Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Voodoonauts Presents: (Re)Living Mythology

Rate this book
From the Voodoonauts Afrofuturist collective for Black science fiction and fantasy authors.

Every Black Child went to bed with their parents or grandparents telling them a story of old, of greatness or warning or joy. Black People the world over hold myriad and, sometimes, intermingled mythos, wives tales, and folklore. From John Henry to the Orisha, from impundulu to Candyman, the aziza and Baron Samedi, back to Bre’r Rabbit and Bast and T’Challa... These are the narratives, superstitions, and customs that Black People live with and that impact the way we walk through the world.

In "(Re)Living Mythology" authors from around the African diaspora reimagine and retell the myths, legends, and folktales they were told as children.

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2022

3 people are currently reading
103 people want to read

About the author

Shingai Njeri Kagunda

13 books22 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
8 (42%)
4 stars
8 (42%)
3 stars
3 (15%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Beth.
862 reviews46 followers
April 5, 2023
This is a short story collection, so rather than use the CAWPILE method to review, I'm breaking it down briefly by story. As you might've guessed by the title, the unifying theme of these is Black mythology. I'm woefully ignorant of most African myths and creatures (though after reading this, intrigued by several that were new to me), so I expect these were largely less impactful for me than they would be for someone familiar with the basis. That said, some of these stories don't rely on the reader recognizing the creature in the story- they stand on their own as stories of people among the forces of Fate.

Overall, it's a pretty solid mix, with four stories I'd rate as 5 stars, four I'd rate as 4 stars, and four I'd rate as 3 stars (and two duds, for me).

La Sirene by Lysz Flo
I'm not usually much for poetry, but this piece is powerful and heartbreaking. It seems to be a poem made for both reading and hearing aloud, and of course it put me in mind of Rivers Solomon's The Deep. 4/5

The Names We Take by S.O. Arogunmati
This is a favorite of mine. The tension is incredible, for a short story, and even though I didn't understand the specifics of what was happening, I was absolutely with the MC the entire time. The portrayal of a wise elder who can perform acts of magic as neither good nor evil, but endlessly loving and understanding (despite what magic she was performing) was a delight. And the center of this story is parental love, which is a lovely framework on which to hang a retelling. 5/5

The Feeding of Closed Mouths by Eden Royce
I love a good juxtaposition, and this is it- creepy in the extreme, yet also a testament to familial love (and what fear drives us toward). I wasn't at all familiar with the myth of a Boo Hag before this story but now I don't understand why it isn't a more represented creature. This was definitely up there among my favorites. 4/5

Paying Forward by Ernestine-Vera Kabushemeye Gahimbare
This is a well-written story, but it didn't have the emotional impact I really wanted it to. I'm assuming some of that is my lack of familiarity with African mythology- though by the midway point in the story you can see where things are tilting sideways for the MC. Still, my ignorance meant confusion over the major plot points. 3/5

The Visit by Tina Jenkins Bell
This felt like half a story. The writing itself could use some polish, but mainly I was left waiting for something to happen. 2/5

Searching for Duni by Tola Owolabi
This one is pretty rough, both as a story that didn't seem to be edited and as a concept. Frankly, it was all over the place, shallow (especially in comparison with most of the other pieces in this collection), and inconsistent in tone, pace, and action. It threw me so hard out of this book that it took an entire day for me to pick it back up again. 1/5

Abode by Jermane Cooper
This is one of my favorites. It's a reminder that beings of extraordinary power should be respected, perhaps feared, but that doesn't mean they're destructive forces (or not always destructive). That sometimes what saves you is a small act of kindness and hospitality, and that doing the right thing because it's the right thing (and because of love) is what brings true joy and peace. 5/5

Blackman's Flight in 4 Parts by Shingai Njeri Kagunda
This is another poem and it really plays with language in a clever way. I liked 3 of the 4 stanzas, but in total it's an impressive and original piece. 4/5

A Missile Against the Darkness by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
This is another favorite of mine. The author balanced humor with horror so beautifully. And again, there wasn't 'forces of good and evil' but creatures that can grant the desires of men- placing the responsibility for creation and destruction of communities and lives where I personally feel they belong. There's irony in here in both tragic and comic elements, but subtly done. I would absolutely read another story of any length by this author. 5/5

Seeds of Sisters by Wesley Fox
This is an interesting re-imagining of colonialism's impact on African populations, boiled down to simplicity in the writing but still containing layers in the story. 3/5

Gogo Maroto by T.L. Huchu
A solid short story, centered around the concept of self-knowledge. It's got some interesting imagery and I feel like the whirlwind emotions of a teenager is well captured here. 3/5

Both Hands by Christopher Caldwell
This felt like it could've been 8x longer and more developed (and I might've been able to grasp all of it if it were). I didn't understand a large chunk of it but I wanted to. It's well-written and balances lyrical imagery with a sensual, realistic portrayal of vigil. 3/5

