african books | Zikoko!

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african books | Zikoko!

Everyone knows the second day of the Sallah break is when you actually get a break. After all the cooking, excitement and hanging out with family, you finally get the chance to relax. We’ve compiled a list of fun reads to help you do just that.

“The Story of Maha”

Written by Sumayya Lee, “The Story of Maha” is a coming-of-age fiction about the titular character. Maha is a South African-Indian Muslim girl whose life changes after her parents are killed at a political rally during Apartheid. She then goes on to live with her grandparents and navigates the boundaries of Muslim life, the conventions of her community and her desire for independence.

“The Story of Maha” can be found on Goodreads.

“Everything Good Will Come”

Did you know that Sefi Atta—the Nigerian writer of this book—is of Muslim parentage? She was born to a Muslim father. “Everything Good Will Come” is Sefi Atta’s first novel and is a coming-of-age story that follows Enitan’s friendship with Sheri, the daughter of a Muslim Nigerian man and an English woman. The book depicts the struggles of women in a conservative Nigerian society and touches on post-colonial Nigeria and ethnic tensions after the Nigerian Civil War.

You can find the book on Amazon, Goodreads or your local bookstore.

“Ayesha at Last”

If you like a good love story, you’d love this book by Uzma Jalaluddin. It is a modern-day retelling of “Pride and Prejudice” set in a Toronto Muslim community. The titular character, Ayesha, dreams of being a poet and is determined to avoid an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who’s as uptight and conservative as they come. Will sparks fly? Find out by getting the book on Amazon or Goodreads.

“The Good Muslim”

You might need to grab tissues for this read because Tahmima Anam’s novel is deeply moving. It’s a story about faith and family shadowed by the Bangladesh Liberation War and Islamic radicalism. The book focuses on two siblings (survivors of the war) and how they come to terms with their actions and choices. You can get this book on Amazon and Goodreads.

“A Thousand Splendid Suns”

This bestseller, written by Khaled Hosseini, is set in Afghanistan and follows Mariam, a Muslim woman forced to marry a shoemaker at 15. Decades later, she befriends Leila, a local teenager. Their friendship gets tested when the Taliban take over, and life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation and brutality. You can get this book on Rovingheights, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Pro tip: You might want to check out Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” too.

“Between Two Moons”

Set in the holy month of Ramadan, this book tells an intimate family story about what it means to grow up as a Muslim teenager struggling with identity and faith in a new country. “Between Two Moons is written by Aisha Abdel Gawad and can be found on Amazon and Goodreads.

“You Think You Know Me”

If you loved “The Hate U Give”, you’d love this book by Ayaan Mohamud. It tells a powerful story about finding the strength to speak up against hate, discrimination and fear. It focuses on Hanan, a teenage girl who loses her friend and then gains the confidence to stand up to Islamophobia and racism. You can get the book on Amazon and Goodreads.

NEXT READ: 7 Muslim Movies and TV Shows to Binge-Watch in the Spirit of Eid

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Tife Oni

June 18, 2024

Inside Life

african books, Muslim books, must read, Reading
African authors have been in their bags with a lot of books that have been written and published in recent years. In fact, many of these books are great enough to be adapted into films, and I need the top guys to get to work before I open my eyes and count to three.

These are some books that’d make for perfect TV adaptations.

1. The Girl With The Louding Voice – Abi Dare

Adunni wants an education and a life totally different from the one she has, but her father isn’t having it. In fact, he thinks education is evil. She leaves her home, makes her way to the city, and lives in terrible conditions, until one day, her life changes in the most unexpected way. Please, the people need a film.

2. His Only Wife – Peace Adzo Medie

A cheating man isn’t a rarity in the world, but in Elikem Ganyo’s case, he’s only cheating because his mother is making him. He’s already married to the woman he loves, but his mother doesn’t like her because she wanted to have the power to control his wife. His mother picked out a wife for him, married her in the village and sent her to Accra to live with him. Now he’s torn between two very beautiful women who love him. Yes, we know it’s giving Telemundo, which is why it needs to be made into a film or TV series.

3. The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives – Lola Shoneyin

Baba Segi’s household quickly becomes a spin-off of Fuji House Of Commotion when he marries Bolanle. He really thought he could marry a new, educated wife and his three other wives won’t show her pepper? Anyway, Bolanle’s arrival makes Baba Segi realise he’s been shooting blanks. None of the children in his household are biologically his. Also, Mama Segi is probably queer, she just never explored her sexuality.

4. My Sister The Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite

Nneka the pretty serpent has nothing on the babe in this book, and besides, Nneka needs some competition for the best killer. I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, which is why I want to see this book made into a movie. Ayoola likes to kill her boyfriends because they’re annoying. One thing she’ll always have is her little sisters, Korede’s support. One time for female villains.

5. Stay With Me – Ayobami Adebayo

One moment, you’re living with your husband of four years, the next, someone has brought a new wife for him because you’re yet to have any kids. How far is Yejide willing to go to get pregnant and fight for her rightful spot in her husband’s house?

6. Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad – Damilare Kuku

If someone said, “All the people in Lagos are kind of mad”, it won’t be a far fetched statement. Anyway, nearly all the men in Lagos are actually mad, because why would anyone keep getting married to different women in a bid to use them to make his life better. He even used one of the women to secure American citizenship. Sounds like a smart person to me, but he’s still mad.

