In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak to the authors of two historical novels, both set in the 20th century. Fred Khumalo's "Dancing the Death Drill" deals with the South African ship the S.S. Mendi, which was sunk in the waters off of the UK, killing 618 black South African soliders. In "Harvest of Skulls", Abdourahman Waberi, a Djiboutian writer, goes to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide and writes his novel based on the stories of the people he meets.

Spanning nearly 60 years, and many different names, South African author Fred Khumalo tells the poignant story of Pitso, a young black South African soldier who encounters other South Africans of different cultures on the ship the S.S. Mendi. "Dancing the Death Drill", published by Umuzi, shows intra-community politics--and the cameraderie-- of the men on the doomed ship. Previously forgotten by history books, Khumalo's book ensures that South Africa's tragedy will not be forgotten.

 Hard questions are raised in Abdourahman Waberi's book, "Harvest of Skulls". Waberi, a Djiboutian writer, spent time in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide to try to understand what had happened and connect with people there. The book, published by Indiana University Press, is out for the first time in English.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at two award-winning writers - Somali author Nadifa Mohamed, and Leila Abulela, Sudanese novelist - who speak about the influences on their craft.

Life in Somalia becomes increasingly difficult before the start of the country's civil war. The lives of two women and a girl intertwine in the final days before chaos breaks out in The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed. Partially inspired by her own grandmother, Mohamed speaks to Stories in the 55 about her novel, current writing and reads an excerpt from her award-winning work:

Manoeuvering within British academia is something Natasha Wilson (née Hussein) struggles with while working on research about Imam Shamil, a 19th century Caucasian Muslim leader. But life becomes increasingly difficult when her favourite student is accused of jihadist tendencies. Showing Shamil's personal struggle with Russian imperialists in parallel to Khartoum-born Natasha's own identity crisis, novelist Leila Aboulela talks about her writing process in The Kindness of Enemies: a Novel. She also speaks about her own return to Khartoum and why her next novel is a Scottish-based fantasy:

It's Africa: Stories in the 55's first anniversary, and we are starting off the year with a look at  Bahati Books, a dynamic e-book publisher, and what they have to offer readers on the continent and beyond. We also welcome into our studios Republic of Congo author Wilfried N'Sondé, who tells us about his latest project, a historical novel.

Wilfried N'Sondé speaks to Stories in the 55 about how identity, or perceived identity, is at the core of his novel, The Heart of the Leopard Children, which has just been translated into English (Indiana University Press). Identity and race also factor into the book he is working on, that weaves Congo Brazzaville, the Catholic Church, and a wayward journey around the world.

We have the opportunity to speak with both co-founders of Bahati Books, Barbara Njau and Kudakwashe Kamupira, who reveal their new selections for 2017, as well as the future of e-books and African publishing, including African-based science fiction.

We want to hear from you! What are you reading? Is there a living African author you would like to see featured? What would you ask him or her? Send your comments and questions to: [email protected]

In this month's program, Africa: Stories in the 55 speaks to Ghanaian author Ayesha Harrunah Attah, author of Saturday's Shadows about creating tackling issues from infidelity to illness and learning how to read, set against a backdrop of a fictional West African dictatorship.