Nigerian roots. British life.

Inspired by life.
Reshaped by memory.
Liberated by fiction.

Books and Stories by Mmayen Assam. Pull up a chair; the kettle’s on.

Discover the books Meet Mmayen

Mbōk = stories. Mbók = please.

A cup of tea with a white flower floating in it, on a woven coaster beside an open book and a sprig of eucalyptus — Plenty of gist.Follow on Instagram for a new story every Friday – Mbōk Fridays

The collection · Growing, one story at a time

The books.

The debut book is coming soon. There’s room on the shelf for what comes next.

Mbōk Stories: Debut Book

Working title · final title and cover to be confirmed

Nine stories. Several possible lives. Plenty to talk about.

From Nigeria to Britain, these nine standalone stories explore belonging, ambition, relationships and the gap between the life we imagined and the one we find ourselves living.

Meet several possible Uyis, each at the centre of her own story. Their experiences are sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable and occasionally all too familiar.

Inspired by truth, reshaped by memory and liberated by fiction, Mbōk Stories: Debut Book finds humour and heart in the things we carry between cultures, and the everyday moments we cannot wait to tell someone about.

About the book Be first to hear about the book

Mmayen Assam smiling with a cup of tea and a treble-clef earring

The woman behind the words

Hello, I’m Mmayen.

Welcome to Mbōk Stories!

My name is Mmayen Assam, also known as Ish, a British-Nigerian writer who loves a good story and often finds one in the most ordinary places.

I write about life between cultures, the people we love and the unexpected situations we find ourselves in. By blending humour, observation and emotional honesty, I tell stories that make you laugh, feel connected and perhaps recognise a little of yourself.

Mbōk Stories is my invitation to settle in and meet some familiar characters.

Stick the kettle on and pull up a chair. I’ve got stories to tell!

Follow along

Why the treble clef?

It’s my mark: on my skin, in my ears and in the margins of every notebook. Ask me about it on a Friday.

A little something for your Friday