The Lotus Woman by Shingai Njeri Kagunda
My favorite of the poems, this struck a deep note in me as a woman and as a steward of the Earth. Whether you read it a the Lotus Woman being a metaphor for the divine feminine, or Africa herself, it's one of those passages that says a lot using only a little space. It makes me wish I could call up my English advisor (himself a poet) and discuss it with him. 5/5

Stars Born Blue by LP Kindred
The final poem of the collection, this is a lovely re-centering of the universe with the Mother of All being what we'd call the void of space. And of course, she's Black. It's something of an ode to the loneliness of motherhood, designed for abandonment, and an artistic representation of the Big Bang. 4/5
Profile Image for Randi.
298 reviews10 followers
September 29, 2022
A collection of short stories and poems by black authors who love speculative fiction/SFF! I found that the majority of these stories leaned closer to the modern/urban fantasy side, but I feel like each one was poignant and thematic. Some highlight the struggle between Africans beliefs and the spread of Christian ideals, others focus solely on the embrace (good or bad connotations) of the myth. The poetry chosen is beautiful - the last one likely the most powerful. Amongst the others I think my favorites were the poem 'Blackman's Flight in 4 Parts' and the story 'A Missile Against the Darkness'.

I'd recommend this to anyone who's interested in Afrofuturism and discovering new black authors. Each story and poem ends with an author biography, which I love, because it gives you a better idea about who they are and many have their twitter handles available if that's an avenue you like to use to keep up with authors.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Helen Whistberry.
Author 31 books69 followers
January 14, 2023
Fascinating collection of poems and short stories that call upon African and Black storytelling traditions and mythology (and just look at that gorgeous cover!) I'll highlight a few of my faves but all were well worth reading.

La Siréne is a poem of howling pain and resilience in two parts by poet Lysz Flo. Beautiful use of language and form to convey a powerful message.

The Feeding of Closed Mouths by Eden Royce is a harrowing tale of a daughter who has stolen something very precious from her mother, who will stop at nothing to get it back. Striking imagery and horror.

Paying Forward by Ernestine-Vera Kabushemeye Gahimbare is an eerie tale of a young woman, a terrifying chase through the forest, and a dreamlike encounter with an apparent savior. An effective and melancholy ghost story.

Seeds of Sisters by Wesley Fox is the tale of sisters whisked away by a cosmic force but saved by their own bravery and their people's tradition of braiding seeds into their hair. Great combination of folklore and science fiction.

The Lotus Woman by Shingai Njeri Kagunda is a haunting poem with more unforgettable imagery and beautiful use of form and language.

In fact, the language throughout this collection is striking and memorable. A real joy to experience talented writers celebrating and sharing their culture and creativity.
Profile Image for E.G. Condé.
Author 3 books28 followers
February 23, 2023
"I write to create myself." These are the words of the late Octavia Butler, a legend whose creativity and brilliance continue to dazzle our world; a trailblazer who recognized that writing is genesis, and that words are worlds. Pitted against a racist and sexist literary elite, raised in a world where her story was deemed unworthy of telling, where the wonder and beauty of Black voices and storytelling traditions were devalued and dismissed, Butler achieved the impossible. What she accomplished in her luminous career was nothing short of magic.

"Her Black was Beautiful, expansive, endless, eternal, the only" writes L.P. Kindred, one of many magnificent contributors to (Re)Living Mythology: A Collection of Black Magical Stories & Poetry, published by Android Press. Kindred's "Stars Born Blue" is a creation myth in poetic verse. A Voodoonauts project, the anthology celebrates the diversity of magical traditions and genres of storytelling in the African continent and the diaspora. The collection's editors, which include Shingai Njeri Kagunda, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, H.D. Hunter, and L.P. Kindred, have carefully curated a range of stories, poems, and voices with unique styles in settings that range from Nigeria to Zimbabwe to South Carolina. In their introduction, they address you the reader, a reader they do not presume to be white, and invite you to "see yourself in blackness" (ix), to 'create yourself' as Octavia Butler did.

The journey begins with Lysz Flo, a spoken-word artist whose poem and its sequel, "La Siréne", plunges you into the searing depths of Afro-diasporic seas, of Middle Passage and Mermaids, and “the creators of civilization” for whom the sea is both a tomb and a catalyst for libète. S.O. Arogunmati's "The Names We Take", tracks a parent on the run, a "thief of destiny”, whose daring quest to grant their child a better future invites spiritual repercussions. You might find yourself scratching after reading "The Feeding of Closed Mouths" by Eden Royce, which I read as a parable about fraught mother-daughter relationships and the pain that comes with transformation. Ernestine-Vera Kabushemeye Gahimbare's "Paying Forward" will immerse you in the heart of an enchanted Burundian forest, where you will find death, mystery, and extraplanar intrigue. "The Visit", by Tina Jenkins Bell, set in Chicago, will haunt you long after the last page is turned. Tola Owolabi’s "Searching for Duni", is a mythical commentary on the spiritual poverty of capitalism. Jermane Cooper’s "Adobe" will make you rethink what you know about tailoring. “A Missile Against the Darkness”, by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, explores the messy paradox of Christians who by day “spit on ancestral magic” but at night seek the spiritual counsel of their Sangoma counterparts. "Seeds of Sisters" by Wesley Fox, might be the entry that is most science fiction, were it not for its breathtaking mythological structure. T.L. Huchu’s "Gogo Maroto”, is a surreal tale of ancestral legacies and self-discovery, set in Zimbabwe. Christopher Caldwell’s, “Both Hands”, is a quiet tragedy about the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. Referenced in the anthology’s vibrant cover art, Shingai Njeri Kagunda’s “The Lotus Woman”, is a poem about the scars we conceal in layers of shimmering blue fabric.

