Pemi Aguda’s Ghostroots is a striking collection of twelve short stories blending supernatural elements with everyday life in Lagos, Nigeria. The book explores themes of motherhood, ancestry, and the unseen forces that shape human experiences. Each story carries an eerie, almost folkloric quality, making the boundaries between the real and the mystical feel fluid.
In one tale, a woman’s mother begins calling her by her late grandmother’s name, triggering unsettling changes in her identity. Another follows an architect who becomes trapped in a grief-ridden house, illustrating how spaces can hold both history and sorrow. A third story examines a traditional savings group that turns sinister when one member disrupts its delicate balance.
Aguda’s writing is atmospheric and deeply immersive, capturing the vibrancy and complexity of Lagos. Ghostroots has received critical acclaim and was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction.
Art director Sarahmay Wilkinson collaborated with art researcher Eve Sanoussi, artist Day Briere and editor Nneoma Amadi-Obi to capture the haunting and mesmerizing tone of the book for the cover. The packed and distorted type, alongside Briere's ethereal and deeply rooted illustration style, makes this a bold introduction to Aguda’s storytelling.