ZamaShort

@zamashort.com

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The ZamaShort imprint is focused on the powerhouse of the single short story. We champion multi-genre African literature excellence and diversity. zamashort.com

Image of book covers for ZamaShort #13-15 ZamaShort #13 ‘Fly, Flightless’ by Chisom Umeh ZamaShort #14 ‘Descendants of Balance by Rafeeat Aliyu ZamaShort #15 ‘Guava Jam’ by Lizzy Attree
Image of the cover for ZamaShort #14 'Descendants of Balance' by Rafeeat Aliyu And text: “‘Descendants of Balance’ is a perfect serving of Rafeeat Aliyu's unique storytelling alchemy. The heft of the Forest as a living thriving organism brought a folktale thrill to this tale about the equilibrium expected of those who live between worlds. It centres textured characters while never forgetting the cinema and magic of their fantastic worlds, lineages, and origins. This story draws on precolonial history and indigenous myth to reveal a world wholly new, yet familiar as childhood. We found ourselves caught up in the unfolding of Oronsen's survival, in Lakange's strength and love, in the mystery of the iwin.” — Dare Segun Falowo, author of Caged Ocean Dub.
John Kessel on 'Descendants on Balance' by Rafeeat Aliyu, ZamaShort 14. Text reads: “In 'Descendants of Balance' Rafeeat Aliyu tells us of a powerful spirit of the forest, taken human form out of love for a warrior king, the political and interpersonal conflicts that follow, and the betrayal that breaks things apart. It glows with the elemental force of myth and with the jealousies we find ourselves living whether or not we are gods, even when we don't know those stories that created us.” — John Kessel, author of The Presidential Papers.
Image of African continent with ZamaShort book inside, text reads Happy Africa Day! 2026
Image of text saying: ZamaShort ai-gen Statement At ZamaShort we do not accept nor publish ai-gen derived works in any form or manner. We check all submissions individually both with ai-checkers and manually with an informed understanding of what ai-gen works (even partially) read like. All "writers" that submit ai-gen works are placed on a permanent blacklist. As we also require legal ID confirmation from submitters the blacklist is tangible and lasting. If ai-gen works do by chance slip through and are published we are contractually obligated on discovery to de-list said work and publicly notify this occurrence and our failing.
Image of text of a poem excerpt for Poem Excerpt from ZamaShort #12 ‘Did You get Married to Her when I was in the Mental Hospital?’ by Abigail George, also showing the book cover, and wild flower designs in the background. Text: "We All Want to Live. I forget. I forget how many times I have forgotten you. We all want to live. We don’t want to die but we know it is coming. In war, there are no rules. In Gaza, there are no rules, only dirt, only the rubble from buildings, only skeletons, only dead bodies, only dust. There are no books, only the light of a dead sun, a bitter volcano giving off waves of the illusion of life. I forget how many times I have forgotten you. — Abigail George, Did You Get Married When I was in the Mental Hospital."
The background is entirely black, framed on the left and right by vertical patterned borders in gold, red, and green, giving it a rich, African-inspired ornamental feel. At the top center is a stylised logo reading “ZamaShort,” with the subtitle “Exclusive Original Single Short Stories” in smaller white text beneath it. In the middle of the poster large text reads: “2025 FANTASY ELIGIBILITY” and below that, “FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.” The lettering has a gradient of red, yellow, and green against the black background. Along the bottom are three triangular book-cover designs placed side by side, each pointing downward like banners: -On the left: “The Last and Final Battle” by Zainab Omaki. Book cover with bold white text and a gold emblem that resembles crossed blades or an axe. -In the center: “Sindi Fair” by Dare Segun Falowo. Boo cover with gold and orange tones. -On the right: “When Two Sorcerers Collide” by T.L. Huchu. Book cover with glowing blue energy and a carved pumpkin-like face near the bottom.
Book cover ZamaShort #11 ‘Gold-Plated Boy’ by Hussani Abdulrahim. A black background and bold gold title text reading “Gold-Plated Boy.” The letter “O” in “Boy” contains a raised gold hand symbol. Above the title is “ZamaShort” and “Excerpt” and below is the author’s name, Hussani Abdulrahim. The design features red, green, and gold African-inspired patterns forming a large inverted triangle, with a blue adinkra symbol centred near the bottom.
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Image of the author Abigail George.
“A brave, claustrophobic, and ultimately transcendent piece of literature. It is a “lullaby” for the broken and a manifesto for the power of the written word. Abigail George proves once again that for the marginalised and the “mad”, writing is not just a career—it is a holy act of reclamation.” — Henry Lombard, Echoes of my Soul.
