Najwa Bin Shatwan

Yefon Isabelle

Macsmart Ojiludu

Kanyinsola Olorunnisola

Nadia Ahidjo-Iya

Innocent Ilo

Melusi Nkomo

Victor Forna

Nicholas Dawn

Genna Gardini

Philisiwe Twijnstra

Doreen Anyango

Masiyaleti Mbewe

Julia Smuts Louw

Liam Brickhill

Jacob M'Hango

Gomolemo Mogotsi

Mbozi Haimbe

Idza Luhumyo

Alithnayn Abdulkareem

Edwin Okolo

These stories by new and emerging writers from the continent of Africa all tackle the theme of 'Disruption' in ingenious ways and represent a range of genres, from Innocent Ilo's imaginative exploration of a post-apocalyptic African village, to Victor Forna's stylistic take on the destruction of humanity. Masiyaleti Mbewe's brutal tale of Apartheid and climate change through the eyes of a time-traveling cyborg sits alongside Genna Gardini's diverting allegory of companionship and an escaped exotic pet. The 2021 anthology features stories from across the continent, from Libya to Sierra Leone to Zambia to South Africa, and also includes a translated story, 'Armando's Virtuous Crime' by Najwa Bin Shatwan, translated from Arabic into English by Sawad Hussain.

Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa

Shona Tiger

This review first appeared in The Continent, Issue 77, March 5, 2022.

Disruption is an anthology from Short Story Day Africa, chosen from submissions to its annual competition from around the continent. This year’s anthology has been published as an e-book, featuring stories on the theme of disruption –

… especially but not limited to climate and environ[mental] disruption.

The result is a wonderful collection of stories, ranging from the tale of a girl who gathers rivers in her body, in The Girl Named Uku/phaza/mi/se/ka by Philisiwe Twijnstra, to one who gathers the rain in her locs, in Five Years Next Sunday by Idza Luhumuyo, the winner of the 2019/2020 Short Story Day Africa prize.

Other great stories include Static by Alithnayn Abdulkareem, about a person who migrates from an uninhabitable Earth due to oxygen starvation, dehydration and drought, which are exacerbated by colonial exploitation of her home. She leaves her lover behind, and marries a coloniser. In Laatlammer, by J S Louw, a woman hides her son from her neighbour because of a one-child policy. The story is told from the boy’s perspective. In Shelter, by Mbozi Haimbe, a mother tries desperately to find shelter from a corrosive dust storm. Lycaon Pictus by Liam Brickhill, is about resource competition in a time of climate devastation. Before the Rains Came by Nadia Ahidjo is on resilience and saviourism in the Sahel. The Girl Who Laughed by Doreen Anyango tells the story of a climate refugee and orphan who ends up an abused, exploited domestic worker in Oman, dreaming of the mountains of home.


With stories from across Africa, from Libya, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana and elsewhere, Disruption is excellent, full of imagination, and, like in all of the best literature, great social commentary.

Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa

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