The sun rises in the west. 

 

Two Burials by Jumaana Abdu

Read by Zena Abdo.

 

Synopsis

On the last day on Earth, the sun rises in the West, and Luqman must bury the body of his companion, Habil.  
 
A beautiful, folkloric journey, Two Burials, brings a together questions of the spiritual, and political, in a story about connection, and what those connections mean to us at the end.  

Originally published in phoebe magazine, as winner of the 2025 fiction contest.

 

Listeners are advised that this episode of Unfolded comes with a language and content warning. 

 

About Jumaana Abdu

Jumaana Abdu is the author of Translations (Vintage) which was shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the MUD Literary Prize, and a NSW Premier’s Literary Award. She was named SMH Best Young Novelist in 2025 and her widely published fiction and essays have won the Dal Stivens Award, the Patricia Hackett Prize, and the Phoebe Journal fiction prize. During the day, she is a medical doctor. 

jumaanaabdu.com

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years. 

The sun rises in the west.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Two Burials by Jumaana Abdu
Read by Zena Abdo.
&nbsp;
Synopsis
On the last day on Earth, the sun rises in the West, and Luqman must bury the body of his companion, Habil.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; A beautiful, folkloric journey,&nbsp;Two Burials,&nbsp;brings a&nbsp;together questions&nbsp;of the spiritual, and political, in a story&nbsp;about connection, and what those connections mean to us at the end.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Originally published in phoebe magazine, as <a href="https://phoebejournal.com/two-burials/">winner of the 2025 fiction contest</a>.
&nbsp;
Listeners are advised that this episode of&nbsp;Unfolded&nbsp;comes with a language and content warning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Jumaana Abdu
Jumaana&nbsp;Abdu is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/wJ7sCL7rxDsNo74ZATBfYHy5ucw?domain=penguin.com.au">Translations&nbsp;</a>(Vintage) which was shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the MUD Literary Prize, and&nbsp;a&nbsp;NSW Premier&rsquo;s Literary Award. She was named SMH Best Young Novelist in 2025 and her widely published fiction and essays have won the Dal&nbsp;Stivens&nbsp;Award, the Patricia Hackett Prize, and the Phoebe Journal fiction prize. During the day, she is a medical doctor.&nbsp;
<a href="https://jumaanaabdu.com/">jumaanaabdu.com</a>
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the <a href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/public-humanities-initiative">Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative</a>, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar.  A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west. 

We’ve all read stories that changed our lives. We’ve all imagined places that feel like home. We’ve all met characters who feel like family. 

Now, we’ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We’ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect. 

These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded. 

Join us for season 2 of Unfolded as Seth Robinson and Tony Birch speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash, or travel back through the archive to hear the incredible stories from season 1.

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their history, which go back tens of thousands of years. 

Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch

Creator and Executive Producer: Seth Robinson

Recording: Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne

Editing and Sound Design: Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media

Artwork: Marty O'Meara

Seasons change.&nbsp;An actor prepares.&nbsp;A birthday is removed from the calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;A hypnotist causes chaos&nbsp;on a cruise ship.&nbsp;A new life&nbsp;awaits at a petrol station.&nbsp;A&nbsp;grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway.&nbsp;A dog makes yakisoba.&nbsp;The sun rises in the west.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all read stories that changed our lives.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all imagined places that feel like home.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all met characters who feel like family.&nbsp;
Now,&nbsp;we&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear the stories, then go to the&nbsp;source.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.&nbsp;
These are stories: Unpacked. Understood.&nbsp;Unfolded.&nbsp;
Join us for season 2 of Unfolded as <a href="https://sethrobinson.com.au/">Seth Robinson</a> and <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/13630-tony-birch">Tony Birch</a> speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash, or travel back through the archive to hear the incredible stories from season 1.
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their history, which go back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;
Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch
Creator and Executive Producer:&nbsp;Seth Robinson
Recording:&nbsp;Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne
Editing and Sound Design:&nbsp;Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media
Artwork:&nbsp;Marty O'Meara

Unfolded

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar. A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west. 

We’ve all read stories that changed our lives. We’ve all imagined places that feel like home. We’ve all met characters who feel like family.

Now, we’ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We’ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.

These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded.

Join us for season 1 of Unfolded as Seth Robinson and Tony Birch speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash.  

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years. 

 

Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch

Creator and Producer: Seth Robinson

Recording: Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne

Editing and Sound Design: Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media

Artwork: Marty O'Meara 

 

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar. A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve all read stories that changed our lives. We&rsquo;ve all imagined places that feel like home. We&rsquo;ve all met characters who feel like family.
Now, we&rsquo;ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We&rsquo;ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.
These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded.
Join us for season 1 of Unfolded as <a href="https://sethrobinson.com.au/">Seth Robinson</a> and <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/13630-tony-birch">Tony Birch</a> speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch
Creator and Producer: Seth Robinson
Recording:&nbsp;Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne
Editing and Sound Design:&nbsp;Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media
Artwork: Marty O'Meara&nbsp;
&nbsp;