When Neneh has gazed at the photo for up to two or three minutes, her left hand will rise to caress the long scar that stretches from her hairline to her left cheekbone. And then, the events of that fateful day will start coming back to her in hazy flashes.
ORÍ: Exploring Yoruba Destiny and Culture Through Spoken Word Poetry | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ review of Aremo Yusuf Balógun’s “ORÍ” by Tola Ijalusi
ORÍ is a success, bringing attention to a long-present but less-celebrated genre of spoken word poetry in Nigeria.
Medicine: Journaling as Therapy and a Journey to Well-being | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ essay by Edwin Mamman
Journal writing has profound benefits. For some it boosts confidence, for others it provides relief for the loneliness epidemic plaguing society today.
My Progenitor’s Tongue As a Fireplace Where Hyperbole Singes the Feathers of Euphemism | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ essay by Taofeek Ayeyemi “Aswagaawy”
In Yoruba, language lifts rocks and holds down birds; offers shelter to feelings, so wide that it becomes scary to stay in.
For Fathers Who Went Like This: A Poetic Journey Through Pain, History, and Hope | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ review of Adedayo Agarau’s ‘For Boys Who Went’ by Tola Ijalusi
For Boys Who Went may challenge readers with its coarse literary style, which lends the poems a rich and raw intensity. While its expression can feel unrefined at times, the profound impact of its message on the reader’s mind makes it a collection worth revisiting—an offering both thought-provoking and unforgettable.
“The Future of African Poetry Fills Me With So Much Urgency…“ | A CỌ́N-SCÌÒ Magazine Interview with Adedayo Agarau
The future of African poetry fills me with so much urgency. My vision for the future is practical: more African-led publishing houses, more translation projects between African languages, and more platforms for critical dialogue.
Childhood Trauma & Creativity: Navigating The Ethical Tightrope of Personal Writing | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ essay by Kukogho Samson
Self-censorship is painful, excruciating, debilitating… It feels like a betrayal of self, an abuse of my creative impulse, and self-entrapment in a cycle of doubt and frustration.
BEHIND THE PODIUM | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ short story by Aminata Talawally
“My voice is pleading to be heard by a room crowded with people. It doesn’t care if their faces are frightening or happy. It just wants to engulf the room and be listened to.”
A LETTER TO AUGUST | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ short story by Jola Praise Ademola
The letter was addressed to her. Written simply on the cover, in a bold script, was: ‘A letter to August’ and on the inside: ‘I know what you did’. She lifted off the lid from the box. Lying there was a bloodied finger wearing a wedding band.
SERENDIPITY | a CỌ́N-SCÌÒ short story by Popoola Ololade Aderemi
You see the barely noticeable smile on her face. Her face. In a split second, you sweep your gaze over it and rest your eyes on the birthmark above her eyebrow. You wonder if this is what love feels like.