.

9 Books By African Authors <<<


Africa has produced some of the most acclaimed authors in literature.

From Nobel Prize winners to hugely popular novelists, African writers have made an indelible global impact with their work.

Here are 10 fascinating books by African authors that provide unique perspectives into their cultures and societies:

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)

Published in 1958, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is considered a seminal work in African literature and one of the first major novels by an African author written in English to receive global critical acclaim.

+ The novel centers on Okonkwo, an Igbo leader and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian village of Umuofia.

+ It traces Okonkwo's fall from grace to tragedy amid the arrival of British colonialists and Christian missionaries that violently disrupt his tribe's traditions.

+ Achebe deftly portrays the collision between African and Western cultures through the lens of Okonkwo's gripping personal story.

With over 10 million+ copies sold and translated into 50 languages, Things Fall Apart highlights Achebe's brilliant capacity for storytelling and unveiling truths about the human condition.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)

+ Published in 2013, *We Need New Names* is a stunning debut novel from Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo.

+ It follows young protagonist Darling as she navigates her childhood in Zimbabwe and subsequent international emigration to the United States.

+ Blending striking visual imagery with rich metaphors and a unique narrative voice, Bulawayo vibrantly captures Darling’s confusion, growth, and resilience in the face of difficult socio-economic circumstances in both countries.

Shortlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize, We Need New Names is an empathetic and layered portrait of the spirited young female African immigrant experience.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)

+ Published in 2003, this debut novel from award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores political strife and domestic drama through an intimate family portrait.

+ Set in post-colonial Nigeria, it focuses on 15-year old Kambili and her wealthy Catholic family as they cope with an abusive home life under the domineering control of Kambili’s fanatically religious father.

+ With lush lyricism balancing its scalding commentary on religion, tradition, and freedom, *Purple Hibiscus* announces Adichie as a bold and insightful chronicler of African social complexities.

Hailed as “open-eyed and defiant”, this deeply affecting coming-of-age story further cements Adichie’s literary brilliance in navigating intricacies of human relationships.

Wizard of the Crow by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (Kenya)

Hailed as an “epic masterpiece”, this satirical 2006 novel by acclaimed Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o offers an imaginative yet unflinching allegory on corruption and oppression in post-independence African dictatorships.

+ Spanning over 750 pages, it ambitiously weaves together magical fantasy and dark political commentary through colorfully absurd vignettes on national turmoil dramatized by a fictional megalomaniac African ruler known as “The Ruler” and a host of eccentric characters.

+ Lauded for its inventiveness and scope as an African variant of magic realism similar to works by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Salman Rushdie, *Wizard of the Crow* cements Ngũgĩ’s reputation as a visionary novelist of resistance against neo-colonial abuses in the continent.

Sozaboy by Ken Saro-Wiwa (Nigeria)

Hailed as a pioneering classic in African postmodernist literature, this 1985 novel by Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa offers a vividly experimental portrayal of military violence during the Nigerian Civil War of the late 60s.

+ Narrated in broken English pidgin by naïve protagonist Sozaboy, the novel traces his transformation from an idealistic youth into a weary war veteran amidst rapidly intensifying inter-ethnic military clashes.

+ Stylistically audacious in narration yet uncompromising in its anti-war commentary, *Sozaboy* captures the brutal senselessness of carnage from the perspective of ordinary citizens caught in sectarian crossfires.

Described by critics as “genius in simplicity”, this groundbreaking novel stands out for both its uncompromising message and pioneering language experimentation in African literature.

What is Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi (Nigeria)

A stunning collection of imaginative short stories unified around the theme of keys, locks, and portals, Oyeyemi’s 2016 book What is Yours is Not Yours displays her trademark elements of inventive plotting, evocative language and subversive retellings of European folkloric tradition through a distinct African feminist perspective.

+ Ranging from surreal to supernaturally tinged narratives around family legacies, rekindled loves, imprisoned artists and more, each tale unlocks insight into barriers against human connection – from greed, jealousy to passive cruelty.

+ Lauded for its originality, audacious structures and complementing integration between form and meaning, this unique collection highlights Oyeyemi’s flair for revealing moral complexities around desire, entitlement and relationships.

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (Cameroon)

+ An Oprah’s Book Club selection in 2017 praised for its empathetic insights into the immigrant experience, this debut novel by Cameroonian author Imbolo Mbue offers a timely narrative on class, marriage and the American Dream through the lens of an immigrant family from Cameroon trying to build a new life during the 2008 financial crisis in New York City.

+ Touching on issues of inequality, sacrifice, deception and disillusionment with subtle yet cutting social commentary, the novel humanizes perspectives often ignored in mainstream discourse around immigration and the disproportionate hardships immigrants face to achieve enduring financial security in America through sheer grit and optimism.

Thought-provoking, emotionally compelling yet unrelenting hopeful, *Behold the Dreamers* cements Mbue’s status as an astute emerging talent in contemporary African literature.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin (Nigeria)

A witty and perceptive debut novel fixated on the marital drama in a polygamous Nigerian household, this 2010 book announced writer Lola Shoneyin’s flair for revealing colorful personalities and problematic cultural contradictions through a deceptively playful female-focused perspective.

+ Centering around the Supermarket magnate Baba Segi and exploring the interpersonal tensions between his four wives due to his recent marriage to pretty University graduate Bolanle, the novel insightfully weaves between tragic and comedic revelations around sexuality, education, fertility and feminine identity in modern Nigeria.

+ Grounded in Wisdom and cultural fluency yet unafraid in questioning sensitive societal issues or subverting gender stereotypes through vibrant female voices, this novel cements Shoneyin’s literary finesse in capturing depth beneath deceptive societal appearances.

Bold, hilarious yet philosophical, *The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives* presents a microcosm into the complexities of Nigerian womanhood.

Conclusion

African literature offers profound insights, stylistic innovations and compelling narratives that have only continued diversifying in recent years.

The 9 books highlighted above dismantle singular narratives around the continent to uncover rich diversity bound by the common thread of resilience.

While only scratching the surface, one discovers through these works the emergence of literary legends along with exciting contemporary talents tackling both universal and distinctly African themes in new masterly ways.
Beyond surface differences, a deeper truth unfolds on shared trials, hopes and redemptions at the core of these endlessly fascinating stories waiting to be discovered first-hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are some notable features of modern African literature?

+ Tackles both universal and uniquely African themes
+ Displays great stylistic range and innovation
+ Provides rare insider viewpoints into African cultures
+ Captures richness, complexity behind singular narratives of Africa
+ Emergence of all-time classics along with new talents

Q: What are some common examples of themes in African literature?

+ Colonialism and post-colonial identity
+ Cultural tradition vs. modernity
+ Political corruption and conflict
+ Immigration and displacement
+ Poverty and inequality
+ Women’s issues and feminism

Q: Why are these books important for readers to explore?

These African authored books provide profound first-hand insights into African viewpoints often obscured or misrepresented in dominant historical narratives.

They enable readers worldwide to discover the surprising depth, innovation and shared experiences underlying prevailing singular stories of Africa.

Q: Which African novel is considered the most influential of all time?

Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel Things Fall Apart is widely regarded as the most important and influential work in African literature to date.

Selling over 10 million copies globally, it provided the first insider view into African pre-colonial life from an African perspective and subverted dominant Western assumptions.

Q: Which of these books tackle feminism in African contexts?

+ Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
+ What is Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi
+ The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin


.