Africa boasts a rich history and culture, so it’s no wonder that literature originating from this continent can be so diverse. The continent regularly produces poets, novelists, and artists of a high caliber.
There is a vibrancy to African literature that is hard to describe, much less discover in other literary works. It may come from how Africans use beauty to communicate important truths about their societies and their core identity.
The Best Books by African Authors
To help you form a more complete picture of what African literature is, here are a few excellent recommendations to add to your reading list:
1. Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinka
A group of friends make an earnest pact to use their talents to make a meaningful change to their beloved country, Nigeria. But later, their passion is diluted by the many comforts and disappointments they face in a post-independence Nigeria.
2. A Girl Is A Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
There is a question burning in Kirabo’s core: Who is her mother? With the help of the local witch, Nsuuta, Kirabo begins to piece together her identity and learns that her mother is alive. Nsuuta also helps her understand a mysterious second self that begins to emerge within her—a piece of the “first woman,” an original state that has been largely lost to women.
3. Afterland by Lauren Beukes
Most of the men in the world are dead, and power is now in the hands of women. But a world run by women isn’t always better. Cole and her son, Miles, are in search of a place where Miles won’t be treated as only a reproductive resource or sex object. But the government and her own ruthless sister have other plans, and they’re drawing closer.
4. The Blessed Girl by Angela Makholwa
Bontle Towe is a popular 24-year-old whose admirers trip all over themselves to pay for her car, her apartment, and all other aspects of her high life. But there’s a troubled girl inside of her, a side she refuses to acknowledge. After all, what she thinks won’t hurt her, won’t. Right?
5. The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell
A mistake from the past entangles three multicultural families into centuries of exploitation and retribution. As the years go by and each generation of the families go through their own versions of the conflict, the overreaching problems of colonialism are revealed.
6. The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
A mother opens her front door and finds the body of her son, wrapped in colorful fabric, on the ground. The young man’s death forces his family to question the lives they lead and how it brought them to this tragedy.
7. The Death of Comrade President by Alain Mabanckou
When Congo’s Comrade President Marien Ngouabi is murdered, Michel’s life is thrown into chaos. His mother’s kinship to the president means that his family might also be in danger. Naturally a daydreamer, Michel must gather his wits and learn to be a convincing liar to protect his family.
8. Transparent City by Ondjaki
Somewhere in Luanda stands an apartment block home to an array of characters trying to eke out a living as the “underclass.” At the center of them is a man searching for his son. As his hope of reconnecting with his son wanes, he must also grapple at how much his beloved country has changed.
9. Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
In a country dominated by religious extremism and conservative thinking, Binta, a 55-year-old widow, is drawn to an affair with 26-year-old weed dealer Reza. Having already experienced pain brought by a hypocritical society that uses religion to inflict hatred and pain, Binta is resolved to experience intimacy again and save her lover from a life of crime.
10. A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Kenya is on the cusp of independence, and tensions and hopes are high. As political groups evaluate what they have to lose and gain, the ordinary folks wonder how this monumental change will affect their lives. At their center is Mugo, whom locals consider their hero, but who is privately burdened by a terrible secret.
11. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Okonkwo is a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior who considers his Igbo traditions a large part of his identity. But as his community succumbs to British political and religious forces, he despairs over how his people’s traditions are slowly devalued and replaced. How can he save years of tradition in the face of a new order?
12. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Fifteen-year-old Kambili lives a privileged life in Nigeria. But every aspect of it is controlled by her repressive and extremely religious father. When he is involved in a military crisis, Kambili and her brother are sent to her aunt’s house. There she discovers a life beyond her father’s control, and a household with a possibility of laughter.
Reading Books by African Authors
Literature shouldn’t be constrained by geographical, political, social, or cultural differences. It’s a medium for free thinking and exploration.
Always reading the same types of books can be like eating the same food every day—it starts to lose flavor. That might mean it’s time to expand your reading horizons. And what better way to do so than with literature from other countries?
What’s your favorite book written by an African author? Share it in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
