COVIK ONE NINE: Stories and Poems

We are working with the Ministry of Health on protecting our citizens from Covik One Nine virus. As a government, this is now a key priority for us.
— President Muhamadu Buhari, March 2020.

Journey through the intricacies of life in the COVID era with this rich tapestry of short stories and poems. Eight esteemed and emerging storytellers spin narratives that traverse the landscapes of Nigeria and its diaspora, offering profound insights into the essence of our shared humanity.

Witness the unravelling of a man’s secret at his funeral and the tale of a migrant grappling with despair amidst lockdown in the USA. In Pidgin English, an eavesdropper at a funeral reflects on COVID’s impact on his marriage as a young woman confronts the aftermath of a botched plastic surgery. Experience a lawyer’s efforts as he struggles to free his wrongfully imprisoned client, alongside the inner turmoil of a psychiatrist battling her own mental health issues. Immerse yourself in the journey of an abandoned wife as she forges a new reality, complemented by poems that echo the diverse emotions woven into personal and collective struggles.

These captivating narratives encapsulate the resilience, despair, and redemption woven into the fabric of the COVID-tinged Nigerian and diasporic experience.

This anthology is exciting and reflective with stories of love, loss, family, betrayal, corruption, and health. It includes long-awaited new writing from some of our best authors and the introduction of new voices.
– Bukola Akinyemi, book club host and trustee of The Caine Prize for African Writing.