Str8 Up Queer African, by the trans Tanzanian-American author Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, is a poignant exploration of the queer Black African experience, told with unguarded emotion and an unyielding tenderness. Mwaluko weaves a powerful narrative through essays, stories, and poems that confront the harsh realities of trauma, transitioning, and societal exclusion, yet triumphs in capturing the immense creativity and resilience of those living at the crossroads of multiple marginalized identities. This collection resonates as a testament to the human struggle and the relentless pursuit of self-love and liberation, offering readers a profound opportunity to engage with stories of pain transfigured into power and identity celebrated in its most authentic form