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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.
— 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.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2024
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 6, 2024
Back in March 2020, the then president of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari, said on live TV..
“We are working with the Ministry of Health on protecting our citizens in. Js
from Covik One Nine virus. As a government, this is now a key priority for us.”
There was laughter, memes and jokes all over social media but as a Nigerian living abroad I wondered how the Nigerian government would deal with the pandemic.
This collection of short stories and poems, although fictional, are told with COVID 19 as the backdrop of life for Nigerians home and abroad during the pandemic.
With stories of love, loss, family, betrayal, corruption and health from eight esteemed and emerging storytellers.
* Dolapo Marinho
* Olukorede S. Yishau
* Michael Afenfia
* Obari Gomba
* Chimeka Garricks
* Shehu Zock-Sock
* Michael W. Ndiomu
* Ibiso Graham-Douglas
“We are working with the Ministry of Health on protecting our citizens in. Js
from Covik One Nine virus. As a government, this is now a key priority for us.”
There was laughter, memes and jokes all over social media but as a Nigerian living abroad I wondered how the Nigerian government would deal with the pandemic.
This collection of short stories and poems, although fictional, are told with COVID 19 as the backdrop of life for Nigerians home and abroad during the pandemic.
With stories of love, loss, family, betrayal, corruption and health from eight esteemed and emerging storytellers.
* Dolapo Marinho
* Olukorede S. Yishau
* Michael Afenfia
* Obari Gomba
* Chimeka Garricks
* Shehu Zock-Sock
* Michael W. Ndiomu
* Ibiso Graham-Douglas
September 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories.
All connected by the Covid-19 pandemic, each piece pulled me in and kept my attention.
My favorite stories were:
• Original of the Species by Chimeka Garricks
• Captured Moments by Michael W. Ndiomu
• Heavy by Shehu Zock-Sock
• Smoke and Ashes by Dolapo Marinho
I’d recommend this if you enjoy short story collections and are looking for a quick yet engaging read.
All connected by the Covid-19 pandemic, each piece pulled me in and kept my attention.
My favorite stories were:
• Original of the Species by Chimeka Garricks
• Captured Moments by Michael W. Ndiomu
• Heavy by Shehu Zock-Sock
• Smoke and Ashes by Dolapo Marinho
I’d recommend this if you enjoy short story collections and are looking for a quick yet engaging read.
January 4, 2025
I only enjoyed Chimeka Garricks’ story 😔
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews