Oyedotun Damilola Muees

‘Your mother says you spend much longer time in your room. You no longer play with friends. You hardly come out for dinner. What’s the problem? Dr. Ijeoma asked.

‘There is a monster in my school. He put me on […]

When Alhaji Saidu come for me, I knew my life was going to take a twist. Mama prodded me. ‘He’s now your husband, Halima, do what he says.’

I was 10 at that time. Alhaji Saidu was a wolf in sheep clothing. […]

‘Good morning Kabiyesi. There has been another killing. A gruesome one,’ said Otunba Demola, shaking his head.
‘Has the murderer being caught?’ Kabiyesi asked.

There was silence in his chamber.
‘It can’t […]

‘Please you have to let me out of here,’ I screamed aloud. ‘You don’t have to do this, I’m someone’s child, please have mercy.’

The old man passed the food through an opening – the only opening in the steel […]

They let us out today, again. Yesterday, we spent thirty-five minutes outside our cell. The day before, it was twenty-five minutes. Everyone was filled with gaiety. ‘God go bless our warden,’ said pa Enoch.

I […]

‘Mama please can I go out and play?’ I asked.
‘Nnenna I have told you umpteen times. I know you want to spend time with the other children, but you have to believe me when I say it’s not safe. There’s so much […]

He was the man that was venerated. A disciplinarian and a pious man. Now a correction officer, at least that is what everyone conferred on him.

Truancy in the village stopped. Boys who disobeyed their parents […]

After spending one week in the village for our documentary, it was time to leave. We had packed our bags when we heard the news.
‘There’s a festival tomorrow, the king urges everyone to stay. The festival will […]

It was the thrilling noise from her contemporaries, rainfall pelting the roof, that woke Uki from her deep sleep.
Playing in the rain was her favorite hobby. She knew it was impossible to leave ‘her’ hut; the […]