In ‘Confessions’, Chibuike navigates a life of hidden desperation, working in a brothel to support his struggling family. His mother, burdened by poverty and an abusive, unemployed husband, remains oblivious to his secret. Meanwhile, his sister Adannaya dies from a botched abortion, deepening the family’s grief.
When his parents and boyfriend, Cletus, unexpectedly discover his double life, Chibuike is forced to confront his shame and the societal forces that drove him to this point.
The story critiques systemic failures — economic collapse, gender expectations, and moral hypocrisy — that trap individuals in cycles of survival. Chibuike’s internal conflict mirrors Nigeria’s broader struggles, where survival often demands painful compromises.
The narrative’s significance lies in its raw portrayal of resilience and the human cost of societal neglect, challenging readers to empathise with those pushed to society’s margins. Ultimately, it questions who bears the blame — the individual or the broken system that shapes their choices.
What does it mean to be published in the maiden edition of Naira Stories? Honestly, aside from the giddiness of being the first set of contributors, I think I feel a sense of renewal to keep pushing through.
Naira Stories gives me the virtuoso that the writing community, especially literary magazines, will continue to be the backbone of any writer out there. Thus, being published in the magazine means carrying and dragging them along with me. They are now part of me and my journey.
Ikechukwu Henry Chinedu (he/him) is an Igbo writer from Nigeria who loves writing that experiments with styles. Every day, when he writes, he searches for an answer, pouring his frustrations into the stories he creates — stories that advocate for men’s mental health, fighting against the stigma that clings to their struggles. He writes, not just to ease his own burdens, but to keep afloat in a world that threatens to drag him under. His works have appeared or are forthcoming in Erato Magazine, Lampblack Magazine, Saving The Daylight, Words-empire Magazine, Kahalari Review, The Candid Review, and others. He tweets @Ikechukwuhenry_, and his works could be found here: https://taplink.cc/ikechukwuhenry.