Review of ZamaShort #12 ‘Did You get Married to Her when I was in the Mental Hospital?’ by Abigail George Text says: “Oh, God, what an amazing poetry this is! I love every single poem and every single word. Every poem walks you in a corridor that leads into the author’s subconscious spaces, revealing a shadowy world of bitterness, broken love and fragmented thoughts. With the influence of the author’s bipolar condition and a family plagued by cancer and lack of love and unity, Abigail is able to produce a narrative poetry that utilizes raw and deep-cutting images, fragmented stories and half-asleep-and-half-awake musings and reflections to weave a body of poetry that leaves the reader dazed, mouth-gaping and gasping for more.” — Dr. Christopher Okemwa, Senior Lecturer, Kisii University, Kenya
Image of the book ZamaShort #12 ‘Did You get Married to Her when I was in the Mental Hospital?’ by Abigail George and recommendation that says: “South African writer Abigail George discovers kinship with the griefs of the broader world while processing her life through streams of consciousness. Mental health and wellness become recurring themes in the work, rendered effectively through the raw, nonlinear prose poetry that echoes her thoughts.” — Cristina Deptula, Editor, Synchronised Chaos.
The image is a bold, decorative promotional graphic set against a black background with ornate, symmetrical patterns along the left and right borders in gold, red, and green. At the top center, large, colourful text reads: “ZamaShort BUNDLE 10–12” The letters are styled in a gradient of red, yellow, and green, giving a vibrant, Afrocentric feel. Below this title, there is a horizontal band featuring three triangular panels, each showcasing a different short story. The panels are arranged side by side like banners, with intricate gold patterns behind them. From left to right: Left panel Title: “Vibrating Particles” Author: Daniel Joe The text is elegant and stylised, with a red symbol beneath the title. Center panel Title: “Gold-Plated Boy” Author: Hussani Abdulrahim The title appears in bold gold lettering, standing out strongly against the dark background, with a blue symbol below. Right panel Title: “Did You Get Married to Her When I Was in the Mental Hospital?” Author: Abigail George The text is colorful and varied in style, with a green symbol beneath. Above the panels, a repeating strip includes the words “ZamaShort,” “Exclusive Original,” and “Single Short Stories,” reinforcing the branding.
The image features a celebratory design for International Women's Day. At the top, there is a logo that reads "ZamaShort" in a stylised font, with the tagline "Exclusive Original Single Short Stories" below it. In the centre of the image, bold white text reads "HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!" The text is surrounded by a pink symbol of the female gender (♀), which is slightly abstract in design. At the bottom of the image, there are four titles displayed in a row: "SUMMER" by Nerine Dorman "THE LAST AND FINAL BATTLE" by Zainab Omakri "THE SMELL OF RAIN" by Libby Young "THE OFFERING" by Tatha Wana Nwangi The background is predominantly black with a border of colorful patterns around the edges.
This is a promotional graphic for an ebook sale. The background is black with decorative gold floral borders running vertically along the left and right edges. At the top, the word “SALE” appears in white with a line through it. Below that, large white text reads: “Smashwords Sale All Titles 50% OFF!* Ends 7th March” In the center is a rectangular banner with a light gray background. At the top of this banner is the Smashwords logo and the phrase “your ebook. your way.” Large bold text in orange and white says: “READ AN EBOOK WEEK.” Below the text is an illustration of a person lying on their stomach while reading a tablet. The person has dark hair and is wearing an orange shirt, light-colored pants, and orange shoes. Small orange heart shapes float near the tablet, suggesting enjoyment. At the bottom of the image, in small white text, it says: “*Except latest release.”
Book cover ZamaShort #11 ‘Gold-Plated Boy’ by Hussani Abdulrahim. A black background and bold gold title text reading “Gold-Plated Boy.” The letter “O” in “Boy” contains a raised gold hand symbol. Above the title is “ZamaShort” and “Pre-Order,” and below is the author’s name, Hussani Abdulrahim. The design features red, green, and gold African-inspired patterns forming a large inverted triangle, with a blue adinkra symbol centred near the bottom.
Book cover ZamaShort #11 ‘Gold-Plated Boy’ by Hussani Abdulrahim. A black background and bold gold title text reading “Gold-Plated Boy.” The letter “O” in “Boy” contains a raised gold hand symbol. Above the title is “ZamaShort” and “Pre-Order,” and below is the author’s name, Hussani Abdulrahim. The design features red, green, and gold African-inspired patterns forming a large inverted triangle, with a blue adinkra symbol centred near the bottom.
A Valentine’s Day–themed graphic featuring a book cover centred over a large pink and red layered heart background. At the top, “Valentine’s Day” appears in light pink cursive. The book cover is mostly black with red, gold, and green decorative borders. The title, “Vibrating Particles,” is written in large pink script, with “Daniel Joe” below in bold pink letters. A red emblem sits near the bottom of the cover. Small glossy pink hearts appear in the lower left and right corners of the image.
Image of the author Daniel Joe.
