More Short Stories from African Countries

On my way to discover more talented voices from the African countries, this weekend I explored a couple of inspiring fiction and nonfiction stories published by the Cameroon-based literary magazine Bakwa. 

The topics of the magazines were Family Politricks and Travel Stories, with inspiredly illustrated covers. The authors included are originally from Cameroon, Namibia, Nigeria or Guinea-Bissau, but such national identifications are rather the result of colonialist random border politics. Bilingual - French and English - those stories do display a diversity of cultural resources and inspiration.

The family situations described in Family Politricks are nothing but bearable. There are stories - mostly fiction - of sexual abuse and neglect - many surrounded by a hollow of black magic. It is an extraordinary reminder of how diverse the sources of inspiration could be, based on a specific cultural background.

The issue dedicated to travel, Taxi Drivers Who Drive Us Nowhere and other Travel Stories was my favorite so far, also due to the preponderance of the nonfiction stories. Travel here is more than a pretext to reflect on borders, local corruption and the tragic condition of a traveller from one African country to another. 

The two volumes, although including works on different value, do share valuable information filtered through the inspired pen of authors that I hope to hear more about soon.