not to include a quote-athon! Ha, as soon as I say that, I realize I have to add a couple more gemmy lines:
“I try remembering the last time I crossed my legs. I make a mental note to treasure that moment.”
“Another contraction threatens to kiss tomorrow off my calendar.”
“What she hated was idle time, when she could hear her thoughts.”
“Ma reminds me of a lotus. The kind that grows in muddy ponds: beautiful on the surface, with a lot of ugliness going on underneath.”
“Did I not clear the cobwebs between your legs just last week?”
There were a couple stories I didn’t like (they were about the supernatural, which I hate), a few that were just okay, and the rest I loved. I even liked a couple that had magical realism. A few stories lacked endings, but that often happens in collections. One story (“This is for My Aunt Penzi, Who—") had way too many sentences in an African language, and there was no translation to English; it says something that I still liked the story even though half the time I didn’t know what was being said! Still, the press maybe shouldn’t have picked that one for its international audience.
There are two stories that made me grab my pogo stick:
“Black Pawpaw” had me holding on for dear life. It’s a (literary) thriller about sexual abuse. I loved it so much I took a trip with Google and found out that the author, Paul Ezeodili from Nigeria, had another work available, and I promptly bought it on Kindle. I was surprised that a man wrote this story, the point of view is so very female; I would have bet money that it was a woman writer. His bio at the end of the book is a kick.
“Our Girl Bimpe,” by Olakunle Ologunro (also of Nigeria), also grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It’s about a girl who takes on a new identity on social media. I’m telling you, this story will stay with me a long time. Of course, I went to Google again, and damn, I couldn’t find anything else written by the author. But I did find a picture of him with Adichie, a writer whose short stories I love—I’m so excited that they know each other! Hopefully, we’ll see more by this author. I am waiting in line.
-
There’s a serial killer, a woman in labor, a woman watching newlyweds from her window, a couple of girls coming of age, to name a few of the plots. Lots of genres. One character thinks she’s being attacked by an incubus while sleeping. I had to look up “incubus”—it’s a demon who has sex with a sleeping woman. Now that got my attention! All the stories are well-written and really give you the flavor of life in Africa. There’s a list of author bios at the end of the book, and some of them are entertaining as hell.
I’m so glad that Mukana Press put together this collection, giving new voices from Africa some exposure.
What made me request this advance copy? Well, two of my favorite books are from Africa: Stay with Me and The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After. Also, I like short stories by Adichie (I didn’t like one of her novels, but I’m still in love with her writing), so African short stories appealed to me. I was massively curious about this collection, and it didn’t disappoint.
If you like short stories, especially those from different cultures, check this book out. I’d love to see it get more press.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
August 30, 2022
I received a copy from Netgalley
Since this is a short story collection, I'm going to review each story individually. Before that, just a general review:
I think this anthology had some very strong short stories. It was definetely worth the read and would recommend it to anyone wanting a fast read that also deals with very heavy themes. There are a lot of trigger warnings though (I'll try to mention the ones I remember -forgot to keep track of them :/)
Gasping for air was honestly a great way to start off this anthology. Let me just give you the opening line and try to guess my face when I first read it: I open my fridge and the cornea and lenses are beautiful, the eyes that stare back at from different transparent containers. Reading from the POV of a murderer was really interesting and I'm glad it wasn't written in a way that "justified" the main character's actions. 5/5
TW: murder, assault towards women, stalking
Border control was probably the least strong story in this anthology. It was just... confusing. I'm not sure what was happening most of the time and the words used were weird. 1/5
TW: pregnancy, birth, veeery painful birth (probably?)
