EriOluwa Popoola 5/1/25 EriOluwa Popoola 5/1/25

Thwack, Thwack, So This is Love.

The fetid roundabout of Obalende stood glorious amidst the stale stench of urine and unfulfilled dreams. But Wunmi could not be bothered by it.

Adamu Yahuza Abdullahi 4/29/25 Adamu Yahuza Abdullahi 4/29/25

Scarecrows and other poems.

At the end, we begin again; scarecrows in a graveyard. The borders of my town led into a forest, my people entered— holding the wind with their teeth

Udochukwu Chidera. 4/24/25 Udochukwu Chidera. 4/24/25

Alkaline.

If they asked me when it all started, I would say it was the night after she had Somkene. In the weeks leading up to that night, she had looked forward to…

Sima Essien 4/22/25 Sima Essien 4/22/25

I Call My Body a Miracle.

I know I am a dead man as soon as the machete hits my neck. Dead. Dead. Dead. Then I tell myself, “Sima, these people are going to kill you this night—run!”

Ubah Precious 4/17/25 Ubah Precious 4/17/25

Awakening.

The flickering high-wall torches cast an eerie glow on the bare-chested priest as he trudges out of the cavern temple. Abby, wherever she is in the afterlife, would be amazed that I’ve finally decided to attend the ritual.

Kayode Ayobami 4/15/25 Kayode Ayobami 4/15/25

I Bail the Cat from Rabidity and other poems.

My people have extended the hand of their evening meal into the yawning mouth of a rabid cat— this is how a child’s liberty is thrown…

Samuel Nyiyongu 4/10/25 Samuel Nyiyongu 4/10/25

Cry, just cry.

Next Sunday, when everybody is at church, Mngueshima will rise from her bed and walk to the drawer where all the documents of her educational achievements are kept.