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A platform celebrating African writers and their journeys, exploring the inspirations, craft, and stories behind the continent's literary voices.
Episodes
Latest Episode
October 9, 2026 · 39m
Title: Born at the End of the World Episode Number: #41 Guest: Donica Merhazion Release Date: 9th October, 2026 Description: This week, we are joined by our first Eritrean-Ethiopian author, the amazing Donica Merhazion, who takes us on a ride through her early influences as a child who was born in a prison in Addis Ababa. Donica shares excerpts from her debut novel, "Born at the End of the World," inspired by her parents' unique horror experiences during Ethiopia's Red Terror in the 70s. She explains how those experiences have shaped her identity and perspective on life, and more. It was a pleasure to have the delectable Donica on the show. A special shout out to her Kenyan publishers Mvua Press and eKitabu. Key Takeaways: 1. The cost of war is not just physical damage; it's mental 2. We all are a product of our experiences and often determine how we see the world. 3. Our scars are evidence of wars that we have fought and overcome. Listen Now On: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, YouTube Music, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPs Connect with Us: Website: NkemCreatives Twitter/X: @nkemcreatives LinkedIn: Nkem Creatives Instagram: @nkemcreatives Resources & Mentions: Read the Author's Stories on their Website: Guest’s Social Media (Instagram): @donica_merhazion Episode Credits: Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu Opara Audio Producer & Writer: Daniel Odia Podcast Manager: Daniel Odia Show Owner: Nkem Creatives Nkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
More Episodes
Oct 2, 2026 · 53m
Title: Hallucinations of JibrilEpisode Number: #40Guest: Anouar RahmaniRelease Date: 2nd October, 2026Description:This week, we are joined by our first Algerian author, the incredible Anouar Rahmani, who walks us through his quite tumultuous journey using his art to fight social, religious, and political injustices in his home country of Algeria, and the complexities of his advocacy and activism that led him to seek asylum in the US in a bid to save his life. Rahmani opens up about his early days growing up in Algeria, his travails in the activism space, especially for minority communities, his thought-provoking writing style, and adapting to life in the US even as a minority. He also discusses some of his latest work and what his plans are for the next few years + MORE. It was a pleasure to have Anouar on. Enjoy this amazing episode. Key Takeaways:1. All humans are equal under God and should not be subject to any form of injustice.2. We must all use our platforms as a collective to drive the message of equal rights. 3. We must all stand for something in life to be brave.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, YouTube Music, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Read the Author's Stories on their Website: anouarrahmani.comGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @anouar_rahmaniEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Sep 25, 2026 · 53m
Title: The FurtherEpisode Number: #39Guest: Frances OgambaRelease Date: 25th September, 2026Description:This week, we are joined by our premier horror storyteller on the podcast, Frances Ogamba, who hails from Eastern Nigeria. She gets honest with us about her inspirations as a writer that oddly started from her experience of staring into the River Niger horizon. She talks to us about how she became incredibly observant as a child, and writing became her space for creating all the eerie realities that her world couldn't accommodate. Frances shares her unique horror writing style and genre, her love for short stories versus long stories, telling African spirituality through stories, and identity + MORE! Enjoy this amazing episode!Key Takeaways:1. Sometimes, in a bid to accommodate the Western audience, you alienate the original target audience of your story. 2. In some African cultures, it's okay not to define things we can't explain like the modern West.3. We undermine how smart readers are in how we try to explain every context in our stories.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, YouTube Music, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Read the Author's Stories on their Website: francesogamba.comGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @franceskaydeeEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Sep 4, 2026 · 53m
Title: Revolution of the ScavengersEpisode Number: #38Guest: Henneh Kyereh KwakuRelease Date: 4th September, 2026Description:This week, we are joined by the eccentric storyteller and poet, Henneh Kyereh Kwaku from Ghana. Kwaku, one of the most decorated African poets in his generation, sits down with us to discuss his journey, trials, and the impact of his work in the literary space and within the black community. He gets transparent with us about his passion for his community, his unique storytelling ability to speak on broader issues on the continent, his work with his platform Church of Poetry, and how serving in public health has further inspired that desire to impact the community. Enjoy this amazing episode and more!Key Takeaways:1. While you must reinvent yourself, you must do it for the work, and not the recognition.2. Perhaps not all your work will be for everyone; Let your work focus on the target audience3. Maybe poetry does have a place in public health, and we don't have to separate both.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, YouTube Music, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Akashic: Revolution of the ScavengersGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @kwaku_kyerehEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Aug 21, 2026 · 1h 6m
Title: Obligations to the Wounded with MubangaEpisode Number: #37Guest: Mubanga KalimamukwentoRelease Date: 21st August, 2026.Description:This week, we are finally joined by the amazing Zambian-born author Mubanga Kalimamukwento. She talks to us about her early days (3:21) growing up in Zambia, soaking in the culture around her, and eventually finding her love for writing. She discusses navigating both her career as a lawyer and how that helped feed into her storytelling prowess in writing. We also discuss her writing style, her views on authentic African stories and representation in the West, her latest book, and the stereotypes around African literature. This and more on the show. Enjoy this amazing conversation. Key Takeaways:1. My authentic Zambian stories only represent my perspective on a particular place and time2. You don't have to be a published author to be called a writer3. Being a lawyer can help improve your storytelling as a writerListen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Amazon: Obligations of the Wounded: StoriesGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @mubanga.kalimamukwentoEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Aug 14, 2026 · 7m
