What is your favourite type of African speculative fiction? Are you fantasy all the way, or do you swing better with Sci-fi and /or futuristic tales? Or is Urban legend your thing? Maybe with a touch of horror, tilted with love and/or a few twists, or you probably like a spin on some good-old African mythology? Or maybe, like me, you are in love with the full gamut of possibilities that our stories can take. Whatever your preference(s), allow me to welcome you to Omenana 29.
In this issue, we have a story that shows us that if the world as we know it comes under threat, and human leaders seeks alternative worlds and ways to exist, our survival and eventual death will depend not only on science but also on our humanity–Lynn Onywere brings us this gripping dilemma of a tale in Isn’t it Kinder. We also have a rather quaint take on an other-worldly story that many of us are familiar with. Watch out for it in The Annunciation by Chikodili Emelumadu.
Having survived the menace that COVID-19 wreaked on our world only a few years ago, I am not very fazed when I read about diseases, but Chukwunwike Ajemba had me on the edge of my seat with Burnt Shawarma. I hope you enjoy the twisted and bumpy ride with this story, which I promise you is as feverish as malaria.
Catfish Grief is not a fishy story, it is not really about the catfish that feature in it, but in this piece, Tiah Beautement invites us to explore the intricacies of cross-cultural expressions of grief, wines, dancing amidst and despite ailment, and a programmed companionship robot. Outside grief and wine, we invite you to sit back and enjoy the ways that a goddess who is both royalty and deity decides to joggle her options for leading her people and her human subjects. Will she rise to the bait and act like a human in the grips of passion, or will she place head over heart and rule first? Chantelle gives us the answer in A Goddess has Several Options.
This month we also have a special excerpt from our Publisher and co-founder, Mazi Nwonwu, whose new collection How to Make A Space Masquerade and other Speculative Stories, was released on May 25. This issue, we feature the story Alika’s Dilemma.
You can get Mazi Nwonwu’s collection on Amazon.
The spread is vast and diverse, and we invite you to jump into this lavish pool of stories and enjoy. Drop a comment or question if you feel like it and see you soon!
Iquo DianaAbasi
In this issue:
A Goddess Has Several Options | Chantelle Chiwetalu
Annunciation | Chikọdịlị Emelụmadụ
Catfish Grief | Tiah Marie Beautement