The House of Akwusianubaogu
Innocent Ilo, on writing their story for Feel Good
What inspired your story?
The inspiration behind "The House of Akwusianubaogu" is the true story of "Area Scatter", an Igbo trans woman who emerged after the civil war. I took a particular interest in her life after reading Emeka Nwankwo's essay on Adda. I wanted to explore what queerness must have felt like before my generation.
How did you approach developing your story's main character?
I approached my main character with so much glitz and glamour to really match the energy she exuded when she was in the public eye.
What's your favorite moment from the story and why?
The last scene which portrayed the joy of community and safe spaces and shedding our false skin.
What challenges did you face while writing this story?
Finding the balance between queer joy and queer reality, through the lens of a Nigerian.
What do you hope readers take away from this story?
I am not particularly in the business of prescribing what readers should take away, but what I wanted to portray was fearlessness, living on your own terms, and the fabulous woman at the centre of it all.
Innocent Chizaram Ilo is Igbo. They write from a place of wonder and liminality. Inno's works have been published across five continents and have won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (African Region) and Nommos Best African Speculative Short Story.
Innocent's story
See all Authors
Share Feel Good with your friends
loading, please wait