The Newlyweds' window which is also the title of the anthology, wasn't as strong as I had expected. I liked the themes it explored but I'm not sure if it was worth giving the story's name to the title. Of course, I shouldn't expect something with a wow factor from a story that explored the mundane life of a woman looking at some newlyweds' window but... I think it just wasn't for me. 2.5/5
TW: isolation
From Mareba's tavern and on, the collection becomes better and better. I'm not sure why I enjoyed this story this much. Maybe it was the "common people tavern" vibes it was giving. But it was also written and executed really well, with a satisfying beginning, middle and an end. 4/5
Black pawpaw was... wow. I don't know what else to say. This is a short story that, given the ending and the entire premise, could have been written as a whole book and I'd read 10 times a day. 6/5
TW: pedophilia, grooming, assault
When reading How are you?, my brain was a little confused. Not because I didn't understand the plot but because I don't know if I enjoyed this or not... I liked that it showed how the oldest sister basically morphs into a parent and cares for her family but I wasn't a fan of the language used by the sister to describe her siblings. I'm glad it showed the importance of a simple "How are you question?' towards the mother but other than that... 3/5
Rain was amazing. The email style used for this story was really fitting, diving basically into the mind of a toxic and manipulative person. Just reading the first part of the email you can get a good picture of what the MC is... It gave claustophobia and basically just be kind to people you pos. 5/5
TW: drowning, bullying
Our girl Bimpe. Nothing to say. Fantastic. 6/5
TW: rape, misogyny
The Daya Zimu was eerie, creepy and would have probably been more fitting to read during Halloween season. In this case as well I'd say that this story could have been a great first part on a whole book. 4.5/5
Old photographs was no really my thing, to be honest. I think it could have been executed and explained better. 2.5/5
This is for my aunt Penzi-who: am I crazy or this would have been better as a poem? I'm not sure it touched me as much as it should have. 2/5
A letter from Ireland, was a nice way to close off this anthology. I liked the traditional-modern border it showed though I'm kind of tired seeing this "fight". Still, decent. 3/5
TW: homophobia
To close this, my top 3 would probably be:
1)Our girl Bimpe
2) Black pawpaw
3) Rain
Since this is a short story collection, I'm going to review each story individually. Before that, just a general review:
I think this anthology had some very strong short stories. It was definetely worth the read and would recommend it to anyone wanting a fast read that also deals with very heavy themes. There are a lot of trigger warnings though (I'll try to mention the ones I remember -forgot to keep track of them :/)
Gasping for air was honestly a great way to start off this anthology. Let me just give you the opening line and try to guess my face when I first read it: I open my fridge and the cornea and lenses are beautiful, the eyes that stare back at from different transparent containers. Reading from the POV of a murderer was really interesting and I'm glad it wasn't written in a way that "justified" the main character's actions. 5/5
TW: murder, assault towards women, stalking
Border control was probably the least strong story in this anthology. It was just... confusing. I'm not sure what was happening most of the time and the words used were weird. 1/5
TW: pregnancy, birth, veeery painful birth (probably?)
The Newlyweds' window which is also the title of the anthology, wasn't as strong as I had expected. I liked the themes it explored but I'm not sure if it was worth giving the story's name to the title. Of course, I shouldn't expect something with a wow factor from a story that explored the mundane life of a woman looking at some newlyweds' window but... I think it just wasn't for me. 2.5/5
TW: isolation
From Mareba's tavern and on, the collection becomes better and better. I'm not sure why I enjoyed this story this much. Maybe it was the "common people tavern" vibes it was giving. But it was also written and executed really well, with a satisfying beginning, middle and an end. 4/5
Black pawpaw was... wow. I don't know what else to say. This is a short story that, given the ending and the entire premise, could have been written as a whole book and I'd read 10 times a day. 6/5
TW: pedophilia, grooming, assault
When reading How are you?, my brain was a little confused. Not because I didn't understand the plot but because I don't know if I enjoyed this or not... I liked that it showed how the oldest sister basically morphs into a parent and cares for her family but I wasn't a fan of the language used by the sister to describe her siblings. I'm glad it showed the importance of a simple "How are you question?' towards the mother but other than that... 3/5
Rain was amazing. The email style used for this story was really fitting, diving basically into the mind of a toxic and manipulative person. Just reading the first part of the email you can get a good picture of what the MC is... It gave claustophobia and basically just be kind to people you pos. 5/5
TW: drowning, bullying
Our girl Bimpe. Nothing to say. Fantastic. 6/5
TW: rape, misogyny
The Daya Zimu was eerie, creepy and would have probably been more fitting to read during Halloween season. In this case as well I'd say that this story could have been a great first part on a whole book. 4.5/5
Old photographs was no really my thing, to be honest. I think it could have been executed and explained better. 2.5/5
This is for my aunt Penzi-who: am I crazy or this would have been better as a poem? I'm not sure it touched me as much as it should have. 2/5
A letter from Ireland, was a nice way to close off this anthology. I liked the traditional-modern border it showed though I'm kind of tired seeing this "fight". Still, decent. 3/5
TW: homophobia
To close this, my top 3 would probably be:
1)Our girl Bimpe
2) Black pawpaw
3) Rain
September 14, 2022
Overall
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Interesting short stories in a variety of genres from Africa and the
African diaspora.