(Re)Living Mythology feels more like a continent than an archipelago; its poems and stories are an ensemble, like a choir of griots and sarunganos, they sing as one, resonating with the beauty and splendor of a thousand Black suns, of African worlds and ancestral realms, and the colorful looms of Matrons who spin the fabric of the cosmos into being.
Profile Image for A Broken Zebra.
520 reviews5 followers
September 30, 2022
NETGALLEY ARC

Cover: 5
Enjoyment: 4
Buyable/Re-readable?: Yes.

A nice mix of powerful and entertaining. As I am not Black, I didn't understand every poem or piece, but that is to be expected (heck, that's to be expected with ANY poetry). Being a third generation genocide survivor through my dad's side, however, I was able to connect on some level for the darker things. And then the mythology stories were just fun.

My ARC had a few 'Author Biography Forthcoming' bits at the end, which is fine. The typos, being as numerous as they were, were a tad distracting.

I particularly enjoyed, "The Feeding Of Closed Mouths" (Eden Royce), "Abode" (Jermane Cooper), and "Both Hands" (Christopher Caldwell)

And then ;
"And finally, he told her that everyone came to at least one fork in the road during their lifetime. One way might lead to a best life even though family and friends might not agree while the other way might work well for everyone except the person who has to live with the decision." - THE VISIT by Tina Jenkins Bell


One of the best lines.
Profile Image for Fernanda Granzotto.
689 reviews131 followers
December 6, 2024
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own *

LA SIRÉNE by LYSZ FLO- 2 stars 🌊

THE NAMES WE TAKE by S.O.F.- 3 stars 📍

THE FEEDING OF CLOSED MOUTHS by EDEN ROYCE- 2.5 stars 🧥

PAYING FORWARD by ERNESTINE-VERA KABUSHEMEYE GAHIMBARE- 3.5 stars 🍃

THE VISIT by TINA JENKINS BELL- 4 stars ☠️

SEARCHING FOR DUNI by TOL OWOLABI- 4.5 stars 💛

LA SIRÉNE (continued) LYSZ FLO-2.5 stars 🧜‍♀️

ABODE JERMANE COOPER-DNF

BLACKMAN’S FLIGHT IN 4 PARTS SHINGAI NJERI KAGUNDA-DNF

A MISSILE AGAINST THE DARKNESS YVETTE LISA NDLOVU-4 stars ⛪️

SEEDS OF SISTERS WESLEY FOX-3 stars ��

GOGO MAROTO T. L. HUCHU-3.5 stars-🧑‍🧒

BOTH HANDS CHRISTOPHER CALDWEL-DNF

THE LOTUS WOMAN SHINGAI NJERI KAGUNDA-4 stars 🌸

STARS BORN BLUE LP KINDRED-DNF
Profile Image for Annamaria Totagiancaspro.
280 reviews10 followers
October 10, 2022
I chose to ask for this digital ARC copy to the Publisher because I was interested in the African legends and folktales. I really want to thank the publisher to grant my wish.
The book is a collection of poetry and short stories tied to African culture. I found all of them captivating and fascinating. I felt like being surrounded by myths, monsters, ghosts and every tale had a deeper message to be understood.
My favourite parts were The Feeding of Closed Mouths and the poem Stars Born Blue.
Profile Image for Carl White.
2 reviews
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. This book has a nice mix of writing styles. I highly recommend it.
268 reviews10 followers
November 26, 2022
excellent! a wonderful trip through the many minds of the writers of the Voodoonauts Collective! i was transported into dark mystery, glimmering fantasy. traditions and folk beings abound! a fantastic selection of wonderful fantasy writers telling their tales. I was glued to the pages and only wish there were already a sequel! the differences in writing styles between the authors was so refreshing, each tale a gorgeous voyage along sparkling moon-lit waters
Profile Image for Chad Cunningham.
484 reviews6 followers
December 2, 2022
I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This was a pretty darn enjoyable short fiction collection. The stories are pretty much all interesting. I was especially fond of Seeds of Sisters and Gogo Maroto. I will confess that I skipped the poetry (I'm not really a poetry kinda guy) but I read the rest and I think it's worth a read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.