running the lines for fulgence
read it at guernica magazine
This short story is about a soccer referee who is recovering from the loss of his brother in post-earthquake Haiti. Published in Guernica Magazine in August 2011.
Splinters of haiti
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First published in Joyland magazine, this short story follows a professional soccer referee in post-earthquake Haiti as he searches for his friends before an important match. His trip through the countryside forces him to recall his relationship with his late brother–a famous soccer player–and a torrid love affair.
the moon rock thief
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A struggling Nigerian scientist works the night shift in the Johnson Space Lab in Houston, studying the moon rocks returned from the Apollo missions. Until one day a secretive diplomat offers him the opportunity of a lifetime to return home–provided he takes something with him. The Moon Rock Thief is the first chapter of my novel Nigerians in Space and can be read on its own.
Bathing with perlemoen
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An innocent young fisherman is sucked into the dangerous, multimillion rand South African abalone trade in order to save a close friend–and eventually his own life. This story emerged from research with local South Africans, police officers and prosecutors into the violent trade that has wracked the coastal region of the country. Published in CrimeBeat South Africa (2011).
The Defender
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This short story about a soccer defender inspired my new novel Running the Lines for Fulgence.
Home Affairs
READ THE STORY HERE | Read the story on Molossus here
This story follows a father and son as they attempt to navigate the labyrinth of the immigration system in South Africa. It is based on my experiences working and living in Cape Town. One of the themes is the stereotypes of Nigerians in South Africa—the same stereotypes that appear in the film District 9. Published in World Literature Today (2009), reprinted in Molossus, and nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Daylight Savings Bank Collapses
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This is a satire that is based on Daylight Savings Time – a concept that I’ve always found confusing and surprising. It’s surprising because it seems to happen when I’m not ready. Suddenly an hour has been gained or lost, just because the government said so!
Four Lions
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A short story about a journalist attempting to penetrate the notorious Cape Town minibus taxi gangs. Published in the South African magazine The Space (2007).
The Rise and Fall of the Silence Corporation
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One of my passions is intellectual property – the assertion of ownership over creativity and innovation. This fiction piece is a satire about the copyrighting of musical rests by an eccentric American composer. Published in OneShotZine (2008).
Indian Hunting on the Putumayo
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This story originates from my background research for my novel Everyone Comes from Belterra, when I encountered the horrific human rights violations committed on the Putumayo river in the early 1900s. Published in the London Magazine (2006).
In the Light of the Kerosene
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This short story was adapted from my novel Everyone Comes from Belterra. It follows the rubber tapper Rogerio as he investigates a mysterious capoeira fight in the Amazon rainforest. The story was published on the Brazilian cultural website brazzil.com (May 2009).
Tealuxe
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A short piece about a strange encounter in a Boston tea shop.