Border Control by Altine Jojo Elhassan
4
Terrific (and quite funny) story about an uninsured single
mother giving birth to twins. Very immediate. No
fluff or unnecessary words. We’re right
there with her right away: experiencing the pain, terror, dreary hospital decor;
and manhandling by abrasive, incompetent, and unsympathetic nurses.
Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel
3
A weird horror story about a strange and criminal being.
Best I say no more.
The Newlywed’s Window by Husnah Mad-Hy
3.5
A lovely, yearning, understated, slow burn of a story about a lonely
woman in Stone Town, Zanzibar whose main
form of entertainment is not TV but watching the
world from her window. Unique story. I can’t
remember ever reading an entire stored framed
by a window.
Mareba’s Tavern by Gladwell Pamba
3.5
Sweet, touching, and vivid story about an exuberant lady who enjoys owning a tavern; and her daughter, who wants to introduce her fiancée to her mother.
Black Pawpaw by Obinna Ezeodili
3
Twisty story about a young Nigerian woman
with an indebted father who has taken her
out of school and made her serve as maid
(and full time child care person) to a wealthy
woman who travels a lot and neglects her child.
How Are You? by Cynthia Nandi
3.5
I was moved by this story about a Nigerian woman
in her twenties genuinely worried about her aging
mother and her irresponsible younger siblings.
She also feels burdened by the responsibility
of keeping the household going. She keeps all
of these feelings to herself.
But the names and the snatches of dialogue
in a local language were a bit confusing.
Rain by Muuka Gwaba
3.5
Engaging, funny, and frightening story, told entirely through one
woman’s emails, about an endless rainstorm
centering only on her home apparently
created by her neighbor’s witchcraft.
The narrator has pissed off her neighbor,
who curses her in turn.
Well done. But I wish there were translations
of the African words, which may be in the
Bemba language (I’m not sure).
Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro
4
This made me cringe, but it was a good story.
A teenager gets herself into a lot of trouble
with a guy she meets on Facebook.
The Daya Zimu by Vanessa Nakayange
4
Fascinating horror story about traditional
myths. They’re not real? Are they?
Old Photographs by Hannah Onoguwe
4
Good story. More African magical realism/horror.
A young girl has never met her father and
desperately wants to know about him.
Her mother is not forthcoming with any
information. We find out why.
This is For My Aunt Penzi, Who— by Idza Luhumyo
3.5
Has Auntie Penzi returned?
A Letter from Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor
3.5
The narrator’s Uncle Sunday writes from
Ireland. He is happy there, but his news is
unexpected.
Final Thoughts
This collection seemed in need of a copy
editor. Lots of spelling and grammatical
errors.
Also a glossary of African language words
would have been helpful for readers
outside of Africa.
Thanks to NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Mukana Press for providing an ARC (Advanced Review Copy)
of this book.
Although I got the ARC before publication, I am reviewing it after it was published.
Update 09/13/2022
It looks like the order of the stories is slightly different in the published version than it was in the ARC.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Interesting short stories in a variety of genres from Africa and the
African diaspora.
Border Control by Altine Jojo Elhassan
4
Terrific (and quite funny) story about an uninsured single
mother giving birth to twins. Very immediate. No
fluff or unnecessary words. We’re right
there with her right away: experiencing the pain, terror, dreary hospital decor;
and manhandling by abrasive, incompetent, and unsympathetic nurses.
Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel
3
A weird horror story about a strange and criminal being.
