Associate Editor Somto Ihezue and author Innocent Chizaram Ilo are currently working on a short film based on Innocent’s story Our Skin Will Now Bear the Testimonies, which was published by Cast of Wonders during our 2019 Banned Books Week event. This a HUGELY exciting project, and it’s just reached its Kickstarter funding goal – check out the campaign for a sneak peak at how On Our Skin is developing, and maybe help the team reach their stretch goals?
For my father and all the stories he told me.
I
This is how Papa paints.
In the evenings, when air collects at people’s feet in chilly, invisible spools, he gathers his painting things to the balcony and sits in front of a rotting canvas. The numb fingers of his right hand grip the paintbrush, and the aluminium paint tray sways on his quivering left palm. Papa starts by making a whorl at the top left edge of the canvas. He twirls and twirls the paintbrush, concocting a riotous mesh of colours. It does not make sense. It does not make sense at all. Mama has always warned me never to disturb Papa when he is painting but I still linger, hiding behind the torn brocade curtain in the parlour. (Continue Reading…)
