Review: Speculation spans chapter and multiverse

A science fiction and fantasy anthology offers top-tier writing from Africa and the diaspora.

Imagine “a shared world based on a blend of African cultural worldviews” – the Sauútiverse, a self-contained universe with its own rules, languages and vivid characters. Stories by T L Huchu and Xan van Rooyenwe in the third volume of Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction anthology, showcase it well.

The new volume – published late 2024 but collecting works that originally appeared individually and elsewhere the year before – is edited by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki and Chinaza Eziaghighala.

Nalo Hopkinson’s The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of The World tells of monsters, Black trauma, and a girl coming into her powers. With great wit, the inimitable P Djèlí Clark gives us instructions for How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub. Wole Talabi’s Saturday’s Song features the nightmare god Shigid of 2023’s Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon. The teleporting protagonist of the intriguing Nairuko by Dennis Mugaa is from the Ilaikipia people, and we learn about their survival after genocide through this story about the attempted secession of Kenya’s Coast Province. Kemi Ashing-Giwa’s Thin Ice could easily be a story about AI and creatives, when the machines take over. Gabrielle Emem Harry’s brilliant A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy has one of the best and cleverest depictions of Death personified that I’ve ever read.

With many more stories from Tananarive Due, Tobias Buckell, Adelehin Ijasan, Makena Onjerika, Amanda Ilozumba, Michelle Enehiwealu Iruobe, Chisom Umeh, Vuyokazi Ngemntu, and Uchechukwu Nwaka, the edition is packed with talent and creative vision.

Brilliant. And highly recommended.