01/25/2026 Recent Reads & Reviews: SAUUTI TERRORS
- Candace Nola
- 22 minutes ago
- 2 min read
SAUUTI TERRORS
Short Stories from the Unique Universe created by Contemporary African Writers.
Edited by Eugen Bacon, Cheryl Ntumy, and Stephen Embleton.
SAUUTI TERRORS, by its own description, is an anthology of short stories based on an entirely new universe created by some of today’s best contemporary African Writers and it does not disappoint. It’s intelligent and thought-provoking, with stories that weave tales of terrors, tied together with threads of magic, wonder, faith and folklore. These stories and poems delve into themes of feminine rage and empowerment, of self-identity and place, of family, societal expectations and everything in-between all while told through the lens of a new world with a lush history of lore, legend, and deities all its own.
It would be impossible to pick a favorite so rich and vivid were the works within, but I will list a few personal favorite selections. I have to mention the opening poem, The Tale of Elders’ Silent Screams by Linda D. Addison as it sets the tone for the entire anthology. The next poem that I found myself coming back to was Mahwés Fall by Jamal Hodge, beautifully written with a haunting cadence that spoke to my soul.
Kyi’yaji by Xan van Rooyen was one of my favorite stories, equal parts chilling and mesmerizing. I loved the concept within and how music was used as the catalyst. I found this one profoundly moving.
The Rawness of You by Eugen Bacon was another favorite that delves beneath your skin and makes you squirm, makes you wonder, and becomes more unsettling the longer you read. It’s one of the most visceral stories in the anthology that reads like a micro-journey through a most disturbing hell.
The last story I’ll spotlight here was The Song of Ohi’iha by Mazi Nwonwu. This one, for me, held one of the most unexpected endings. I love when I cannot predict an ending, and this one pleased me with how cleverly it was done. It also carried those threads of awe and wonder and magic that I often find so refreshing in short stories. It can be hard to capture that feeling in so few words, but this story was perfectly done.
While these may be just a few of my favorites, be sure to pick up this anthology today and discover yours. This volume was a pure joy to read with a new world that I thoroughly enjoyed discovering.
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