"Manifest" follows a young woman in Lagos whose mother mysteriously starts calling her "Agnes," her deceased grandmother’s name. Initially confused, the protagonist dismisses this as an oddity, but the name-calling escalates. The protagonist's journey becomes progressively eerie as she begins to experience strange physical changes, like a persistent pimple that refuses to disappear and then reappears in new spots. Simultaneously, her behavior becomes erratic. This haunting identification places strain on her relationships with her mother, friends, and even herself. The more her mother insists she resembles her deceased grandmother, the more the protagonist begins to question her own identity.
In "Breastmilk," the protagonist has just given birth to a son, Fi, but struggles with producing breastmilk, which leads her to rely on formula. This inability becomes a source of deep shame, exacerbating her emotional turmoil over her husband Timi’s infidelity during the pregnancy. Although she has verbally forgiven him, she questions the authenticity of her forgiveness and feels haunted by her passive reaction to the betrayal. She also wrestles with feelings of inadequacy as a mother unable to nurse her child and live up to the independent example set by her mother. Her sense of guilt becomes physical when Fi is diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux and the doctor suggests that breastmilk would be ideal. This triggers a visceral pain in her breasts, which she interprets as a manifestation of her emotional guilt.
"Contributions" centers on a group of women who participate in a rotating savings scheme known as Esusu. Each month, a different member collects the total contributions, and the process repeats until everyone has had a turn. This system works smoothly until a new woman joins the group and begins to default on her payments. When the new member struggles to make her contribution, the group starts seizing her possessions—first her husband, and then her elderly mother. However, neither proves useful to the group. As the woman continues to default, she offers drastic parts of herself, beginning with her arms. Her arms prove useful for household tasks, helping the women with their chores. But when she still fails to contribute, she offers her legs, torso, and finally her head.
"The Hollow" centers on Arit, a young architect who arrives at a decaying house for a work assignment. The house belongs to Madam Oni who hired Arit’s firm for renovations. However, as Arit explores the house, strange occurrences unfold. As Arit surveys and measures the house, she becomes drawn into the oppressive atmosphere. The house seems to trap and twist her sense of time and space. Madam Oni herself carries the weight of personal grief from the loss of her son while the house seems to react to her despair.
"Imagine Me Carrying You" explores the relationship between the protagonist and her emotionally distant mother. The protagonist reflects on an accident her mother was involved in during her youth, where her mother hit and killed a girl with her car. Despite having paid restitution to the girl’s family, the guilt of the incident haunts the mother and the protagonist.
"24, Alhaji Williams Street" is set in a close-knit Lagos community where a mysterious fever begins claiming the lives of young boys. The protagonist, a young boy living on Alhaji Williams Street, narrates how the fever first takes the son of the wealthy Ms. Williams. As more boys fall victim to the illness, the protagonist's fear grows.
"Things Boys Do" examines childhood cruelty and the haunting consequences of past actions. It follows three men who bullied a classmate named Adebayo John. As boys, they locked him in a tiny locker despite his desperate pleas, an act that eventually led to his death from an asthma attack. Now, as fathers themselves, the men are haunted by their memories of the event and the fear that their sons may inherit their capacity for cruelty.
"Birdwoman" centers on Felicity who has lived her entire life weighed down by unhappiness and resentment. After enduring years of hardship and personal discontent, Felicity one day undergoes a bizarre transformation—she becomes a bird. This newfound freedom provides her with a fleeting escape from her inner misery. However, her joy is short-lived when she crashes into a high-rise building and reverts to her human form. The people around her view her as a witch and stone her. As Felicity succumbs to the rising pain, she once again feels herself soaring spiritually.
The protagonist of "Girlie" is a young housemaid sent away by her mother to work for a wealthy family. Despite the physical and emotional toll of her work, she finds small comforts in her routine and her relationship with the baby she takes care of. However, her life takes a dark turn when Iya Tomato, a market seller, abducts her. Iya Tomato offers to teach her the "secrets of the ground," introducing her to strange rituals. The protagonist wrestles with her longing for her mother and her new dependence on Iya Tomato, who seems to fill a maternal role despite her sinister undertones.
In "The Wonders of the World," Abisola goes on a geography field trip with her class. The trip allows her to escape the daily struggles of her home life, such as the shame of poverty and her mother's hardship. On the bus, she sits next to Zeme, a strange and socially isolated new boy who claims to have prophetic abilities. Their conversation is awkward, but it provides a brief connection in a world that alienates them.
"The Dusk Market" is set in a bustling night market in Lagos. The protagonist, Salewa, experiences a moment of heightened perception as she approaches the market after a long day of selling ogogoro (locally fermented spirits). As Salewa navigates this magical market, she feels a deep sense of belonging. However, as she tries to hold onto this magical experience, it begins to fade, and Salewa is left wondering if it was ever real.
"Masquerade Season" follows a young boy named Pauly who prefers taking shortcuts through less busy paths when walking home from his cousins' house. One day, while navigating through a bush path, he unexpectedly encounters three masquerades. Initially cautious, he learns they claim to be his masquerades, and he excitedly decides to take them home. As they follow him, the masquerades begin to dance, enchanting Pauly with their movements. However, as the story unfolds, the masquerades appear to fade. Pauly's excitement transforms into a sense of loss as he realizes their vibrant existence is tied to his imagination and innocence.
