Through The Shape of Unbroken Things / Ce qu’on ne brise pas, the award-winning Cameroonian journalist and disability rights advocate explores adolescence, exclusion and the transformative power of art, in a bilingual publication designed to make literature accessible to more readers.
The National Museum of Cameroon will host the launch of The Shape of Unbroken Things / Ce qu’on ne brise pas, the debut novella by Comfort Mussa, widely known as Commy Mussa, on Friday, October 23, 2026. Published by Bakwa Books, the work brings together a compelling coming-of-age narrative and a strong commitment to disability inclusion, offering readers an intimate exploration of identity, friendship and resilience.
At the heart of the story are Iya and Mambo, two young girls whose experiences reveal the emotional challenges of growing up in a society shaped by prejudice and social expectations. Following a life-altering amputation, Iya struggles to rebuild her sense of self as she faces cruelty and isolation in her new school environment. Her encounter with Mambo, whose life is deeply influenced by her mother’s hearing and speech disabilities, gradually develops into a relationship founded on mutual understanding and recognition.
Through their evolving friendship, the two protagonists confront the pressures surrounding their identities and discover new possibilities for self-expression. School cliques, social exclusion and the politics of disability form an important part of the narrative, while humour and moments of vulnerability bring depth to their experiences. Rather than reducing the characters to their difficulties, Commy Mussa explores how solidarity and artistic expression can help young people reclaim their voices and imagine different futures.
Beyond its literary ambitions, the publication distinguishes itself through its inclusive production approach. Bakwa Books presents the novella in a bilingual English–French tête-bêche edition, allowing readers to begin with either language. The English version, The Shape of Unbroken Things, and its French counterpart, Ce qu’on ne brise pas, translated by Marie-Hélène Ngoah, are also available in English and French braille editions. An electronic version further broadens access, while an audiobook is forthcoming. These formats reflect a deliberate effort to ensure that disability does not become a barrier to literary discovery.
A multi-award-winning Cameroonian journalist, gender and disability rights advocate, and matron of CASD, Comfort Mussa brings her commitment to inclusion into a work that speaks to young readers and the wider public. The novella invites a deeper reflection on the ways communities respond to physical differences, disability and the search for belonging. Available in paperback and hardcover formats through online sales channels, copies are advertised at 8,000 CFA francs each.
The Yaoundé launch offers an opportunity to discover a story that places human dignity, empathy and representation at the centre of contemporary literature. Scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at the National Museum of Cameroon, the event will introduce audiences to a work whose message extends beyond the printed page: even in the face of exclusion, friendship and creativity can open new paths towards self-acceptance and collective understanding.