Best I say no more.
The Newlywed’s Window by Husnah Mad-Hy
3.5
A lovely, yearning, understated, slow burn of a story about a lonely
woman in Stone Town, Zanzibar whose main
form of entertainment is not TV but watching the
world from her window. Unique story. I can’t
remember ever reading an entire stored framed
by a window.
Mareba’s Tavern by Gladwell Pamba
3.5
Sweet, touching, and vivid story about an exuberant lady who enjoys owning a tavern; and her daughter, who wants to introduce her fiancée to her mother.
Black Pawpaw by Obinna Ezeodili
3
Twisty story about a young Nigerian woman
with an indebted father who has taken her
out of school and made her serve as maid
(and full time child care person) to a wealthy
woman who travels a lot and neglects her child.
How Are You? by Cynthia Nandi
3.5
I was moved by this story about a Nigerian woman
in her twenties genuinely worried about her aging
mother and her irresponsible younger siblings.
She also feels burdened by the responsibility
of keeping the household going. She keeps all
of these feelings to herself.
But the names and the snatches of dialogue
in a local language were a bit confusing.
Rain by Muuka Gwaba
3.5
Engaging, funny, and frightening story, told entirely through one
woman’s emails, about an endless rainstorm
centering only on her home apparently
created by her neighbor’s witchcraft.
The narrator has pissed off her neighbor,
who curses her in turn.
Well done. But I wish there were translations
of the African words, which may be in the
Bemba language (I’m not sure).
Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro
4
This made me cringe, but it was a good story.
A teenager gets herself into a lot of trouble
with a guy she meets on Facebook.
The Daya Zimu by Vanessa Nakayange
4
Fascinating horror story about traditional
myths. They’re not real? Are they?
Old Photographs by Hannah Onoguwe
4
Good story. More African magical realism/horror.
A young girl has never met her father and
desperately wants to know about him.
Her mother is not forthcoming with any
information. We find out why.
This is For My Aunt Penzi, Who— by Idza Luhumyo
3.5
Has Auntie Penzi returned?
A Letter from Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor
3.5
The narrator’s Uncle Sunday writes from
Ireland. He is happy there, but his news is
unexpected.
Final Thoughts
This collection seemed in need of a copy
editor. Lots of spelling and grammatical
errors.
Also a glossary of African language words
would have been helpful for readers
outside of Africa.
Thanks to NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Mukana Press for providing an ARC (Advanced Review Copy)
of this book.
Although I got the ARC before publication, I am reviewing it after it was published.
Update 09/13/2022
It looks like the order of the stories is slightly different in the published version than it was in the ARC.
June 29, 2024
A few days after finishing this, I’m still truly delighted by two particular stories: an epistolary one, my very favourite, from Zambia—Rain by Muuka Gwaba, a series of emails to her friend from a woman living in the village who doesn’t get along with her neighbours, and who becomes caught up in a supernatural event; and a particularly well-written one from Zanzibar, the title story, The Newlyweds’ Window by Husnah Mad-hy, featuring a young woman who sits at her window and dreams of the lives of the people she sees. But this collection surprised me because while most short story collections are uneven—particularly, perhaps, if they collect stories from different authors—in this collection, only two of the twelve didn’t really work for me.
Mukana Press collected stories from emerging African writers, and the result is exciting! It may sometimes feel like Africa’s literary arc is travelling an uneven path; but it would seem this is more about publishing choices than about the latent talent on the Continent. (Spoilers ahead.) I was very pleased with the range of these stories—from city life to the village, across different cultures, touching on topics as diverse as the perils of social media (Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro) to (another fave) a story that felt accessible in both a Western conceptual space and a very African one, Old Photographs by Hannah Onoguwe: a woman has trapped someone in a photograph, which recalls to me old African ideas about cameras stealing the soul and trapping it in a photo, but also so many fairytales from other traditions about trapped beings: genies, spirits in mirrors, etc.
