Series Zero Directory

Writing to, and for, our ancestors.

Image: shooting star in purple galaxy.

Salaam Alaikum,

Since our launch, The Drinking Gourd team has been thrilled by the outpouring of love and support that we have received. While TDG is a literary magazine, it is also a community space, and our being digital does not erase that. We are forever thankful for our community.

We decided to put together a Series Zero to release throughout our launch to show what Black Muslim writers are capable of. For this inaugural series, we chose to focus on the theme of ancestors.

Through poetry, fiction, and essays, seven Black Muslims wrote to, and for, their ancestors. They reimagined ancient structures, explored our impending status as somebody’s ancestor, and wrestled with what makes an identity. Here, we have collected their work.

We hope that you enjoy Series Zero and support our writers to come.

Best,

The Drinking Gourd

Poetry

Reimagining, Timbuktu

Sadiyah Bashir

Image: four vintage books stacked together.

soco / go on

Sundus ‘sun’ Sheikh Hussein

Image: city view taken from moving car.

Essays

To Mother a Library

Muna Mohamed

Image: books on library shelf. Photo by Jamie Taylor on Unsplash

Who Gets To Be An Ancestor In A World Failing To Adapt To Climate Change?

Nasibah Elmi

Image: plastic bottles in mud. Photo by Julia Joppien on Unsplash

The Fabric Of Our Identity

Nasteho Ali

Image: the Quran. Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash

Fiction

Room 134

Zeena Mubarak

Image: Three Wise Monkeys

The Salt Of My Womb Water

Nima Hussein

Image: blood moon. Photo by Stephan Herb on Unsplash.