Nigerian Anthology ”Feel Good” Celebrates Queer Joy

Independent creator collective wuruwuru, has proudly presented their first anthology of short stories, Feel Good. Written by eight of Nigeria’s most gifted queer storytellers: Edwin Okolo, Innocent Ilo, Ani Kayode, OluTimehin Kukoyi, Adeniyi Ademoroti, Olakunle Ologunro, Mariam Sule-Izuagbe, and Fareeda Abdulkareem.

Produced by Daniel Orubo and Opemipo Aikomo, Feel Good was born out of the desire to see more joyful representations of the queer experience in Nigerian media.  Designed by Studio Null, wuruwuru sought to tell stories where queer protagonists found love, community and healing.

Regarding the project which has just concluded its month long roll out in November, Opemipo Aikomo, the founder of wuruwuru and co-producer of Feel Good, said, “Daniel [Orubo] did a great job directing Hanky Panky, our first animated short, and when we were done, I wanted to help bring one of his ideas to life as well. We agreed to make a book together, and Feel Good was born.”

When asked why this was the story he wanted to tell, Daniel Orubo, the producer and editor-in-chief of Feel Good, offered that “I consume a lot of queer content across various mediums, and what I realized is that queer characters rarely get their happily ever after. I wanted to do my own small part to offset all that sadness and trauma.”

The reactions to the project have been unanimously positive, with literary enthusiasts taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their love for Feel Good as a whole, as well as the individual stories that have resonated with them. Olakunle Ologunro’s The Mathematics of Hooking Up, in particular, has quickly become a fan favorite.

All eight stories explore the nuances of queerness through a Nigerian lens, imbuing each narrative with an air of hopefulness. Feel Good is available to read for free here.

“Every Feel Good story has left me feeling really good.” — Ibukun Fola-Bolumole on Mariam Sule-Izuagbe’s Wake Me Up When Love Is Enough