Mareba’s Tavern features a woman with a difficult relationship with her daughter because of the life choices she’s made, including to continue running her tavern; This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who— by Idza Luhumyo (later, the winner of the 2022 AKO Caine Prize) contrasts the ways we judge African women and the way we see the actions of Western (white) women doing the same thing; The Daya Zimu by Vanessa Nakayange reminded me of childhood ghost stories (I even knew a variant of the term!), and really didn’t end the way I expected; Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel is a really disturbing story (why are eyes so very disturbing??) about a killer; Border Control by Altine Jojo Elhassan explores the experiences of a woman in labour; Black Pawpaw by Obinna Ezeodili is heartbreaking and also unexpectedly funny, because the narrator is so unreliable; How Are You by Cynthia Nnadi will be painfully relatable for all first-born African daughters, but particularly those who have one parent; and finally, A Letter From Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor explores queer love from an unexpected angle.
Again, this is a very strong (and exciting!) collection of African voices that I really enjoyed reading. Many thanks to Mukana Press and to Edelweiss for access to a DRC.
Mukana Press collected stories from emerging African writers, and the result is exciting! It may sometimes feel like Africa’s literary arc is travelling an uneven path; but it would seem this is more about publishing choices than about the latent talent on the Continent. (Spoilers ahead.) I was very pleased with the range of these stories—from city life to the village, across different cultures, touching on topics as diverse as the perils of social media (Our Girl Bimpe by Olakunle Ologunro) to (another fave) a story that felt accessible in both a Western conceptual space and a very African one, Old Photographs by Hannah Onoguwe: a woman has trapped someone in a photograph, which recalls to me old African ideas about cameras stealing the soul and trapping it in a photo, but also so many fairytales from other traditions about trapped beings: genies, spirits in mirrors, etc.
Mareba’s Tavern features a woman with a difficult relationship with her daughter because of the life choices she’s made, including to continue running her tavern; This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who— by Idza Luhumyo (later, the winner of the 2022 AKO Caine Prize) contrasts the ways we judge African women and the way we see the actions of Western (white) women doing the same thing; The Daya Zimu by Vanessa Nakayange reminded me of childhood ghost stories (I even knew a variant of the term!), and really didn’t end the way I expected; Gasping for Air by Ogechukwu Emmanuel Samuel is a really disturbing story (why are eyes so very disturbing??) about a killer; Border Control by Altine Jojo Elhassan explores the experiences of a woman in labour; Black Pawpaw by Obinna Ezeodili is heartbreaking and also unexpectedly funny, because the narrator is so unreliable; How Are You by Cynthia Nnadi will be painfully relatable for all first-born African daughters, but particularly those who have one parent; and finally, A Letter From Ireland by Victor Ehikhamenor explores queer love from an unexpected angle.
Again, this is a very strong (and exciting!) collection of African voices that I really enjoyed reading. Many thanks to Mukana Press and to Edelweiss for access to a DRC.
October 20, 2022
This work is an anthology of short stories by some of Africa’s finest writers. The stories range from spooky magical realism to all-to-realistic tragedy. Each of the stories is unique and creative, and despite their short length, I found it easy to become immersed in the tales and their characters. I enjoyed that this anthology wasn’t built around a theme, other than the authors’ country of origin.
Gasping for Air – 4 stars – A being’s sole purpose on earth is to judge humans as God’s messenger, but it falls in love with one of its victims.
Border Control – 4 stars – Not all nurses are created equal, as one mother-to-be finds out during giving birth.
Newlyweds’ Window – 5 stars – One girl discovers that not everything that happens behind closed doors is truly private.
Mareba’s Tavern – 3.5 stars – Mareba has done what it takes to provide for her daughter, even if it now causes her daughter to judge her harshly.
Black Pawpaw – 5 stars – A girl tries to believe that beauty on the inside is more important than beauty on the outside.
How Are You – 3 stars – A young woman does her best to take care of her irresponsible siblings and help her mother but soon realizes there’s a disconnect.
Rain – 5 stars – A woman learns the hard way that her neighbors still believe in old superstitions.
Our Girl Bimpie – 5 stars – A young girl loves to learn and outgrows her village school friends, so takes to social media to create a new life.
The Daya Zimu – 5 stars – While trying to make friends with the popular girl, the protagonist learns some interesting and dangerous folklore.
