Rethinking The African Narrative – Repenser le Récit Africain
Dear daughter March is Women’s Month. In your time, things will be better for them, perhaps with more equality, more representation, and opportunities. It will still not be perfect, but it may be better. I want you to remember that the line of those who came before you believed their place would evolve. In their... Continue Reading →
When her curved finger calls, I come a crawling.No way to resist, to desist,This unrelenting spell that pulls and wells,drowning me, unearthing me, carrying me,Over and under a treacherous tide. I am turned, tripped, thrashed,Taken to the darkest depths,Til I do not recognise myself anymore.My light, once crystalline and pure,A hollowed shell ravished by her... Continue Reading →
There is something liberating about writing, about putting truth, pain, joy, and uncomfortable feelings on paper, so it can stay there for the world. This year I did it. I launched a collection of short stories (in French, with the English version scheduled for mid-2026) rooted in our contemporary reality as Africans. What does a... Continue Reading →
“To Baba and Mama, for encouraging my dreams where words come to life.” “You should start writing,” my mom once told me as I shared stories from a trip. It took me years after that conversation to finally put words on paper. The beginning was slow and tedious, but the more I pushed myself to... Continue Reading →
Roaming around in certain parts of the world, children’s curiosity about my skin color is always an opportunity to share culture. In 2014, on a bus ride from Antananarivo, the bustling capital of Madagascar, to Antsirabe, another city, I shared a ride with my host family and another family who were all Malagasy. During the... Continue Reading →
In celebrating August 31st, International Blogging Day, I reflect on why blogging has become a tool of thought. One evening, while I was visiting the family, I followed my dad on his library run. I figured I could roam around and look at books while he worked. A random idea about writing, navigating cross-continent life,... Continue Reading →
Literature has a pivotal place in global development. Through words, stories, and wisdom, writers shape reflections and act as guardians of thought. In Africa, Chadian literature is not as well-known as it should be outside the Central Africa region. From classical authors such as Baba Moustapha, Joseph Brahim Seid, and Maoundoé Naindouba to contemporary voices... Continue Reading →
On a trip to London, my fellow bookworm friend Ruwaydah made plans for us to visit Foyles, a renowned bookstore in the city. ‘You would love it,’ she said, and she was right. We both love libraries, so it was easy to spend hours at Foyles checking out books, flipping the pages to get a... Continue Reading →
I first heard of Edna Adan Ismail when I found a Ted talk video she presented on the importance of education to show to my university students at Djabal refugee camp in Goz Beida, Eastern Chad. In the 15-minute, Edna Adan talked about her life story from Somaliland to England, her hardships, triumphs, and achievements... Continue Reading →
We Write Afrika 