The timepiece on the massive TV set hanging opposite the bed read 3.07 am. Although it was the fourth time she would wake up in three hours, Yemisi was unperturbed that this was looking like a fitful night. She had good reason. This was the third night of her marriage to a man who is clearly heaven-sent, and even waiting up all night would be worth the thrill. Her husband now laid by her side, sleeping soundly and oblivious to her contemplations. She smiled. All is well that ends well, she imagined, the Cheshire cat still on her face.

In this expository interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Muyiwa Adeola Babayomi, the gifted poet behind the collection of poems, “Arrows of Joy”. With each poem, Babayomi poetically narrates the cultural reality of life in Africa with the recurrent universal themes of love, perseverance, and the spiritual journey. We talked about the origins of Arrows of Joy, discussing how he draws from mythology to convey timeless lessons and crafts vibrant imageries to shed light on the challenges and triumphs of the African society. He spoke candidly about his creative process, sharing insights into the inspirations that shape his…

Reviewer : Taiwo Michael Oloyede Agema’s collection of poems is a labyrinth of sweeping anecdotes; juxtaposing a motley of quotidian motifs that tug persistently at our fragile coats of existence with impish punches, in this terra firma. Agema writes with the zest of a skilled hunter; wielding sharp-edged swords and other accoutrements at the call of duty. His poetic nuances, in this baroque of evocation, are rooted both in profound lyricism and an instinctual diagnosis of human circumstances. His writing style leaps like water-froths, entreating you to come in for an ethnic dance with flailing hands in a restive, festive…

Reviewer: Molara wood Kate Apaflo Awuku-Darko’s My Girl Child, a poignant entry in her collection Seven Shredded Sisters, speaks with profound tenderness and urgency, addressing the complexities of girlhood in the shadow of societal expectations. This poem is a striking examination of resilience, vulnerability, and the quiet rebellion of a young girl navigating the confines of tradition. At its heart, My Girl Child is a deeply empathetic exploration of identity, self-awareness, and the conflict between individuality and cultural imposition. Awuku-Darko captures the weight of inherited customs with the haunting line, “you worry about the nightmares / of your thighs being…