-
I eased the aging Hajiya car to a gradual stop, resisting the urge to take a swig of wine. The house ahead appeared welcoming, but my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the rearview mirror for the seventh time since I had left home. The reflection staring back at…
-
Laila sat amidst the vibrant flowers and lush trees in the courtyard of her house. She occupied a silver-colored metal chair positioned in front of a small table that held two large white papers, reminiscent of those used by artists. Next to the papers, on the right-hand side, rested a white box containing twelve pencils…
-
“I didn’t say you’re bad, not at all. It’s just a matter of making the right choice. That’s all. I care about you and can distinguish between lies and truth.” The two girls exchanged glances for a moment. Then the older woman, Asma’u, looked at her younger friend, Rabi’atu, and said, “What do you mean,…
-
PART ONE Chapter One I closed my eyes and savored the cool, refreshing breeze as it rustled the fabric of my shirt, which had become as tattered as a cocoa sheet. The sky showed no signs of imminent danger, but the absence of heat, thanks to the evening breeze, was accompanied by something even more…
-
Chapter One In a country, within a state, nestled in a neighborhood, there stood a grand house. Inside its spacious living room, a woman named Nadiya sat, her gaze fixed on a large glass tank containing a miniature sea inhabited by small fish called Sisara. These fish were alive, not mere automatons. Strangely, while it…
-
Chapter One Aliya held the cigarette in her hand, her throat constricting in shock, causing her to cough violently. Her body started to tremble. She hurriedly moved away from the group of girls in front of the band and, hoping that no one had noticed, began to examine them one by one. Even if she…
-
If a person breaks this promise, it’s advisable for them to undergo a month-long treatment as a form of atonement. For those who acknowledge Dankane, if they assume his debts and pass them on to his son, they should offer the boy a gift, like five sule or one naira, if the boy successfully conveys…
-
On the twenty-eighth day of April in the year Two Thousand and One AD, which happened to fall on a Wednesday, I woke up in a state of confusion. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, and I found myself searching for inspiration, but alas, I had lost the ability to write. I had been…
-
“Abba, please forgive me,” Princess Bilkisu cried as she sat before her uncle, deeply regretting her actions. “I went to the state where I’m not allowed to study. Abba, forgive me.” Her uncle, Abba, listened to her plea and then asked, “Princess Bilkisu, what is the reason behind your desire to study in another state?”…
-
“You are lying, you are the daughter of the King, the granddaughter of the King, and you claim to love a servant? What does he have, and what has he saved to provide for you? You are Umm Salma, and I don’t understand what kind of heart you have.” Umm Salma cried as if she…