Nigerian writer Hussani Abdulrahim, who was shortlisted for the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, has had his forthcoming short-story collection, The Beginning of Light, acquired by Masobe Books. Abdulrahim was one of 25 writers selected for this year’s Commonwealth shortlist from 7,806 entries across 54 Commonwealth countries, with his story “Arewa Girls” among the shortlisted works. Masobe Books has announced that The Beginning of Light will be published on April 16, 2027.

The collection comprises twelve stories that move between the real and the imagined, exploring love, violence, grief, memory, identity and faith. Masobe describes the book as moving between “the living and the dead, the intimate and the extraordinary,” with stories including “A Little Boy’s Dream,” “Agbani Darego,” “Mọ́remí’s Eyes” and “Makabarta.” The collection also ventures into speculative territory: in “Mọ́remí’s Eyes,” science, Yoruba mythology and an ancient legend converge around a mysterious experiment, while “Makabarta” imagines a world where the dead continue to live, love and carry unfinished business.

Abdulrahim holds a degree in Pure Chemistry from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and has previously won the Writivism Prize, Toyin Falola Prize and WRRs Green Author Prize. His work has appeared in Boston Review, Evergreen Review, Ubwali Lit Mag, ZamaShort and The Flame Tree Writers Workshop Anthology. He was also shortlisted for the 2026 Bristol Short Story Prize and the Masters Review 2026 Winter Short Story Award for New Writers, alongside his earlier recognition by the ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Based in Kano, Abdulrahim is currently working on a novel. The Beginning of Light will be published in paperback by Masobe Books.

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