Ngamije Launches Second Book, a Literary Mixtape

Remy Ngamije is the literary gift that keeps on giving.

The winner of the Africa Regional Prize of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and the founder of Doek! Literary Magazine, Ngamije follows the success of ‘The Eternal Audience of One’ (2019), his debut novel, with ‘Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space: A Literary Mixtape’ (2024).

At Ngamije’s recent book launch, the author is in conversation with writer Roxane Bayer. Windhoek, the city Ngamije calls home and which springs to life on his pages, is on the brink of winter but friends, family, aspiring authors and fans settle in despite the chill.

Windhoek Book Den, a beloved independent book shop, sells ‘Only Stars’ towards Goethe-Institut Namibia’s courtyard entrance and their pile shrinks steadily throughout the evening.

After a moment to buy books and drink a complimentary glass of wine, Ngamije takes the stage in a crisp cream tunic and sneakers, attire reflective of his dual Rwandan and Namibian identity and the hip-hop reference of his title.

Published by Gallery/Scout Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, ‘Only Stars’ is experimental in its form.

“When I conceived ‘Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space’, I wanted something that reminded me of those mixed CDs and those mixed cassettes that we used to make back in the day that had an A side and B side,” says Ngamije.

“So, I wrote a collection of short stories that is presented as a literary mixtape, because you can read it A side only or B side. You can read it ABAB or BABA. You can read it back to front or front to back and, depending on where you start, you’re gonna wind up at a different narrative ending.”

Motivated by the idea of creating a group of stories which when first read were seemingly independent of each other, Ngamije says his literary mixtape’s stories are connected in very strange ways.

“Depending on which one you read first or last, whether you read back to front or front to back, you’re gonna wind up at a different emotional point. I didn’t want to write something that had been written already before,” he says.

“I also didn’t want to write something that would be lumped in the category of ‘oh, that’s just African fiction’. Although I do work in that tradition, we know the negative connotations associated with it.”

Aiming for surprise and a unique reader experience, Ngamije’s literary ambitions are simple.

“I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and I got the opportunity to be a published novelist and writer. But I wanted to be a f*cking good writer,” he says.

“I wanted to produce the kind of work that would make people actually take writing from the continent seriously; that would leave you surprised by not only the voices and themes being explored, but by the style.”

Praise for ‘Only Stars’ is effusive and highlights the fact that Ngamije is living his dream.

Feted in The Guardian, LA Times, Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, ‘Only Stars’ lands in Namibia after earning critical acclaim across the globe.

In Windhoek, the audience hangs on Ngamije’s every word.

The conversation flows with ease as the author expands on the challenges of being an African writer, the folly of waiting for an audience, navigating negative reviews, the art of the short story title and the thrill of successfully incorporating humour, dark as it may be.

Presenting a mix of writing advice, life lessons and anecdotes from his own experience as a child, as a millennial and as a rising literary star, Ngamije brings his second book home with warmth, sincerity and just the right note of swagger.

“I write so I can read about my work and be like: Damn, flex!” he quips in response to an audience question about his target market.

“A writer’s first reader is themselves, that’s the strangest thing,” he says.

“So, if you can entertain yourself just a little bit, make yourself laugh a little bit or make yourself think a little bit, there’s a chance it might play out in a larger demographic.”

With ‘Only Stars’ having recently reached local shelves, Ngamije’s reading of his acknowledgements, ‘Crunchy Green Apples (Or, Omo)’ and ‘From the Lost City of Hurtlantis to the Streets of Helldorado (Or, Franco)’ are reason enough to buy a copy.

Well, that and the last story I hear before ducking out a tad early.

An esteemed international critic reviewed ‘Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space’ early this year.

“He wrote a wonderful review about my book. Us in the industry love this guy because he’s just so generous with the way he reviews things.

“He finds out who you are, where you’re from, what you write, why you write, those kinds of things,” says Ngamije.

“I didn’t know he was writing this review, but it was so dope. A week after writing it, he passed,” he says.

“His wife reached out to me via email and said: You wrote the last thing that made him laugh.”

‘Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space’ is now available at Windhoek Book Den.

To read more from Rémy Ngamije, visit remythequill.com

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