Naija Stories: Of Tears and Kisses, Heroes and Villains

A Glimpse in the Mirror – Yejide Kilanko
If Tears Could Speak – Salatu Sule
Too Late – Bidemi Odeshilo
The Catalyst – Meena Adekoya
Illusions of Hope – Ola Awonubi
Wiping Halima’s Tears – Elohor Turtoe
Every Wrinkle is a Story – Pyneapples
Nnamdi – Sonia Osi

II. Kisses

One Sunday Morning in Atlanta – Uko Bendi Udo
Seeing Off Kisses – John Ugoji
It’s Not That Easy – Lawal Opeyemi Isaac
Two Straws in a Bottle – Remi-Roy Oyeyemi
How I Kissed Hadiza – Seyi Osinowo
All I Wanted Was Another Baby – Mercy Ilevbare
Nothing Good – Damilola Ashaolu

III. Heroes

Can I Please Kill You? – Seun Odukoya
Mother of Darkness – Rayo Abe
Showdown at Rowe Park – Babatunde Olaifa
Visiting Admiral John Bull – Adiba Obubo
Kitchen Practicals – Tamo Iruene
A Kind of Bravery – Myne Whitman
The Old Man in Our Neighborhood – Chidozie Chukwubuike
Rachel’s Hero – Henry Onyema

IV. Villains

Blame It on a Yellow Dress – Uche Okonkwo
The Writer’s Cinema – Bankole Banjo
Jesus of Sports Hall – Lulufa Vongtau
What Theophilus Did – Gboyega Otolorin
Best Laid Plans – Kingsley Ezenwaka
Co-operate! – Tola Odejayi
The Devil’s Barter – Raymond Elenwoke

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Someone once said that the one trait all writers have in common is that they watch for the extraordinary magic that lies in the everyday.

This assertion comes alive in this maiden Naija Stories Anthology with the rich collection of short stories that touch on every aspect of our lives, from the topical issues of resource control agitation as seen in Visiting Admiral John Bull, to more lighthearted issues of wooing a lady as seen in One Sunday Morning in Atlanta, and everything in between.

These are stories about us or about our neighbours or something we’ve encountered in the news. They are what our friends tell us, their pain and joy, their passion and rage, their yearning and their cry against injustice. I enjoyed lots of the stories not just because of their simplicity and brevity but also for freshness they bring to storytelling