Multi-award-winning Cameroonian journalist and disability rights advocate Comfort Mussa is set to redefine inclusive publishing with the release of her debut novella, The Shape of Unbroken Things (Ce Qu’on Ne Brise Pas), a pioneering literary work designed to be accessible to readers of diverse abilities.
Scheduled for publication by Bakwa Books in August 2026, the young adult novella is being described as an unprecedented experiment in accessible publishing, combining literary storytelling with a strong commitment to inclusion. The 86-page work will be released simultaneously as a bilingual English-French tête-bêche edition, English and French Braille editions, an eBook, with an audiobook also in the pipeline.
Unlike conventional publications, the book has been conceived from the outset to ensure that readers can experience it regardless of how they access literature. The Braille editions are being produced in partnership with Coco Bertin and the Inclusive Vocational Training Institute, while the audiobook aims to extend its reach even further. According to the publishers, the project is intended for readers “who read with their eyes, ears, hands and hearts,” reflecting a vision of literature that leaves no one behind.
The novella tells the story of Iya, a young girl struggling to rebuild her identity after a life-changing amputation. At a new school, she faces prejudice, loneliness and the emotional upheaval of adolescence. Her friendship with Mambo, whose mother lives with hearing and speech disabilities, gradually becomes a source of healing and resilience. Through friendship, creativity and mutual understanding, the two girls challenge stereotypes and discover new ways of defining themselves.
The themes explored in the story closely mirror Comfort Mussa’s longstanding advocacy for inclusion and equal representation. Beyond her journalism career, she has earned recognition as a prominent campaigner for gender equality and the rights of persons living with disabilities. She is also the founder of SisterSpeak237, a platform dedicated to amplifying underreported stories and promoting inclusion in Cameroon.
The publication marks Mussa’s first venture into fiction, making it both a literary debut and a continuation of her advocacy through storytelling. By centring disability, identity and belonging in a format intentionally accessible to diverse audiences, the novella seeks to challenge traditional notions of who books are written for and who gets to enjoy them.
The book will be published by Bakwa Books, the literary imprint of Cameroon-based cultural platform Bakwa, founded by Dzekashu MacViban in 2011. Known for championing multilingual publishing, experimental writing and African literary voices, the publisher says the project represents a significant step towards making literature more inclusive and accessible for all readers.
