Diriye Osman

Mar 9, 2023 | opencountrymag.com | Leila Aboulela |Tsitsi Dangarembga |Chibundu Onuzo |Diriye Osman

The vegetation thickens and rising out of the shadows is a Shilluk warrior. Spear in hand, muscular torso above his loincloth, the physique of a wrestler. She stiffens, drops the bit of sugarcane. Fight or run, fight or run? ... When she runs, she feels the amulets she is wearing bounce against her chest and biceps, sacred words in tiny leather pouches, the red tassels that tie them fluttering against her skin. The newest amulet was given to her by the Mahdi himself. ...