Jumoke Verissimo – författare

From one of Africa’s most acclaimed writers, poetry about the Nigeria-Biafra warEveryone carries a piece of the war within them: what happens when we neglect to consider each individual’s story? The Nigeria-Biafra War (1967–70) erupted when the southeastern region of Nigeria, known as Biafra, declared independence. It was a major conflict; however, this war remains largely absent from official historical accounts. While victims have passed down their experiences across generations, the official silence and the dominance of narratives from larger ethnic groups have perpetuated stereotypes that diminish the suffering of some victims. The differing narratives that are absent from history books continue to divide and polarize social groups within Nigeria and beyond. Weaving together cut-ups and redactions from personal narratives, historical accounts, and reflections on the enduring impact of war, and with raw language and searing imagery, the poems in Circumtrauma grapple with loss, resilience, and the search for healing amidst the fractures of deep-seated divisions. This collection compels readers to confront the profound and often-silenced complexities of history, the intergenerational weight of inherited suffering, and the urgent need to acknowledge the diverse experiences and perspectives of all those impacted by the tragedy of war. It is a testament to the enduring power of art to bear witness to the human condition, offering a path towards healing and reconciliation.

Imprisoned for ten years for his rage against society, activist and retired academic Prof resolves to live a life of darkness after his release from prison. He holes up in his apartment, pushing away friends and family, and embraces his status as an urban legend in the neighbourhood until a knock at the door shakes his new existence. His new visitor is Desire, an orphan and final year student, who has grown up idolising Prof, following a fateful encounter in her hometown of Maroko as a child. Tentatively, the two begin to form a bond, as she returns every night at 9pm to see him. However, the darkness of the room becomes a steady torment, that threatens to drive Desire away for good. A Small Silence is an intimate and evocative debut that charges us to look again at the alienating effects of trauma and the power of solitude and darkness to ignite the imagination.

Aduke lives with her grandparents in Ibadan and Grandma is her favourite person in the world. She loves when Grandma sings to her, and gives her treats from her stall. But one day, Aduke comes home from school and can't find Grandma anywhere! Aduke doesn't understand why Grandma can't come back, but then her aunt Yimika tells her a secret. Can she really see Grandma if she squints up at the moon?

Aduke lives with her grandparents in Ibadan and Grandma is her favourite person in the world. She loves when Grandma sings to her, and gives her treats from her stall. But one day, Aduke comes home from school and can't find Grandma anywhere! Aduke doesn't understand why Grandma can't come back, but then her aunt Yimika tells her a secret. Can she really see Grandma if she squints up at the moon?