An Embarrassment of Riches!

This anthology deserves every award and all the recognition it receives. My favourite narrator was Kim Staunton who for sure is a born storyteller and weaved a spell with her vocal acting. I loved, loved, loved Jamie L Smith who knew exactly what to do with his dulcet vocals!! Dele Ogundiran’s ability to infuse her narration with soul was so special. Tamika K Donegal had precise diction and accent work while Amin El Gamal acquitted himself though he had lesser technique and range. But why did Tony Tambi read 10/32 titles? He only had one setting: monotonous. Thank mercy that the strong writing and the other stellar narrators made listening to African Risen such a treat. I spotlight my favourite stories:

🌟The Sugar Mill (Tobias Buckell). 5/5. This was the best story in the anthology and I paused in appreciation at the sophisticated writing. Though the theme was grim viz. the afro-american slavery experience, the wit and Jamie Smith’s comedic timing was spot on.

🌟March Magic (WC Dunlap) 5/5. MM was all about the journey with its gorgeous metaphors and lush descriptions. Kim Staunton's vibrant alto and infectious enthusiasm was the anthology’s best performance.

🌟Door Crashers (Frank Zeph) 5/5. Oooh, l loved everything about this and shrieked with joy at the denouement!! My action-adventure | sci-fi soul was sated. Jamie Smith’s bass and accent work was icing on this goodness.

🌟IRL (Steven Barnes). 5/5. A boy learnt to forgive his father in this perfectly paced, character driven plot. The backdrop was hands down the most imaginative world-building of the anthology! Jamie Smith, as expected, had nary a false note in his narration.

🌟Exiles of Witchery (Ivana A Ofari). 5/5. Written from the POV of a superhero on a rescue mission, the tone is snarky and sarcastic. This was clever because the heavy themes – including mental health – were discussed without preaching. Listen out for Dele’s Afro-American lingo and cadence in a Nigerian accent!

⭐️A Girl Crawls in a Dark Corner (Alexis Vita). 4/5. A redemption story from an old hag’s POV. Kim Staunton did an outstanding job conveying the grim events and keeping the protagonist sympathetic. This was riveting listening.

⭐️A Soul of Small Places. (Mame Diene & Woppa Diallo) 4/5. Dele Ogundiran’s narration was exemplary in this origin story of a protective spirit. A warning that said spirit reveled in her vigilante badness!

⭐️The Lady of the Yellow Painted Library (Tobi Ogundiran). 4/5. It speaks to how good this horror was in building the main protagonist’s dread that Tambi's dire narration did not dim my interest!!

⭐️Air to Shape Lungs (Shingai Kigunda). 4/5. Gorgeous poetic depiction of deportation without evoking its misery - a remarkable achievement. Dele perfectly narrated the soul of this short.

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