Cover image of ZamaShort #10 'Vibrating Particles' by Daniel Joe
Cover image: ZamaShort #8 The Offertory by Tabitha Wanja Mwangi
Cover image: ZamaShort #10 ‘Vibrating Particles’ by Daniel Joe
Image of the author Bongani Sibanda for ZamaShort #9 ‘Everyone is a Robot until Proven Otherwise’.
ZamaShort #9 ‘Everyone is a Robot until Proven Otherwise’ by Bongani Sibanda
Cover image for ZamaShort #9 'Everyone is a Robot until Proven Otherwise' by Bongani Sibanda
Cover image of ZamaShort #7 'When Two Sorcerers Collide' by T.L Huchu
Image promoting our ZamaShort Subscriptions and Bundles Text reads: This giving season give the gift of imagination! Direct from ZamaShort. Subscriptions: Annual, Bi-annual, Annual Plus. Bundles: The ZamaShort Full Bundle 1-8, Bundle 1-3, Bundle 4-6. Payments available in your currency with a variety of payment options at a lower price than all other retail outlets.
ZamaShort #8 - Tabitha Wanja Mwangi - The Offertory - Photograph of author
Book cover ZamaShort #8 ‘The Offertory’ by Tabitha Wanja Mwangi
Cover of ZamaShort #8 ‘The Offertory’ by Tabitha Wanja Mwangi
Book cover ZamaShort #8 'The Offertory' by Tabitha Wanja Mwangi
Book Cover ZamaShort #7 'When Two Sorcerers Collide' by T.L. Huchu
Book Cover ZamaShort #6 'Sindi Fair' by Dare Segun Falowo
Book Cover ZamaShort #5 'The Smell of Rain' by Libby Young
Book cover ZamaShort #4 'The Clarity of Ice' by Carmelo Rafalà
Book Cover ZamaShort #3 'The Last and Final Battle' by Zainab Omaki
Book cover ZamaShort #2 'Summer' by Nerine Dorman
Book cover ZamaShort #1 'Piss Corpse' by Muthi Nhlema
Image of ZamaShort Book Covers 2025 for an eligibility post
Image of Fadzai Simango
Image of the book cover for ZamaShort #6 'Sindi Fair' by Dare Segun Falowo
Image of T.L Huchu author of ZamaShort #7 'When Two Sorcerers Collide'.
Cover image for ZamaShort #7 ‘When Two Sorcerers Collide’ by T.L. Huchu, text in green with Naletale Ruins texture, an evil Halloween pumpkin, and lightning framing text in blue and red.
Book Trailer: 🎃ZamaShort #7 ‘When Two Sorcerers Collide’ by T.L. Huchu (An Edinburgh Nights Prequel Story)🎃
Image of book cover: ZamaShort #7 ‘When Two Sorcerers Collide’ by T.L. Huchu (An Edinburgh Nights Prequel Story)
Image of Dare Segun Falowo
Cover image for ZamaShort #5 'The Smell of Rain' by Libby Young
Image showing the books in the ZamaShort Bunble: ZamaShort #1 'Piss Corpse' by Muthi Nhlema ZamaShort #2 ‘Summer’ by Nerine Dorman ZamaShort #3 'The Last and Final Battle' by Zainab Omaki ZamaShort #4 'The Clarity of Ice' by Carmelo Rafalà ZamaShort #5 ‘The Smell of Rain’ by Libby Young ZamaShort #6 'Sindi Fair' by Dare Segun Falowo
Cover image of ZamaShort #6 'Sindi Fair' by Dare Segun Falowo
Cover image of ZamaShort #6 'Sindi Fair' by Dare Segun Falowo
Book Cover for ZamaShort #4 'The Clarity of Ice' by Carmelo Rafalà
Image saying: The ZamaShort Shop: Publications, Subscriptions, Bundles and more! Direct from us to you.
Image of Libby Young the author of ZamaShort #5 'The Smell of Rain'
Book cover for ZamaShort #5 ‘The Smell of Rain’ by Libby Young.
Image of book cover.
Image of a text review by Elizabeth Suggs for ZamaShort#4 'The Clarity of Ice' by Carmelo Rafala, reads: "The Clarity of Ice is a tense, character-driven sci-fi about ambition, survival, and the cost of failure. Rafalà blends vivid biotech detail with raw emotional conflict between two flawed ex-lovers caught in catastrophe. At times heavy on technical jargon, but the personal stakes and haunting ending make it a sharp, memorable read."
Cover image for ZamaShort #5 ‘The Smell of Rain’ by Libby Young, showing the title in dry cracked earth with one small green shoot, and designs around.
ZamaShort Genre Icons Image: Adinkra Symbol: Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan Meaning: “Love does not lose its way home.” Those led by love always end up in the right place. Love, in its various shades and colours is a central theme in all relationships. The idea that one is certain to arrive at a desired end if their motives are pure is embedded in this phrase. (adinkrasymbols.org)
Image of the book cover for ZamaShort #2 'Summer' by Nerine Dorman.