Celebrate Book Lovers Day With The Best Of African Literature

Book Lovers’ Day is celebrated every year on the 9th of August. Although the creator of this day is still unknown, it is quite a worthy cause to celebrate the inner being in you who would rather curl up in a corner and read a book all day. African literature has not had a greater audience and scope like it has in the 21st century and we are truly rooting for our brothers and sisters who write in the country and in the diaspora.

To truly celebrate this day is to celebrate Africa and what better way to do so than this curated list of African literature that have added edge and diversity to our libraries.

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The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas was published in 2001. The village knows that Kauna is unhappy in her marriage and yet she is expected to weep and mourn when her husband dies. This novel tells the tale of friendship between two women despite traditional beliefs.

Discovering Home was written by Binyavanga Wainaina and published in 2002. This novella which uses the tool of description as its selling point takes us on a journey from Cape Town, South Africa to Kisoro, Uganda as the author finds his way home.

Purple Hibiscus is the debut novel of famous writer Chimamanda Adichie which was published in 2003. She uses the voice of Kambili to weave a tale around love and hatred, religion and family, the quest for freedom and the moments that defined them all.

Zahrah the Windseeker is written by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu and was published in 2005. She is also the author of Who Fears Death (which is being currently adopted by HBO). In this novel, nothing is as it seems as computers are like plants which grow with knowledge and Zahrah who is only 13-years-old becomes aware of her supernatural powers and is on a mission to save her only friend.

Half of a Yellow Sun is another work from Adichie which was published in 2006. Set against the plot of the Nigerian Civil War and its effect on three characters as the turbulence of the war tests their loyalty to one another and the ideals they uphold.

Starbook by Ben Okri was published in 2007. Okri uses the traditional way of storytelling (fable) of the story of a prince and a maiden to ask questions that pertain to exploring creativity, wisdom, suffering.

News From Home is a book of short stories by Seffi Atta published in 2009. The collection of short stories amplify the stories of newspaper headlines as told by a range of Nigerian voices from Zamfara to the Niger delta and of course, Lagos.

I Do Not Come To You By Chance was published in 2009 and written by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. A stunning tale of the responsibilities of the first son in Nigeria who comes to the realisation that although education is the key to success, money is the master key in the troubling times of the Nigerian economy. He is torn between his passion for knowledge, his responsibility at home and the desperate need for money.

The Secret Wives of Baba Segi's Wives written by Lola Shoneyin was published in 2010. The novel is laced with humour as it gives insight into modern polygamy in Nigeria as well as family politics, personalities, struggles and the ultimate wife code.

A Time For New Dreams was written by Ben Okri and published in 2011. He uses the collection of essays to link the diverse themes of childhood, beauty, the importance of education and significance of the economic meltdown.

There Was A Country was written by Chinua Achebe and published in 2012. The controversial autobiography by the eminent author as he narrates his coming-of-age during the civil war of 1967–1970 that divided his country.

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Born on a Tuesday is the debut novel of Elnathan John and published in 2015. Told in the naive voice of Dantala, John shares a tale that revolves around politics, religious fundamentalism and violence.

Born a Crime is an autobiography by famous comedian and TV host Trevor Noah and published in 2016. Noah takes us on his journey to the Daily Show which starts at the twilight of apartheid in South Africa.

Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo was published in March 2017 and is pregnant with the journey of love, the quest for a child, the pain and joy of motherhood and the desperate attempt to break free from ourselves and those we love.

Hard copies of these books are available on sites like Good Reads and Amazon.