Category Archives: African Literature

Send Her Back and Other Stories -Munashe Kaseke

Posted on July 25, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This collection will captivate you as soon as you start reading. “Send Her Back” is just one of twelve riveting tales centering around women who immigrated to the U.S. from Zimbabwe. In that specific title, a … Continue reading →

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The Newlyweds’ Window: The 2022 Mukana Press Anthology of African Writing – Mukana Press (Compiler)

Posted on July 4, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Mukana” is the Shona translation for “opportunity”, and the mission of Mukana Press is to provide the opportunity for writers in underrepresented areas to show their work to a world audience. So, what is the … Continue reading →

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The Scent of Burnt Flowers – Blitz Bazawule

Posted on June 28, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned It’s the mid-1960s and an African American couple, Melvin and Bernadette are on the run. Melvin sees that their only chance is to flee the U.S. Back in college, Melvin saved the life of a … Continue reading →

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Outside the Lines-Ameera Patel

Posted on August 28, 2020 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) “She’s pregnant with a domestic worker’s son, who has matric but whose skill is drug peddling. How did she get herself into this?” Her parents want to control the situation, but Farhana doesn’t know what she … Continue reading →

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Nairobi Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – edited by Peter Kimani

Posted on June 22, 2020 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) > “In this concrete jungle, the hunters and herders live on. As do the hunted…” This summarizes the essence of Nairobi Noir, a collection of fourteen stories released early this year from the Akashic Noir Series. … Continue reading →

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Marrakech Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – Yassin Adnan (Editor)

Posted on March 3, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Morocco has no tradition of noir literature.” “Marrakechis are willing to read every type of story about the city—except those that are garbed in black.” Yassin Adnan, the editor of Marrakech Noir had a difficult time … Continue reading →

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Lagos Noir – Chris Abani (Editor)

Posted on June 19, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I have never been to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and actually, the largest city in the entire African continent. In fact, I have never been anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. That said, I enjoyed the … Continue reading →

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Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi

Posted on March 22, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…when we said she went mad, we lied. She has always been sane. It’s just that she was contaminated with us, a godly parasite with many heads, roaring inside the marble room of her mind.” Ada, … Continue reading →

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Stone Baby: Stories – Michelle Sacks

Posted on January 7, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “… the rest of the continent kept pouring in, sure of nothing but the fact that this pitiful life, this half-life with no jobs, no home, no money, would still be better than before, better than … Continue reading →

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Adua – Igiaba Scego (Translated from the Italian by Jamie Richards)

Posted on June 13, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “In Somalia I was a young girl who was full of dreams and wanted to see the world. In just a few months they’ve manipulated, abused, used, transformed me. It feels like years, not months, have … Continue reading →

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