Nejma
by Nayyirah Waheed
“nayyirah waheed is a messenger. nejma is her scroll. her words electric, jolting the Spirit to see it's self anew. in nejma, waheed reveals herself to be a rebel- unafraid of exploring the fullness of life, the dichotomy of being. the complexities of color and the forgetfulness of the colonized tongue. ever mindful of the state this world, nejma features a fitting homage to Baba Mandela and in one of the most memorable pieces, waheed symbolically 'leaves a light on' for each of our missing sisters missing in Nigeria.
i value her presence in the literary world. intentional. searing. provoking. honest. she says for us what our skin screams into the atmosphere. unheard but felt. unseen but seen. i digested nejma in bits. treating it like a delicacy. consuming it with care. with care. appetizing. nourishing. alive.
it is my recommendation that you permit yourself the pleasure of reading nayyirah waheed's nejma. she will captivate you and give to you the words your Spirit yearns to whisper into your ears. into your cells. start with 'emotional porn (the black image industry)'. weep. question. challenge. and give thanks.”
– goodreads