Nikki May

‘My Characters Do What They Want’ Nikki May’s First Draft

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Anglo-Nigerian writer and author of Wahala, Nikki May, drew inspiration for her latest novel, This Motherless Land, from Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park: ‘The idea of a young girl being torn from everything familiar and thrust into an alien environment where she must constantly prove herself is genius. So, I stole it. But my book is a reimagining not a retelling.’ Read More...
August/September 2025First DraftInterviewsNigeria
Books

7 Books to Read If You Would Rather Skip the Bill at Overpriced Restaurants

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In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of books for anyone who’d rather skip the bill at overpriced restaurants. If the thought of those inflated prices leaves you calculating with regret, here’s a better indulgence: books. And not just any books—stories filled with irresistible recipes, rich cultural history and a healthy serving of family drama. Read More...
August/September 2025Read Something AfricanReading
Diekara Oloruntoba-Oju

‘Fiction Always Affords a Space for Fun’ Diekara Oloruntoba-Oju’s First Draft

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Doctoral researcher and author of When Lemon Grows on Orange Trees, Diekara Oloruntoba-Oju, believes that urban youth cultures in Nigeria emerge from the margins to shape mainstream culture: ‘Whether it is Afrobeats, shadow boxing or thrift market fashion, urban youth cultures in Nigeria generally start from a marginalized place and then go on to define the culture (national or global) for everyone else.’ Read More...
August/September 2025First DraftInterviewsNigeria