7. A Broken People’s Playlist – Chimeka Garricks

Getting killed by a homophobic police officer for a crime you didn’t commit, only for the police officer to also be a closeted queer person sounds crazy right? It’s heavy and extremely unfair and touches on the violence queer people face in Nigeria. This book also explores love and loss. Please, we’re begging for a limited series.

HBO and co, we’ve already given you the material, it’s time for you to get to work.

Ibukun

February 25, 2022

Pop

african authors, african books, books, Movies, tv adaptation
Nigerians are woke these days – at least that’s what you’d think if you stumbled onto, and got lost in social media.

The truth is, a lot of us are not. We are naturally loud and extremely assertive, so when we talk it’s easy enough to believe we are authorities on the matter. However, even though a lot of us claim woke, we don’t deeply understand certain issues.
Because the lines are so blurry, what does ‘woke’ mean, anyway?

I love this Urban Dictionary definition of woke; “getting woke is like being in the Matrix and taking the red pill. You get a sudden understanding of what’s really going on and find out you were wrong about much of what you understood to be truth.” In simpler terms, it means to become aware of the problems in our society and the factors that contribute to them. You ‘wake’ up to the realization that some of our traditions, culture, societal structure and interactions are problematic.
The impact of wokeness in Nigeria is however limited by ‘fake wokeness’. What is fake woke, you ask? Fake woke people are those who aren’t directly affected by or understand certain social issues, but still argue blindly in favour of the problem. They are the opposing voice, creating doubt and slowing down progress.
Can wokeness be learned?

Yes, it can. Ironically, when supposedly enlightened people tell ‘ignorant’ people to read a book, it’s actually not (just) an insult. You can actually find the answers to life in books. We’ve put together a reading list of African books which attack social issues to get you started.
1. Female marginalisation: So Long A Letter – Mariama Bâ

An inspiring story of feminine strength, So Long A Letter is written as a series of letters between Ramatoulaye and her best friend Aissatou, after Ramatoulaye’s estranged husband dies from a heart attack. While observing mirasse, (a forty-day period of isolation and mourning) Ramatoulaye keeps a diary which she sends her friend. This book explores a woman’s place in developing West African society. Ba wants this novel to encourage women take responsibility for their lives. The letter format pulls you in, making the book feel extremely personal.
2. Government incompetence: The Trouble With Nigeria – Chinua Achebe

This is a great book for Nigerians, but the problems therein apply to a lot of African countries. The Trouble With Nigeria takes a look at Nigeria’s major problem which according to Achebe is leadership–or the lack of it. Leadership is used as the launching pad to dissect many Nigerian problems: tribalism, lack of patriotism, social injustice, the cult of mediocrity, indiscipline and corruption.
3. Social disintegration: Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Rich in cultural history, Things Fall Apart tells a captivating story of a traditional Igbo man who, though living in a rapidly changing Africa, refuses to accept British imperialists and missionaries. Achebe describes the daily life of the Igbo by telling the story Okonkwo and passes on key points about the Igbo culture. This book details how the way of life of the British crept into traditional Igbo society, and exposes the corruption and oppression that was perpetuated.
4. Sexual harassment/rape: Rape: A South African Nightmare – Pumla Dineo Gqola

Using examples from the past and present, Rape: A South African Nightmare takes on various aspects of rape culture in South Africa. It does so by focusing on the patterns and trends of rape culture and asking what can be learned from famous cases. This book analyses the fact that public responses to rape are characterised by doubt. It also asks penetrating questions about female fear factor, boy rape, the rape of black lesbians and more.
5. Mental health: Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi

Freshwater is Akwaeke Emezi’s daring debut novel that was shortlisted for The Center For Fiction First Novel Prize, 2018. This book paints a profound picture of what it’s like to mentally be between worlds by exploring the life of Ada, a Nigerian girl who was a little “different” from other children. She was a challenging child for her parents, who were constantly concerned about her fractured existence. Throughout her life, Ada speaks through her various selves (which is framed within the Igbo tradition of ogbanje). Freshwater takes on challenging topics such as identity, mental illness, self-harm, sexual assault, suicide, and more.
6. Yahoo-Yahoo: I Do Not Come To You By Chance – Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s debut novel, I Do Not Come To You By Chance won the 2010 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in Africa. This is a very insightful contemporary African novel centered around a young man burdened with responsibility. It details the lengths he goes to provide for his family, which takes us into the world of email scams AKA Yahoo-Yahoo and into the lives of the people behind them.
7. Gender roles and inequality – Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex In An African Society – Ify Amadiume

Male Daughters, Female Husbands explores the imposition of Western life onto West African society. This book does a fantastic job of outlining the new gender reality created by the impression of European Christian values on a traditionally matrilineal Igbo society. Amadiume details a rich history of economic and social power that West African women held, and how they’ve have found themselves disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts since the early 1900s. This is a must-read for every woman.
8. Abuse and domestic violence: Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Adichie

Longlisted by the Booker Prize in 2004, and shortlisted for the Orange Prize For Fiction that same year, Purple Hibiscus has garnered a lot of acclaim. This is a captivating book that handles abuse in a most delicate way. This book is focused on Kambili and her family, and what they endure for the sake of religion and family values. It shows the disintegration of her family unit and the unimaginable effects of abuse.
If you’ve read any of these books, what do you think about them? Which other books would you recommend?

Sade

September 14, 2018

General

african books, books, education, fake woke, social issues, woke