8 stories
Eastleigh Hawala Operator
She moves money through Eastleigh—a thick ebony widow connecting diaspora to home. When he comes understanding remittance flows, she offers access. Some access is off the books.
Nairobi Eastleigh Shop
She runs a shop in Eastleigh, Nairobi's Little Mogadishu—a thick ebony widow who sells everything Somalis need. When he passes through on business, she offers hospitality. Some business becomes pleasure.
Nairobi Matatu Owner
She owns a fleet of matatus serving Eastleigh—a thick ebony widow who moves Somalis through Nairobi. When he comes studying urban transport, she offers a ride. Some rides are very personal.
Nairobi Refugee Lawyer
She defends refugees in Kenyan courts—a thick ebony widow who fights for the voiceless. When he comes documenting asylum cases, she offers access. Some access is deeply personal.
The Debt Collector
His uncle owes him two million shillings. The family has no money—but they have women willing to pay in other ways.
The Nairobi Connection
Nairobi has a large Somali population in Eastleigh. When he visits for business, his thick Somali-Kenyan translator shows him around. She knows all the hidden spots—and she shows him the most hidden spot of all: her apartment after dark.
Chai na Maandazi
His Kenyan mother-in-law disapproves of him—until she discovers why her daughter married a man half her size. Some appetites are inherited.
Delayed Connections
Their flight to Nairobi is delayed twelve hours. She's visiting family. He's heading to a wedding. They share a charging station, then dinner, then a hotel room. Somewhere over the Atlantic, they realize they don't want to land alone.