In the course of the week, I stumbled on an online report quoting the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as saying that he was a Patron of Miyetti Allah and that in 2017, 800 herdsmen and their families were murdered in Taraba state, presumably by local militias. He claims to have pictures of the dead people, which were forwarded to the federal government for action. I read the story once and then went back to it one more time…
Dear Mr. Femi Adesina, I trust this letter meets you well and that you are in splendid health. I read your very insightful article published in the Vanguard Newspaper of January 20, 2018 aptly titled “Why I stand with Buhari,” and felt the need to put pen to paper in the hope that my modest thoughts expressed would catch your attention. In light of the gruelling schedule I assume you operate on a daily basis as the Special Adviser to…
So, you think you can express love. Let’s see what you’ve got! This season of love, write anything creative in poetry and flash fiction about love—what it is or can be—and get rewarded for it. RULES AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY Entry must be original, unpublished work in English. Entry must not exceed 400 words for flash fiction and 40 lines for poetry. Entries should be sent to admin@michaelafenfia.com. Entry opens on January 16, 2018 and closes by midnight January…
What a world of difference a couple of months can make! In this case, 34 months since our President, Muhammadu Buhari made his now famous “I belong to no one” speech. For weeks, the circumstances that led to his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remained the hottest topic on the burner for political pundits and talk shows in the country. It was a historic moment in the politics of Africa, and Nigerians were optimistic that the…
It was the happiest day of his life. Nnamdi didn’t think he’d know a happier moment since that morning he looked into Ariana’s eyes as she said, “I do” in front of his family and friends. Theirs wasn’t the typical fairy tale romance with rose petals and scented baths, candle light dinners in fancy restaurants, stolen kisses in the moonlight, long walks in the beach and Linda Ikeji blogging about their wedding plans as if they were Banky W and…
It happened last night, but not for the first time. But there was something about it happening now that seemed different. It was the guilt, I think, that hung around as I locked my mouth in hers in sultry affection, unhooking her bra, my hands finding comfort on her bulbous breasts. It was the shame hovering over me like the blades of a helicopter waiting to slice my throat as I buried my face in between her laps, listening to…
For some strange reason, a good number of persons ended their lives jumping off 3rd Mainland Bridge last year. For them, anything was better than being alive. I’m sure they weren’t the only ones that felt that way though, but attitude and perseverance matters. Me, I’ve purposed in my heart to begin the New Year on a positive note, why wouldn’t I? I am alive. At the start of 2017, there was no way of knowing how the old year…
It happened last night. The moon sat up in the sky observing the terror of the night. It was a new moon; a crescent whose beam shone directly into our den, as we called it. “No!” I had screamed, shaking the lifeless body on the floor. “She is dead, you murderer!” I cried. “Sshhh, Don’t shout!” he whispered as he bundled me off to my room. It all started when my neighbours came to bid me farewell ahead of the…
It happened last night, or did it? I’m not certain. You see, we do not have a sense of time here. I remember lying on my bed. The room was dark except for the flashlight in my hand. My parents had a fight that night – they fought every night. When I was little, I usually cried long and loud. I joined sometimes – tugging at their clothes, biting their hands or just kicking and screaming. They never paid attention…
It happened last night, like a burst of colours on clear canvas. It was only a matter of time, before it happened. From that first day I saw you at the counter serving coffee – your black skin so dark it shone, your hair pulled the side of your head in a proud Afro, your lips lined red. I knew then that I was in trouble, that we were star-crossed lovers. So I had turned away, counting to ten to…