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meet the blogger
Hi! I’m Joy, a Louisiana-born, Nigerian-American writer who’s obsessed with literature, research, and the untold histories of Africa and the Black diaspora. The Braid Blog is where I weave it all together: memory, literature, culture, and the quiet power in our everyday lives. Think of this space as part archive, part altar–always an offering.
I’d love to connect! Feel free to visit my socials below or send me an email xo.
Category: Fiction
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In Sweet Heat (2025), Bolu Babalola delivers romance with depth–intimate, messy, and impossible to ignore. Kiki Banjo thought she outran her past, but one reunion cracks everything open: love, pride, ambition, and the life she’s been carefully constructing. Consider this your invitation to read this spicy title responsibly.
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Let’s rewind to the Muses—five sisters who sang Hercules into legend and now rise again in Farrah Rochon’s Bemused. This Greek mythology retelling fuses Disney nostalgia, Black girl magic, and divine sisterhood, reminding us that unity isn’t weakness. It’s the truest form of power.
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What if Princess Tiana’s dream came true—but at a devastating cost? Farrah Rochon’s Almost There: A Twisted Tale reimagines the story of Disney’s only Black princess, navigating magic, grief, and resilience through the misty streets of New Orleans. Step into this haunting retelling where Tiana’s choices blur the line between dreams and darkness.
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Ancestral grounds. Forbidden secrets. A family searching for home steps into a nightmare in Nyasha Hatendi’s Sacrilege. But what if the true curse isn’t folklore—it’s colonial erasure? Horror and history collide in this chilling tale of identity, belonging, and the price of miseducation.
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Foluso Agbaje, a British-Nigerian author, explores themes of culture, identity, and feminism in her debut novel, The Parlour Wife. Set in 1940s Lagos, the story follows Kehinde, a young woman facing societal challenges amid World War II. Through her journey, themes of resistance and the complexity of womanhood emerge, emphasizing empowerment and choice.
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Read, Rinse, Repeat is a new book review series sharing insightful critiques of compelling reads. The first review focuses on Damilare Kuku’s debut collection, Nearly All The Men in Lagos Are Mad, which humorously explores women’s dating experiences through relatable narratives. It’s a recommended read for those seeking engaging, romantic stories.
