Kivuli & Nuru: Audio Anthology Celebrates African LGBTQ+ Desire

HOLAAfrica – the inclusive sex-positive hub – has just turned up the heat on the African queer erotica scene with its latest project, Kivuli & Nuru: The Afrodisiacs Collection.

Launched by the dynamic sex-positive duo Tiffany Kagure Mugo and Siphumeze Khundayi, this collection is a bold, audio-driven celebration of LGBTQ+ intimacy on the continent.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms, the albums take listeners on a journey through the shadows and light of African desire.

“Kivuli and Nuru, meaning ‘shadow’ and ‘light’ in Kiswahili, are all about exploring the different ways we love and lust, both in secret and in the open,” Mugo told MambaOnline. “The collection features stories from Lagos to Nairobi, Cape Town to Cairo, capturing everything from tales of immortality to midday trysts and dance floor gyrations.”

The anthology boasts an impressive line-up of contributors, including Mercy Thokozane Minah, acclaimed writer Mia Arderne, prize-winning author Jarred Thompson, and Nigerian author Kobby Ben Ben. It even features a cameo by Mpho Tutu van Furth, daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Each piece is performed in the author’s own voice wherever possible, creating an intimate, immersive experience that feels like a lover whispering in your ear.

Speaking to MambaOnline, Mugo explained the importance of the audio format: “The absolutely lovely thing about an audio offering is that you get to immerse yourself in the experience while we do all the work. There’s something so sexy about having erotica read to you—it’s like a lover’s whisper, right in your ear.”

The collection is split into two albums: Kivuli, which delves into the hidden, often unspoken longings that linger in the shadows, and Nuru, which celebrates the lighter, brighter side of desire. “In Kivuli, we find stories of longing, want, and sometimes sensual despair,” Mugo told MambaOnline.

“There’s so much human longing that lurks where the light cannot—or will not—touch.” One standout story from Kivuli is Birds Fly in Pairs, which Mugo describes as “a tale at the nexus of love, tradition, religion, and family—core principles of contemporary African identity. It’s about the ache of love that cannot fully bloom.”

In contrast, Nuru invites listeners to bask in the joy of fulfilled fantasies, crushes accomplished, and dreams come true. “It’s about bringing those desires into the light,” Mugo shared.

Khundayi told MambaOnline that the collection’s diverse voices were sourced through HOLAAfrica’s extensive network built over years of sex-positive workshops across the continent. “We wanted to make sure every region was represented when it came to the actual reading,” she said. “One of the challenges was getting people to record their stories safely, but we pushed through because these voices matter. These stories are sensual, hot, intimate, and gorgeous.”

The project also challenges the way queer intimacy has historically been weaponised. “Queer sex has been painted as dark and degenerate,” Mugo explained. “Because so little is known about queer sex outside of porn, it can be shaped into whatever narrative those who weaponise it want. But queer sex is as intimate, messy, beautiful, confusing, hot, and magical as heterosexual sex—it’s no different. By taking back the narrative, queer people can no longer have their intimacy weaponised against them.”

Mugo sees Kivuli & Nuru as a vital step towards destigmatising African LGBTQ+ sexuality: “The breadth of the queer experience is the breadth of human experience,” she said. “We’ve all had a crush on a neighbour, a one-night stand, or a lingering memory of an intense encounter. This collection is about showing that we’ve loved, lost, and lived just like anyone else—right here on this magical, powerful, problematic continent of ours.”

Including figures like Mpho Tutu van Furth is also part of challenging the status quo. “Celebrity helps legitimise queer identities,” Mugo told MambaOnline. “Just like when people realised Brenda Fassie was a lesbian—suddenly queerness was real. Visibility is currency, and having heavy hitters on board doesn’t hurt.”

HOLAAfrica isn’t stopping here. Their upcoming documentary, Mxsterminds: An African Agenda, explores the lives of queer Africans across professions, from pilots and doctors to DJs and authors. “We’re committed to telling queer stories in fun, funky, and powerful ways,” Mugo said. “Sex positivity will always be at the heart of our work.”

Kivuli & Nuru: The Afrodisiacs Collection is now available wherever you get your audio pleasure. Tune in for a sensual, thought-provoking journey through the shadows and the light of African LGBTQ+ desire.