Masobe Books is thrilled to announce the acquisition of three exceptional manuscripts, each one presenting a unique contribution to our already diverse catalogue. These books span past, present future in a manner that is not just brilliant, but also entertaining, suspenseful and enlightening. The authors present avenues for exploring the nuances of the human condition.
DENNIS MUGAA
Half Portraits Under Water & Other Stories is an entertaining collection of ten, loosely interlinked stories that explore love, loss, and the interconnected nature of human experiences. Dennis Mugaa is a fresh voice, who has matched his obvious talent with the boldness to successfully experiment with form and style in his storytelling.
A two-timing commissioner fakes his death in a ploy to escape political enemies.
A young boy from the slum heads to the football pitch with his friend for what would be the last time as the country shifts politically to a new power.
In an elite school for gifted young adults, a girl with a despotic father disappears and soon her three friends must make a deal with the devil in order to hold on to their dreams.
Through these ten stories set in Kenya, discover the profound connections that shape our lives, intertwining themes of love, grief, and what it means to be deeply, unflinchingly human.
Half Portraits Under Water & Other Stories have been critically appraised as:
“A pleasant surprise. Distinctively unique and delightfully unpredictable.” ―Chimeka Garricks
“Briliant! Dennis Mugaa is a talent.” ―Troy Onyango
About the Author
Dennis Mugaa is a writer from Meru, Kenya. He won the 2022 Black Warrior Review Fiction Contest, was shortlisted for Isele Magazine’s inaugural short story prize and was longlisted for the 2021 Afritondo Short Story Prize. His works have appeared in Jalada Africa, Lolwe, Isele Magazine and Washington Square Review.
KELECHI OKAFOR
Edge of Here is a thought-provoking debut collection of speculative stories that will transport you to realms that feel strangely familiar. It explores—through very relatable realities—what it means to be Black, African and human. Finally, a new era of sci-fi is upon us.
Enter a world very close to our own…
One in which technology can allow you to explore an alternate love-life with a stranger.
A world where you can experience the emotions of another person through a chip implanted in your brain.
And one where you can view snippets of a distant relative’s life with a little help from your DNA.
But remember: these experiences will not be without consequences . . .
Edge of Here has been critically appraised as:
“Thought-provoking, heartfelt and incredibly original.”—Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
“…Perfect for Black Mirror fans.” ―ELLE UK
About the Author
Kelechi Okafor is a Nigerian-born Londoner who acts, directs, writes, hosts an award-winning podcast known officially as Say Your Mind and runs her own pole dance studio in Peckham, South London. Although Kelechi wears many hats, the head those hats perch stylishly upon is one filled with incisive observations about society, culture and specifically Black womanhood.
HAMZA KOUDRI
A runner-up for the 2022 Island Prize for Debut African Novels, Sand Roses is a tale of resistance, sisterhood and the shameful past of two colliding nations. This extraordinarily immersive narrative thrusts its reader into the Algerian city of Bousaada during the 1930s and the story of the Nailiya dancers.
Tourists know it as the City of Joy. For Ouled Nail dancers, Bousaada is a city of horrors.
It is 1931 when two sisters arrive in Bousaada bursting with dreams of becoming successful dancers. But the city, occupied by the ruthless French colonial army, changes their lives forever.
When they kill a soldier in self-defence, Fahima and Salima must outsmart the French Colonel who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. The sisters are driven further into a cycle of violence with every attempt to hide their crime. Risking their lives and the lives of their loved ones, the dancers must navigate a dangerous world where almost everyone has a scheme.
Sand Roses has been critically appraised as:
“An Intriguing debut. Brilliant, riveting, provocative.” ―Obinna Udenwe
“… an extraordinarily immersive narrative, and a fascinating story of the little-known Ouled Nail dancers.” ―The Island Prize Judging Panel
About the Author
Hamza Koudri is currently serving as the Country Director with the British Council in Algeria. He has an MA in English Literature and Civilisation and has been working in education and international development since 2008. In 2022, Sand Roses emerged runner-up for the Island Prize for debut African literature.
The titles are scheduled for release in the first and second quarters of 2024. Specific publication dates and cover reveals will be announced soon. For more information, please contact: Theresa Ominiabohs at +234 701 838 3286, email: info@masobebooks.com, follow us @Masobebooks on Instagram and Twitter, or visit the Masobe Books website at www.masobebooks.com.