Today, I’m sharing 5 SIMPLY AMAZING books by African writers that you should – MUST read in your lifetime!
These books are so so good that I plan to re-read them this year even though I have read them before and I am so so jealous of you if you get to read them for the first time this year. They are funny, entertaining, plot twist-filled, lessons-filled, exciting reads!
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Click on the video below to watch and thank me later!
Title: Ogadinma
Author: Ukamaka Olisakwe
Published By: Masobe
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Coming-of-age, Fiction
Format: Paperback
Length: 260 pages
Synopsis
Ukamaka Olisakwe’s heart-wrenching novel tells the story of the naive and trusting Ogadinma as she battles against Nigeria’s deeply-ingrained patriarchal systems in the 1980s, a time of coups, food shortages and religious extremism.
After a rape and unwanted pregnancy leave her exiled from her family in Kano, thwarting her plans to go to university, she is sent to her aunt’s in Lagos and pressure into marriage with an older man.
As their whirlwind romance descends into abuse and indignity, Ogadinma is forced to channel all of her independence and resourcefulness into finding her voice and strength in the face of abuse and cultural expectations.
Review
I thought that this book was a beautiful read and would definitely recommend if you’re looking to read a nice Nigerian fiction.
Watch my full review on this book by clicking on the video below:
Title: The Fishermen
Author: Chigozie Obioma
Published By: Cassava Republic Press
Release Date: 2015
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Length: 301 pages
Synopsis
Nine-year-old Benjamin is the youngest of four brothers. They live in the rocky hills of Akure. When their civil servant father is transferred to another town, the boys begin misbehaving; smashing windows, severing chicken heads and praying truant to follow billionaire politician M.K.O. Abiola’s campaign trail.
For six weeks, they take to fishing in the forbidden Omi-Ala river. There they run into Abulu, a filthy yet visionary madman whose pronouncement that the eldest boy, Ikenna will be killed places a dark and fearful cloud over the brothers.If they prophecy is true, which of them will be the murderer? Abulu’s words have devastating yet redemptive consequences for the family, as guilt and sadness bind the brothers, while their parents sink into despair.
Review
WHOOSH!
Chigozie Obioma knows his stuff!!! He does! This man can write!
I thought that this book was beautifully written and the author’s use of words simply blew my mind. I enjoyed the character development, the time setting and the plot of the book. As soon as I opened the book, I was thrust into this world that kept me captivated.
Watch me share my thoughts on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:
Title: I Do Not Come To You By Chance
Author: Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
Published By: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Release Date: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Length: 403 pages
Synopsis
As first son and graduate, Kingsley Ibe has a load of responsibilities resting on his skinny shoulders. But times are bad in Nigeria, and life is hard. Unable to find work, Kingsley cannot take on the duty of training his younger siblings, nor can he provide his parents with financial peace in their retirement. And then there is Ola his girlfriend, the sugar in Kingsley’s tea. It does not seem to matter that he loves her deeply; he cannot afford her bride price.
But when Kingsley’s father falls sick, he becomes desperate to live up to his responsibilities. So he travels to Aba, to his wealthy uncle, ‘Cash Daddy’.
Under the avuncular wing of ‘Cash Daddy’, Kingsley is catapulted into the fast-money world of email scamming where he discovers a profitable talent for persuasive storytelling. But, as the stakes grow higher and Cash Daddy grows more ambitious, Kingsley begins to realise he is in way over his head and that, even in Nigeria, nothing comes for free…
Review
So I enjoyed my experience reading this book and thought it was well written. I loved the little clumps of humour in the book that made me smile and the little figments of reality inherent in the book. Such an enjoyable read!
Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:
Ahhh *insert dramatic pause and sigh*
The dreaded reading slump. The number one enemy of book lovers no matter who you are and where you’re from. Reading slumps happen to book lovers every now and then, so if you’re currently in a reading slump, then I come bearing gifts!
Here are some great book recommendations written by Nigerian writers to help you come out of that slump! They are funny, engaging, easy to read and guaranteed to get you reading again!
Click on the video below to watch:
Staying consistent at reading can be tough, even for book lovers. There’s always one distraction or the other in our world today or reasons why we do not stay consistent at reading even though this is what may make us happy and excited.
In the video below, I share some valuable tips and tricks that you can use to stay consistent at reading. I have tried most of these tips myself and they have worked very well for me over time.
Click the link below to watch the full video:
I am really passionate about History in general; history of people, place, thing or whatever it may be.
As far back as I can remember, I have been interested in the history of the people occupying what is now known as Nigeria, but most of the books I read at secondary school level and later on left out significant details of the history of the Nigerian people.
In recent times, I sought out and started reading lovely, genuine, in-depth and detailed accounts of past notable occurrences written by Nigerians and compiled a list of these books, so if you are looking for sources of African history, particularly Nigerian history, this is for you.
Click on the video below to watch:
Title: The Mountains Sing
Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Published By: Oneworld Publications
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Hardback
Length: 339 pages
Synopsis
With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart.
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
Review
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Beautiful.
This was a lovely, heartbreaking historical fiction book. Totally enjoyed! It was an emotional rollercoaster indeed. Such a beautiful read and beautiful story.
Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below 👇🏽
Title: The Death of Vivek Oji
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Published By: Kachifo Limited under its Farafina Imprint
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Fiction, Coming-of-age
Format: Paperback
Length: 263 pages
Synopsis
They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.
One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son’s body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek’s birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an overprotective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family’s struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself.
Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek’s gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth will touch all those who embrace it.
Review
This book is HEAVY!
I don’t know why it has taken me this long to put up a review of this book but hey, life happens.
I read this some months ago and I had some thoughts on it. I shared in my review on my YouTube channel (which I recorded 4 score years ago btw but did not put up for whatever reason known to me🙄 )I have now put up the review.
I enjoyed it and finished in a couple of sittings. I loved that the book is set in eastern Nigeria with Nigerians deep-set in traditional beliefs and cultures as the major characters. The dominant themes explored in the book were also issues that need to be discussed in the Nigerian society, but in my opinion, we’re not ready for that yet. But hey, this literary piece is out there and that counts for something
Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:
Title: Memoirs of a Lazy Korfa
Author: Tunmise Usikalu
Published By: Sophos Books Ltd.
Release Date: 2020
Genre: Non-fiction, Genre
Format: Paperback
Length: 106 pages
“Though this is only the first day of camp, as at 2:30pm or there about, I am already number 1,246! As if that’s not bad enough, we get matched over to the registration hall to get registered and have it over with and…wait for it…they are registering corper number TWO HUNDRED AND SOMETHING! (I didn’t care to know what the “something” was. It was not important). So here I am sitting on my traveling bag under a tree for shade and wondering what in heavens name I am doing here…”
This journal is a hilarious account of one corp member’s experience of three weeks at a Nigerian National Youth Service (NYSC) orientation camp.
I enjoyed this one! Short, simple and sweet!
I literally finished it in one sitting. I loved how the memoir was real and relatable and straight to the point. No too much shalaye.😂 it brought back nostalgic feelings. It served the purpose it was for and is a good recommendation to come out of a reading slump!
I totally enjoyed my NYSC experience but would definitely NOT go back if I had the chance!
Verdict
A nice 8/10.
Watch my review and my HILARIOUS NYSC Experience by clicking the link below! I share my experience and loads of photos! I enjoyed making this video and had a good laugh!
Rachel Eyo 