The truth is reading is at a prime when juggling a full time day job, being a husband, being a father and pursuing academic studies. But coming into 2019 I vowed to read as many books with African stories or African writers as possible. Here we go with my pick;
Chinua Achebe:
This one is definitely a legend of African literature. One of the world’s most widely recognized and praised writers, Chinua Achebe wrote some of the most extraordinary works of the 20th century. I first came across his writing while I was very young in primary school. His most famous novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), also depicted on film (although the cinematographic story is laced with shades of his other book, No longer at ease) is a devastating depiction of the clash between traditional tribal values and the effects of colonial rule, as well as the tension between masculinity and femininity in highly patriarchal societies. There is no better time to read Things fall apart than now, it may be 2019 but this book never gets old. It's a classic.
Aminatta Forna
A writer of Sierra Leone origin born in Scotland but raised in her native African nation, Aminatta Forna is widely known for her first book, The Devil That Danced on Water (2003), an extraordinarily brave account of her family’s experiences living in war-torn Sierra Leone, and in particular her father’s tragic fate as a political dissident. The Memory of Love (2010) contrasts personal stories of love and loss within the wider context of the devastation of the Sierre Leone civil war. The memory of love should do for a good read.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
On my random monthly book purchase, the shop assistant at Eastpark mall's Grey matter quickly suggested Chimanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah to me. He told me it was one of the fast sellers on the African writer. I didn’t hesitate.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is part of a new generation of African writers. Americanah (2013) portrays Nigerian immigrant life and race relations in America and the western world with great insight. The book has received some rave reviews including;
‘a brilliant novel: epic in scope, personal in resonance and with lots to say’ Observer
‘An honest novel about race with guts and lustre, and a compassionate, visceral and delicately funny tale of lasting high-school love and the sorrows and adventures of immigration’ The Times
‘An urgent and important book, further evidence that its author is a real talent’ Sunday Telegraph
‘A tour de force… hugely impressive’ Mail on Sunday
‘A very funny, very warm and moving inter-generational
epic that confirms Adichie’s virtuosity, boundless empathy and searing social acuity’ Dave Eggers
Namwali Serpell
Namwali Serpell's literary prowess was magnified by her 2015 award winning short story The Sack. Her new book The old drift is perhaps her biggest project to date and a very captivating book I recommend for anyone who loves a good book. She is also the author of a book of literary criticism, seven modes of uncertainty, published by Harvard university press.
Her fiction has appeared in publications including Callaloo, Tin House and the best american short stories. Her first published story, 'Muzungu', which was also short listed for the 2010 Caine prize for African writing is a Rona Jaffe foundation writers award recipient.
Namwali was born in Lusaka Zambia and is the daughter of former University of Zambia vice chancellor, professor Robert Serpell. She is herself an associate professor in the English department at the university of California, Berkeley.
Tendai Huchu
The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician, is Tendai Huchu's second novel. His first novel, The Hairdresser of Harare, was a comedy of political manners, in the Zimbabwe of ZANU-PF and hyperinflation.
In The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician, he narrates the life in the diaspora of mostly very highly educated people, living and working in low-wage jobs while dreaming of home. A good read, and Tendai Huchu is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers from Zimbabwe.
Ayi Kwei Armah
The only book by Ayi Kwei Armah I have come across, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1968), did not disappoint. I saw this book on renowned journalist Edem Djokotoe's book challenge and I immediately took a liking to the book title.
The book is an intense depiction of political devastation and social frustration in post independent Ghana, told from an individual perspective. Reading this book almost brings one to the imagination that the history of a large number of of African countries is inter twined in that they have undergone similar if not the same phases.
On my random monthly book purchase, the shop assistant at Eastpark mall's Grey matter quickly suggested Chimanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah to me. He told me it was one of the fast sellers on the African writer. I didn’t hesitate.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is part of a new generation of African writers. Americanah (2013) portrays Nigerian immigrant life and race relations in America and the western world with great insight. The book has received some rave reviews including;
‘a brilliant novel: epic in scope, personal in resonance and with lots to say’ Observer
‘An honest novel about race with guts and lustre, and a compassionate, visceral and delicately funny tale of lasting high-school love and the sorrows and adventures of immigration’ The Times
‘An urgent and important book, further evidence that its author is a real talent’ Sunday Telegraph
‘A tour de force… hugely impressive’ Mail on Sunday
‘A very funny, very warm and moving inter-generational
Namwali Serpell
Namwali Serpell's literary prowess was magnified by her 2015 award winning short story The Sack. Her new book The old drift is perhaps her biggest project to date and a very captivating book I recommend for anyone who loves a good book. She is also the author of a book of literary criticism, seven modes of uncertainty, published by Harvard university press.
Her fiction has appeared in publications including Callaloo, Tin House and the best american short stories. Her first published story, 'Muzungu', which was also short listed for the 2010 Caine prize for African writing is a Rona Jaffe foundation writers award recipient.
Namwali was born in Lusaka Zambia and is the daughter of former University of Zambia vice chancellor, professor Robert Serpell. She is herself an associate professor in the English department at the university of California, Berkeley.
Tendai Huchu
The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician, is Tendai Huchu's second novel. His first novel, The Hairdresser of Harare, was a comedy of political manners, in the Zimbabwe of ZANU-PF and hyperinflation.
In The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician, he narrates the life in the diaspora of mostly very highly educated people, living and working in low-wage jobs while dreaming of home. A good read, and Tendai Huchu is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers from Zimbabwe.
Ayi Kwei Armah
The only book by Ayi Kwei Armah I have come across, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1968), did not disappoint. I saw this book on renowned journalist Edem Djokotoe's book challenge and I immediately took a liking to the book title.
The book is an intense depiction of political devastation and social frustration in post independent Ghana, told from an individual perspective. Reading this book almost brings one to the imagination that the history of a large number of of African countries is inter twined in that they have undergone similar if not the same phases.
