Multi-award-winning Cameroonian journalist, gender and disability rights advocate Comfort Mussa, fondly called Commy Mussa, has announced the publication of her maiden book, The Shape of Unbroken Things/Ce Qu’on Ne Brise Pas, next month.
Published by Cameroon-based literary and cultural platform Bakwa Books, the 86-page novella is a work of young adult fiction that captures the fragile intensity of adolescence as the author aims to expand an accessible approach to young adult African storytelling.
The bilingual publication will be available in braille and audio, extending reach to diverse readers. The story follows Iya, who rebuilds her identity after a life-altering amputation, and her friendship with Mambo, a girl with disabilities. It explores adolescence, friendship, and self-imagination through art and mutual recognition.
“The Shape of Unbroken Things is for readers who read with their eyes, ears, hands, and hearts, and stands as a testament as to why physical books still matter,” the publisher said in a statement.
The braille editions are produced in partnership with Coco Bertin and the Inclusive Vocational Training Institute, who are translating the novella into English and French braille, Bakwa Books said.
Described by scholars including Dr. Monique Kwachou as an amazing writer whose groundbreaking stories have touched the world, Commy Mussa, is the founder of SisterSpeak237, a platform amplifying underreported stories and advancing inclusion.
Founded in 2011 by Dzekashu MacViban, Bakwa Books champions experimental, multilingual African literature. It has published acclaimed writers including Mongo Beti, Hemley Boum, Nana Nkweti, and Bate Besong.
