Tag Archives: #ReadingAfricaWeek

#ReadingAfricaWeek 2024: Revisiting Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti

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There seems to be some confusion, but I have it marked in my calendar that the first week in December is #ReadingAfricaWeek (there may be another one in February?). I’m not really seeing much around the internet about this event for 2024; I’m honestly not sure it’s still a thing, but I’m making it a thing, at least here on A&A.

As I wrote last year when I reviewed The Fine Print by Chinelo Onwualu, all one need do to participate in the event, is spotlight African Literature.

The novella I chose this year seems a bit obvious, but it’s a long-time favorite of mine (Goodreads tells me I’ve read it three times!), and honestly I’m ashamed that I’ve never talked about it on the blog before. That novella, is none other than Nnedi Okorafor’s BINTI !!!

It’s a bit hard to know where to start when reviewing this novella, but it seems appropriate to start with the sense of awe and wonder which Nnedi brings to all of her works. The spaceport Binti must navigate on her first trip away from earth, and the planet-university of Oomza Uni seem particularly good examples. Of course there is the also the floating, space-fairing, warmongering, octopus-jellyfish hybrids known as the Meduse, which attack and encounter Binti on a giant space travelling shrimp.

Nearly every page is like this, just a shock of imagination and artistry, that continues to impress nearly ten years after the first time I read it.

But of course there is more as well. Thematically, the book’s focus is split between capturing — in the most fantastical way possible — the outsider’s experience, and necessary arguments (lessons really) in support of harmony between different peoples and cultures.

Antoinette over at Black & Bookish writes:

“Okorafor’s storytelling is vivid and thorough, and no doubt the the spot on writing of the outsider experience is personal to her. Underneath the action and advanced technologies, this story is the equivalent of an out of body, sci-fi experience in regards to black womanhood.” – “Binti” Reminds Us That We Write Our Own Stories (Book Review)

Even today this is something of a rare thing and certainly an important reason to shout about this book from rooftops.

Give Binti a read?

One hundred times yes! There is plenty of acclaim surrounding this novella already (won a Hugo back in 2016), but for me personally it is a rare kind of story which does everything (effortlessly) right: shows incredible imagination, engages with important themes, and is genuinely just a blast to read.

If you haven’t already, please pick this one up. It’s a great read!

That’s all I have for this week. Who has read this one already? What’s your favorite part? Was there anything which stuck out to you which I missed? Leave your thoughts in the comments. I’m really looking forward to talking about this one!

Until next time . . .

Fox-Brides and Corporate Djinn: ‘The Fine Print’ by Chinelo Onwualu

by in Fantasy, Short Fiction! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I wish I had known about this story back in 2022 so I could have included it in my 9 Stories Featuring Djinn to Get You Hype for A River of Silver. Perhaps I’ll need to do a follow up post sometime soon.

However, the impetus for reading this story did not come from a longing for more Djinn in my life (although its a longing I live with constantly) but instead a desire to participate in #ReadingAfricaWeek. It’s my understanding that all one need do to participate is spotlight African Literature.

The author of “The Fine Print”, Chinelo Onwualu, is Nigerian and though I couldn’t really tell, it seems this story from New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color, takes place in a Nigeria as well? So I’m gonna roll with it.

There is a lot to enjoy within the scant 14 pages of this short story. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most was the Onwualu’s unique depiction of Djinn. Most will be familiar with Djinn as ‘Genies’, sort of benevolent spirits that merely grants wishes. Books like Shannon Chakraborty‘s epic Daevabad Series recontextualizes the Djinn as heroes of Islamic mythology, and to a certain extent, P. Djeli Clark’s fantastical mysteries in the A Dead Djinn in Cairo universe does the same in Egypt.

Onwualu’s Djinn are more corporate, producing a yearly catalog which families select wishes from. Of course, as with most things capitalist, there’s really nothing benevolent about these exchanges, and every wish exacts a price.

Watching the main character, Nuhu, attempting to navigate level after level of “customer service” in order to save his son, really just shines a light on how heartless and absurd modern bureaucracy can be.

I was also intrigued by the enigmatic ‘fox-brides’ presented as trophy wives within the story. A quick search did not immediately yield an obvious Nigerian myth or legend which might have inspired these characters, but I’ll admit that I’m probably the least educated person in that area. It did seem that there was more to dig into here, but ultimately I did not try to research it any further.

Finally, I think the story expanded my horizons slightly in that I had never really considered the religious makeup of Nigeria before, but it would seem (according to wikipedia) that about 50% of the country identifies as Muslim.

So any Djinn, corporate or otherwise, should feel right at home.

Give This One a Read?

For sure! I have detailed a few parts of the story I found particularly intriguing — a unique depiction of Djinn, and the enigmatic ‘fox-brides’ which feel like more than they appear — but each of these elements is much better experienced than described.

Plus Onwualu’s writing is incredibly engaging from the first page until the end. Definitely give this one a read! I’m sure there’s even more to find there than what I’ve listed here.

That’s all I have for this week. Has anyone read this one before? What was your favorite part? Anyone up on their fox myths? I’m looking forward to talking about this one!