This month is Africa: Stories in the 55, Malagasy author Naivo, speaks about his historical saga, Beyond the Rice Fields, which weaves the beauty of  Hainteny, a traditional form of Malagasy poetry, with the coming-of-age story of Tsito, a young slave, and his one love, Fara. Set in volatile 19th century Madagascar, both characters try to find their way amidst genocide and religious persecution.

This month is Africa: Stories in the 55, Malagasy author Naivo, speaks about his historical saga, Beyond the Rice Fields, which weaves the beauty of  Hainteny, a traditional form of Malagasy poetry, with the coming-of-age story of Tsito, a young slave, and his one love, Fara. Set in volatile 19th century Madagascar, both characters try to find their way amidst genocide and religious persecution. Malagasy author Naivo talks about of the traditions of highland culture in Madagascar, and the...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we sit down with Karim Miské, author of Paris-set crime thriller "Arab Jazz". The Franco-Mauritanian writer and documentarian speaks about his Paris, why keeping an open mind is crucial when formulating characters, and how his upbringing has influenced his work.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we sit down with Karim Miské, author of Paris-set crime thriller "Arab Jazz". The Franco-Mauritanian writer and documentarian speaks about his Paris, why keeping an open mind is crucial when formulating characters, and how his upbringing has influenced his work. In this extended interview, Miské reads an excerpt of his novel, "Arab Jazz" and talks about his current work-in-progress:

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian novelist Sam Omatseye talks about his book Crocodile Girl, a modern tale steeped in oral tradition. He tells the story of Alero, a woman too beautiful to be accepted by her village and the pain and suffering carried through the generations.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian novelist Sam Omatseye talks about his book Crocodile Girl, a modern tale steeped in oral tradition. He tells the story of Alero, a woman too beautiful to be accepted by her village and the pain and suffering carried through the generations. Omatseye also addresses prejudice and stigma through his American character, Tim, who is on a quest to discover his family's controversial past and how it connects to Orogun village near Warri, Nigeria....

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak with Nigerian novelist Ayo Sogunro, who brings to life- and death - the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians in his collection of short stories and poetry "The wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales." From beleagured politicians to self-proclaimed prophets, bridge touts to sentimental  thieves, Sogunro weaves stories about the Lagosian spirit in "The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales." Original poetry...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak with Nigerian novelist Ayo Sogunro, who brings to life- and death - the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians in his collection of short stories and poetry "The wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales."

The pain of infertility for a couple is just the tip of the iceberg in Stay with Me, a new novel  by Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyò, published by Cannongate Books. The book, short-listed for the 2017 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, is a complex web of family politics, Yoruba culture and a number of crippling health issues makes this a rich, event-filled piece of literature. Is the love between the two main characters Yejide and Akin enough? Set in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, against the...

The pain of infertility for a couple is just the tip of the iceberg in Stay with Me, a new novel  by Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyò, published by Cannongate Books. The book, short-listed for the 2017 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, is a complex web of family politics, Yoruba culture and a number of crippling health issues makes this a rich, event-filled piece of literature. Is the love between the two main characters Yejide and Akin enough? Set in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, against the...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at the new Nommo Prize for African Speculative Fiction, which includes fantasy, sci-fi, the supernatural and even horror. We also talk to JJ Bola, whose debut novel, "No Place to Call Home" about a Democratic Republic of Congolese family living in London, shows how the main character Jean struggles to fit in at school and home.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at the new Nommo Prize for African Speculative Fiction, which includes fantasy, sci-fi, the supernatural and even horror. We also talk to JJ Bola, whose debut novel, "No Place to Call Home" about a Democratic Republic of Congolese family living in London, shows how the main character Jean struggles to fit in at school and home. Young Congolese boy Jean is growing up in a cramped household in London full of TonTons (uncles), aunties,...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak to the authors of two historical novels, both set in the 20th century. Fred Khumalo's "Dancing the Death Drill" deals with the South African ship the S.S. Mendi, which was sunk in the waters off of the UK, killing 618 black South African soliders. In "Harvest of Skulls", Abdourahman Waberi, a Djiboutian writer, goes to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide and writes his novel based on the stories of the people he meets.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak to the authors of two historical novels, both set in the 20th century. Fred Khumalo's "Dancing the Death Drill" deals with the South African ship the S.S. Mendi, which was sunk in the waters off of the UK, killing 618 black South African soliders. In "Harvest of Skulls", Abdourahman Waberi, a Djiboutian writer, goes to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide and writes his novel based on the stories of the people he meets. Spanning nearly 60 years,...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at two award-winning writers - Somali author Nadifa Mohamed, and Leila Abulela, Sudanese novelist - who speak about the influences on their craft. Life in Somalia becomes increasingly difficult before the start of the country's civil war. The lives of two women and a girl intertwine in the final days before chaos breaks out in The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed. Partially inspired by her own grandmother, Mohamed speaks to...

