April/May 2025

Fatima Bala

‘I Wanted to Explore the Thrill That Comes with First Loves’ Fatima Bala’s First Draft

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Nigerian writer and author of Broken, Fatima Bala, says that with her new novel, Hafsatu Bebi, she wanted to explore the realities of being a northern Nigerian girl: ‘I have always wanted to see different authentic depictions of northern Nigerian girls. And so, in the characterization, I was itching to write a northern Muslim who happens to be very different from Fa’iza from Broken.’ Read More...
April/May 2025First DraftInterviewsNigeria
Books

7 Books That Will Make You See Historical Figures Differently

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In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that will make you see historical figures differently. From the fictional biography of the first African man to explore America to a nuanced portrait that asks us to contextualize the life of one of South Africa’s most controversial women, the books on this list will make you think again about the historical figures you thought you knew. Read More...
April/May 2025Read Something AfricanReading
Fayssal Bensalah

‘Do Not Romanticize Creative Writing’ Fayssal Bensalah’s First Draft

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Algerian writer, Fayssal Bensalah, argues that the North African novel in English has not been canonized into African literature by virtue of tradition: ‘This new literary tide has been obscured both continentally and globally. Its pioneers have been kept out of African literature for a long time, and I wanted to change this by writing an essay that introduces this movement and its writers and books.’ Read More...
AlgeriaApril/May 2025First DraftInterviews