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    375 Results in the "Historical Fiction" category


    • Masquerade Season Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Pauly, a disobedient but imaginative boy, routinely ignores his mother's warnings to stick to major roads on his way home from his cousins' house. Preferring quieter, scenic routes, he often takes a shortcut through the Alele Estate, where the guards recognize him. One day, after staying late playing with his cousins, Pauly encounters three mysterious masquerades blocking his path in the bush. Despite their eerie presence and out-of-season appearance, Pauly politely addresses them, intrigued by their vivid…
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      The Dusk Market

      The Dusk Market Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces the enigmatic Dusk Market, a hidden marketplace that emerges at twilight, filled with sensory richness—smoky stockfish, buzzing flies, sizzling agbara pans, and the cacophony of bartering voices. The market is preceded by flickering kerosene lanterns, guiding the way for those who belong. Ordinary pedestrians and drivers avoid the intersection instinctively, though children occasionally glimpse surreal sights like head-hopping men or winking birds, which adults dismiss or ignore.…
    • The Wonders of the World Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Abisola, a student who joins a school geography trip at the last minute after her mother unexpectedly earns enough money from a sale. Feeling self-conscious about her borrowed sneakers and the pitying looks from the trip coordinator, Mr. Baju, Abisola boards the bus and finds herself seated next to Zeme, a peculiar new boy whose erratic movements and unsettling aura make others uncomfortable. Zeme’s unusual behavior, including his whispered prayers and intuitive understanding of…
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      Girlie

      Girlie Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows Girlie, a young domestic worker, as she navigates her daily responsibilities for her employers, Madam and Oga. Sent to the market three times a week, she purchases household items, groceries, and baby supplies, adapting to their preferences while masking her exhaustion. Girlie reflects on the disparities between her employers' affluent lifestyle and her own humble background in Akko, a village far removed from their polished neighborhood. Her observations highlight the invisible labor…
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      Birdwoman

      Birdwoman Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Felicity, the protagonist of *Birdwoman*, is introduced as a woman whose life has been marked by unhappiness from birth. Conceived out of wedlock, she grew up in a religious household where her parents’ guilt manifested in strict piety and financial deprivation. Her childhood was further marred by abuse from an older cousin, and even after escaping her family at nineteen by stealing money, her discontent persisted. Despite building a successful tailoring business through shrewdness—poaching skilled…
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      Things Boys Do

      Things Boys Do Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Things Boys Do" explores the unsettling dynamics between fathers and their newborn sons through three distinct narratives. The first man witnesses his wife's traumatic childbirth, where the baby's arrival is marked by eerie silence and a doctor's evasive reassurance. The father is haunted by the infant's unnerving white eyeballs and his wife's subsequent health decline, leaving him fearful of his own child. This segment sets a tone of dread, questioning the natural bond between parent and…
    • 24, Alhaji Williams Street Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of Alhaji Williams Street, a place steeped in history and community ties. The narrator, the only son in his family, reflects on his deep familiarity with the street’s every detail, from the sound of Mr. Joro’s car horn to the Obozos’ aggressive Rottweiler. The street’s tranquility is shattered when a mysterious fever begins claiming the lives of the youngest sons in each household, starting with Ade, the only child of Ms. Williams. The grief-stricken…
    • Imagine Me Carrying You Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist returning from a weekend getaway to learn about her mother's involvement in a fatal car accident. While staying at a friend's mansion to avoid her mother's scrutiny, she receives a call from her father, who reveals that her mother hit and killed a young woman during a heavy rainstorm on the Ibadan Expressway. The family of the deceased has chosen not to involve the police, and her mother, though financially compensating them, is emotionally shattered. The protagonist…
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      The Hollow

      The Hollow Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arit, a young architect, arrives at Madam Oni's house for a renovation assignment. The house strikes her as unattractive, with its chaotic roofs and peeling pink walls. Greeted by Lucky, a teenage gatekeeper, she learns Madam Oni is absent but proceeds to measure the property. The compound feels oppressive, with overgrown gardens and looming fences. As a junior at her firm, Arit is tasked with the groundwork, her mind already analyzing the space despite her limited role. She reflects on her uncle’s…
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      Contributions

      Contributions Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter describes a tight-knit group of women who practice "esusu," a traditional rotating savings system where members contribute money monthly, and each takes turns receiving the pooled funds. The system relies on strict rules and mutual trust, with severe consequences for those who fail to meet their obligations. The women pride themselves on self-sufficiency, rejecting banks and loans, and enforcing order through collective discipline. Past incidents, such as seizing a generator or temporarily…
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