StoryTime Author: Emmanuel Sigauke

Snakes Will Follow You by Emmanuel Sigauke

2010-04-18T19:20:00.001+02:00

I had been lying on a reed mat, reading Julius Caesar in the shade of our tsapi hut. As soon as Brutus stabbed Caesar, I had looked away from the page to avoid picturing the sight of blood. That's when I saw a baby snake slithering towards me. At first, I thought my eyes were tricking me, so I pretended like I had not seen anything. But there it was, calmly covering ground, getting closer and closer to the mat. I jumped and screamed, but covered my mouth as soon as I remembered I was a man... Full Story

Moon of Memories by Emmanuel Sigauke

2009-06-19T02:20:00.001+02:00

Of course, I had expected to see a car, any car, so I was overjoyed when I saw the big-wheeled, black Jeep, which they parked in the shade of our Muzeze tree. They had arrived in in the middle of the day, so as mother and I ululated our greetings, several people raced to see them too. Some crowded around the car, talking to it, while others jumped with us in joy. We had stood there under the tree for what seemed like an hour, and when the last villager returned to her home, we entered the compound, where our roofless, brick house awaited their entry.... Full Story

Fiction and poetry

2009-04-05T03:48:00.001+02:00

Now I see how this works: my poetry writing and fiction work together, and it seems when my poetic inspiration is high, I produce prose that pleases me. Since I am involved in a lot of poetry events in April, I am seeing an upsurge of fictional creativity. One art informs the other, vice versa.

With Leticia by Emmanuel Sigauke

2009-02-14T18:11:00.002+02:00

I bumped into Leticia on Bank Street, where she was almost hit by a car as she ran across to greet me. She shouted curses after the speeding car, but when she turned to me, she had calmed, like nothing had happened. She dodged my hug and offered a hand which I shook gratefully. “I always see you here. Do you work somewhere close?” she asked. “I work at Sales House,” I said, noticing that she was still ugly, which is why I had once thought I could have her in high school. “Sales what?” she asked, and before I could answer, she started laughing, an honest, toothy laugh, like she could just die on the pavement and go to heaven. Full Story

To the Gathering by Emmanuel Sigauke

2008-12-16T13:41:00.004+02:00

I was going to the gathering and no one, neither Maiguru nor Mai, would stop me. Nothing, not even the duty to herd the goats, nor other chores at home, would get in the way. The only person who could stop me was Mukoma, but he was away in South Africa and we did not know when he would return, so with no one to stop me, I was going to that gathering... Full Story

Kennedy by Emmanuel Sigauke

2008-10-24T01:10:00.006+02:00

The entrance to Kubatana was dotted with scantily-dressed women and peanut vendors, a curious combination about which I shook my head as we entered the flood-lit bar.

“Tonight you’ll see a side of me that will blow your mind away,” said Mukoma, my big brother.

“What he’s saying is that he has something important to tell you,” explained Jakove, his friend.

“And to show you,” added Mukoma.

The beer hall was crowded. Shouting men waved at us. Mukoma and Jakove waved back at acquaintances scattered in the swaying crowd, where loud music competed with the loudest of voices. Full Story