Old Photographs – 5 stars, and my favorite story of the work! – A young girl wants to know more about her absent father and turns to a hidden framed photograph for answers.
This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who – 3.5 stars – The protagonist learns of the disparity in expectations between locals and foreigners.
A Letter From Ireland – 4 stars – The narrator receives a letter from his uncle who left for Ireland that includes some unexpected news.
This is one of the best collections of short stories I’ve read, and I loved finding an anthology that is all based in Africa and told by Africans. I highly recommend checking out this work! My thanks to NetGalley and Mukana Press for allowing me to read and review this anthology.
Gasping for Air – 4 stars – A being’s sole purpose on earth is to judge humans as God’s messenger, but it falls in love with one of its victims.
Border Control – 4 stars – Not all nurses are created equal, as one mother-to-be finds out during giving birth.
Newlyweds’ Window – 5 stars – One girl discovers that not everything that happens behind closed doors is truly private.
Mareba’s Tavern – 3.5 stars – Mareba has done what it takes to provide for her daughter, even if it now causes her daughter to judge her harshly.
Black Pawpaw – 5 stars – A girl tries to believe that beauty on the inside is more important than beauty on the outside.
How Are You – 3 stars – A young woman does her best to take care of her irresponsible siblings and help her mother but soon realizes there’s a disconnect.
Rain – 5 stars – A woman learns the hard way that her neighbors still believe in old superstitions.
Our Girl Bimpie – 5 stars – A young girl loves to learn and outgrows her village school friends, so takes to social media to create a new life.
The Daya Zimu – 5 stars – While trying to make friends with the popular girl, the protagonist learns some interesting and dangerous folklore.
Old Photographs – 5 stars, and my favorite story of the work! – A young girl wants to know more about her absent father and turns to a hidden framed photograph for answers.
This Is For My Aunt Penzi, Who – 3.5 stars – The protagonist learns of the disparity in expectations between locals and foreigners.
A Letter From Ireland – 4 stars – The narrator receives a letter from his uncle who left for Ireland that includes some unexpected news.
This is one of the best collections of short stories I’ve read, and I loved finding an anthology that is all based in Africa and told by Africans. I highly recommend checking out this work! My thanks to NetGalley and Mukana Press for allowing me to read and review this anthology.
January 25, 2025
I hadn’t been sure what to expect from this collection, since the only other one I’d read by the publisher was one author and had a more overtly political spin to it. I was, luckily, pleasantly surprised and sufficiently weirded-out by what was in here. The collection starts off with a bang with “Gasping for Air” being about a literal serial killer with a penchant for women with large behinds. That is literally the premise. The next story, “Border Patrol,” was pretty upsetting being about a woman who has a kind of traumatic birthing experience, but it also touches on classism. The titular story was interesting with the narrator taking on almost a voyeuristic perspective while also touching on increased globalization and traditional values. “Mareba’s Tavern” was interesting but odd being about a woman who owns a tavern where drunks visit and she won’t close it to meet her daughter’s new husband(?). One of the more haunting stories here was “Black Pawpaw” in which a girl is abused in more ways than one woman and, thinking she found a solution, is shunned by her father. One of the more touching stories was “How Are You?” A girl works to help her mother and family but is plagued by deep anxiety and stress over everything. Maybe my favorite story in whole collection was “Rain.” It is an unsettling story told solely through one-sided email correspondence with a touch of magical realism. It was genuinely stressful to read but also felt very earnest. “Our Girl Bimpe” was also deeply troubling insofar as it felt too real with the general lack of belief for victims of sexual assault. Social media is scary. I didn’t love “The Daya Zimu” with it lowkey being horror, but the main character was really compelling. “Old Photographs” is another that delves into the magical realism vibe and left me wanting to see what happened to her “dad.” Another showstopper here was “This Is for My Aunt Penzi, Who—.” The emotion was palpable and the context was horrid. Justice for Aunt Penzi! The final story, “A Letter from Ireland,” was a heartbreaking but important story delving into sexuality and grief. All together, the collection was tied together by nothing more than the African origin of its authors, but it made it a pretty engaging read.
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