Description:We take a quick trip down memory lane to highlight some of our favorite authors' moments on the show to mark our 35+ episodes' worth of content in the last year since our debut. From all of us at Nkem Creatives, we want to say a big thank you to all our listeners around the globe. Enjoy this one.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Aug 7, 2026 · 43m
Title: Dreaming Of Ways To Understand You with Jerry ChiemekeEpisode Number: #36Guest: Jerry ChiemekeRelease Date: 7th August, 2026.Description:This week, we are finally joined by the eloquent Nigerian author, Jerry Chiemeke, who walks us through his vastly unique journey transitioning from a law career to writing, and shares the intricacies of that decision. Jerry talks to us about (3:41) the BTS of his prowess as a law student and going to practice in Nigeria, finding his limerance for writing and turning it into a career, being perceived as angry and arrogant as a media critic, navigating the initial unstable career choice concerns of his Nigerian parents to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the literary space on the continent, and even now in the diaspora. Together, we also discussed his book, favorite characters, interesting heartbreak inspiration, impact, and what his next plans are in the coming years in the space + MORE! Enjoy this amazing episode! Key Takeaways:1. As a creative, you want people to have an opinion on your work and not stay on the fence2. Heartbreak and other ranges of emotional turmoil can inspire creativity, and that should never be undermined 3. You should always learn to dream, dare, and explore new terrains at every turn in your life.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Amazon: Dreaming Of Ways To Understand YouGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @j_chiemekeEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Jul 31, 2026 · 32m
Title: Deportees with Wanjiku GitagiaEpisode Number: #35Guest: Wanjiku GitagiaRelease Date: 31st July, 2026.Description:This week, we are joined by the amazing and cheerful Kenyan author, Wanjiku Gitagia, on the podcast. Wanjiku opens up (3:58) about her early days in writing in Kenya, her love for her job as an HR professional, and how it has helped her understand human psychology better. We delve into the theme of her new book "Deportee," which tells the story of Kim, who is deported from the US to Kenya in disgrace and returns home to a cruel mother, a hostile country, and a hopeless life. Wanjiku walks us through the inspiration behind the book and her simple yet unique writing style + MORE. Enjoy this amazing episode!Key Takeaways:1. Working in Human Resources means you have to be willing to listen with empathy because people are dealing with a lot.2. There is always the other side of the story for Africans deported from the West.3. Sometimes stories in art imitate life.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Amazon: DeporteeGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @wanjikugitagiaEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Jul 24, 2026 · 40m
Title: Shadows with Jide SalawuEpisode Number: #34Guest: Jide SalawuRelease Date: 24th July, 2026.Description:In this episode, we are joined by the incredibly passionate writer/poet Dr. Jide Salawu from Alberta, Canada. Jide talks to us about his journey as a writer back in his early days growing up in Nigeria before relocating abroad. He gets candid (3:11) with us about his unique experiences living as an African in the diaspora, all of which inspired him to write his latest book, "Contraband Bodies." The poetry meditates on the agony of Atlantic memories and dispersal, confronting new forms of digital kinship. We also got his perspective on the social and political issues plaguing Nigeria + MORE! Enjoy this amazing episode!Key Takeaways:1. The issues in Africa will continue to exist because of the corruption within the system2. The diaspora is not the ideal for the Black man, but so is his home.3. It is the social responsibility of a writer to express the hidden expressions of their society.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Narrative Landscape: Contraband Bodies Guest’s Social Media (Instagram): @jidesalawuEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
Jul 17, 2026 · 28m
Title: Daughters Who Walk This Path with Yejide KilankoEpisode Number: #33Guest: Yejide KilankoRelease Date: 17th July 2026.Description:After quite the sabbatical, the podcast is back and even better. This week, we are joined by the iconic Nigerian fiction writer and poet, Yejide Kilanko, who graces us with her presence this week on the podcast. She gets honest with us about her early days in writing and growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria, as a young woman navigating her own travails before her career took off. In her recent book, Daughter Who Walk This Path, she tells the story of the spirited and intelligent Morayo who grows up surrounded by school friends and family in Ibadan. She walks us through all the BTS of writing this book, and we couldn't get enough of it. Enjoy this amazing episode!Key Takeaways:1. Writing is the purest form of expression 2. Children feel and see everything in the home, and so it is important to ensure that as adults, we curtail our behaviours around them,3. It is important to surround yourself with strong and authentic role models, especially as women, and with time, they will shape your own voice.Listen Now On:Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPsConnect with Us:Website: NkemCreativesTwitter/X: @nkemcreativesLinkedIn: Nkem CreativesInstagram: @nkemcreativesResources & Mentions:Order the Author's Books on Amazon: Daughters Who Walk This PathGuest’s Social Media (Instagram): @yejidekilankoEpisode Credits:Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu OparaAudio Producer & Writer: Daniel OdiaPodcast Manager: Daniel OdiaShow Owner: Nkem CreativesNkem Creatives bring you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.