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at two award-winning writers - Somali author Nadifa Mohamed, and Leila Abulela, Sudanese novelist - who speak about the influences on their craft.

It's Africa: Stories in the 55's first anniversary, and we are starting off the year with a look at  Bahati Books, a dynamic e-book publisher, and what they have to offer readers on the continent and beyond. We also welcome into our studios Republic of Congo author Wilfried N'Sondé, who tells us about his latest project, a historical novel.

In this month's program, Africa: Stories in the 55 speaks to Ghanaian author Ayesha Harrunah Attah, author of Saturday's Shadows about creating tackling issues from infidelity to illness and learning how to read, set against a backdrop of a fictional West African dictatorship.

It's Africa: Stories in the 55's first anniversary, and we are starting off the year with a look at  Bahati Books, a dynamic e-book publisher, and what they have to offer readers on the continent and beyond. We also welcome into our studios Republic of Congo author Wilfried N'Sondé, who tells us about his latest project, a historical novel. Wilfried N'Sondé speaks to Stories in the 55 about how identity, or perceived identity, is at the core of his novel, The Heart of the Leopard Children,...

In this month's program, Africa: Stories in the 55 speaks to Ghanaian author Ayesha Harrunah Attah, author of Saturday's Shadows about creating tackling issues from infidelity to illness and learning how to read, set against a backdrop of a fictional West African dictatorship.

For this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we have the special treat of two accomplished Nigerian authors, Okey Ndibe, whose poignant, yet humorous memoir, Never Look an American in the Eye, is out now with Soho Press, and Anietie Isong's satirical Radio Sunrise, published by Jacaranda books, which will hit bookstores in January 2017.

For this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we have the special treat of two accomplished Nigerian authors, Okey Ndibe, whose poignant, yet humorous memoir, Never Look an American in the Eye, is out now with Soho Press, and Anietie Isong's satirical Radio Sunrise, published by Jacaranda books, which will hit bookstores in January 2017.  In his new book, Never Look an American in the Eye, Nigerian author Okey Ndibe shares ancedotes from growing up during the Biafran war in Nigeria, to modern...

This month, Africa: Stories in the 55 discusses millennial romance and short story mastery with Nigerian writer Amara Okolo, and we speak with a Matswana transgender poetess and activist who is changing the way we think of diversity and difference.

This month, Africa: Stories in the 55 discusses millennial romance and short story mastery with Nigerian writer Amara Okolo, and we speak with a Matswana transgender poetess and activist who is changing the way we think of diversity and difference. Nigerian writer Amara Okolo, author of "Son of Man" and "Black Sparkle Romance", speaks about her inspiration and writing for African millennials. Transgender poet from Botswana Kat Kai Kol-Kes speaks about her poetry and #BerekaMosadi, part of...

This month, Africa: Stories in the 55 talks to South African writer Henrietta Rose-Innes about her latest Cape Town-based novel, Green Lion, and the relationship between humans and animals in an urban setting. We also take another look at Abdul Adan's short story "The Lifebloom Gift" on the presence (and absence) of physical touch in society.