Tag: publication

The Heroine Kokofe

By Ife J. Ibitayo

My short story “The Heroine Kokofe” has been published and narrated in the 833 episode of Escape Pod! This is my first professional publication, and I especially enjoyed writing this story because it sits at the intersection of my two passions–faith and fiction:

Escape Pod 833: The Heroine Kokofe

Story Excerpt

Muhamolu clapped his hands together and said, “We have gathered here today for the Agba of Kokofe Lalarun. If she defeats her demon, she will be a full adult in our community when she returns. If she does not, she will be an outcast forever. It only remains for God’s Ori to provide her target. God’s will be done.

“Ori,” Muhamolu boomed, his voice echoing across the village square, “tell us your will!”

A faint, humanoid emanation appeared in front of the Kwanza’s head. It was the buggy remnants of the spacecraft’s AI, to Kokofe at least. But the villagers bowed as reverently to it as God Himself. Kokofe also sank to her knees. Of all days, today she’d need as many allies as she could get.

“For whom?” Ori said, in a deep, resonant voice. As it flickered in and out, it locked eyes on Muhamolu. The chief fixed his gaze on the dirt in somber respect.

Baba gently pushed Kokofe forward and whispered, “Say your name.”

Kokofe cleared her voice and said with as much confidence as she could muster, “Moyororokokofe Lalarun!”

“Processing,” Ori said, and it vanished for a minute. Kokofe had always wondered what it did when it disappeared. The strange cross-referencing associations it made between the colonists’ names and the colony’s animals was still very much beyond her. It returned and said, “Akata.” A hologram of a humongous hairless canine with savage fangs and the Devil’s eyes glared down at them.

An old woman shrieked, and someone muttered in their native tongue of Yoruhili, “The accursed have no luck.”

“God’s Ori has spoken!” Muhamolu boomed, but there was a quaver in his voice. “His will be done.”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Yrq3w1BkSmmaGZ9geXfk5?si=9aa812a50d5b4ee6

Untraditional

By Ife J. Ibitayo

My short story “Untraditional” has been published in issue #81 of Andromeda Spaceways Magazine. This is my first accepted publication. This is a story about identity and in some ways deals with how I’ve struggled with my own:

ASM #81

Story Excerpt

“Just play whatever,” C. Lynxis said. T. Kes plugged his ears with his fingers and winked. Michael plucked a few random notes. Then, a song his mother used to play came to him. It had been years since he had heard that song, but the notes came easily. As he began to pluck the lullaby, his blue wing began to twitch, producing a beautiful accompaniment. He almost stopped playing in surprise, but he managed to keep on going. The song took him back to the days when his mother used to hold him, cradling him in her arms, looking down in his face and cooing.

The memory was sweet, and he didn’t want it to end. But, after a few more minutes, he reached the dying note. He opened his eyes, not even realizing he had closed them. He wiped away the wetness from his cheeks.

C. Lynxis looked at T. Kes, who looked back at her, and they both looked back at Michael. The silence stretched for at least a minute or two before T. Kes said, “That was okay” just as C. Lynxis said, “You were amazing.” C. Lynxis glared at T. Kes and said, “I think what he meant to say was that was beautiful.”

He glared back at C. Lynxis and said, “I know what I said, and I meant it,” T. Kes got up and stomped into his bedroom, slamming the door.

Michael stared at his palms, not sure what to think. He felt a soft presence on his shoulders, warm and soothing. He looked up and saw C. Lynxis’ purple wings. She was smiling down at him, sadness in her eyes. “He’s been through a lot. He’ll come around.” She also went into the bedroom and closed the door.