Lionel Ntasano was born in Burundi, raised in Zambia, and he studied in the United States, Kenya, and Switzerland. His works include his first novel, Greener on the Other Side; the short story "Recipe for an Escape," in The Gods Who Send Us Gifts; and "Nights in April: A Memoir on Fatherhood and Inheritance" in Threads and Faces: Stories on Identity and Belonging. He also wrote and executive-produced the short film Fate. Lionel holds a master's degree in international business and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Burundi. He is the artistic director for Gusoma Editions, a platform dedicated to enhancing dialogue between the languages and cultures of Africa.