Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/bcm/src/dev/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121 books | Zikoko!
When Chef Hilda Baci isn’t cooking or going about her daily restaurant business, and social media influencer Enioluwa isn’t serving looks or doing Lagos today, S.A tomorrow, they’re moving as a unit to impact communities through a book reading initiative.
In case you’re now wondering, “What book reading initiative?” This is all we know about their #WhenWeRead campaign.
What’s this campaign really about?
Hilda and Enioluwa launched their “When We Read” campaign to improve literacy. Books deserve some facetime too because you become the baddest baddie when you read.
How it began
The #WhenWeRead campaign officially kicked off on August 1st, 2023, but the signs have been there since May, when Enioluwa tweeted that learning never stops, inside or outside the classroom.
I always tell people around me to read. Even if you're out of school, keep reading. It sparks your brain, you have a better understanding, and you can never know about something unless you research it.
The campaign grabbed attention, and some organisations have asked for donations.
This is amazing. My team and I @tclinitiativeng recently launched a free community library in Jos and if you are looking for beneficiaries for your #whenweread campaign, we would love to be considered! Thank you https://t.co/CoeIO4YQTw
Hi Hilda, is there a way children living in rural communities can be beneficiaries of this campaign? We have children who love reading but their parents cannot afford to buy them books. There are no good schools in these communities talk more of a standard library. Thank you🙏🏽
@Enioluwa_ understand the importance of the @UN#SDGsGoal4. We would appreciate that pupils and young people can benefits greatly from this #WhenWeRead drive initiative.
Over the years, we have supported great educational cause, but yet, we need more support — #MushinWhenWeRead
Young people. Hilda hopes the initiative will help cultivate a healthy reading habit among them and reduce the time spent on phones.
How many books will they give out?
On July 31st, Hilda Baci tweeted about a 5000 book donation project she’s launching with her close friend, Enioluwa.
It’s giving LinkedIn btw follow my LinkedIn profile Hilda Baci
@enioluwaofficial and I are partnering to donate 5000 books to encourage young people to read more to promote the #whenweread campaign pic.twitter.com/oVPCRKLCoo
The books will go to individuals, students, libraries and organisations.
How to get your copy
If you’re interested in getting some of these books, all you have to do is DM @friendsofeni on IG. Simple as balablu.
There’s a monthly package
As part of the campaign, a fiction and a non-fiction book will be sent to people to read every month. They didn’t say what qualifies interested readers for the monthly book package, or for how long the package will last, but we hope their system never dies.
The reading community jumps in
A week ago, Enioluwa was at Rovingheights (Nigeria’s biggest bookstore line) to share August’s titles: “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” (fiction) by Lola Shoneyin and Opray Winfrey’s “I Know For Sure” (non-fiction).
On August 5th, fashion and lifestyle magazine, Reen, recommended six books to honour the #WhenWeRead campaign. Other readers and stores have joined in to push the campaign.
Well done to Hilda and Enioluwa as interests grow in their literacy initiative. As Malala Yousafzai said, “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
If you’re like me, you like to escape into books that tell stories of the reality you want. But reading can be a lot when there’s not enough representation (and capitalism has taken over our lives). To help the situation a bit, here are some short, fast queer reads that’ll spark joy and revive your reading habits.
On A Sunbeam by Walden Tillie
This is for fans of movies like Star Wars. On A Sunbeam is set in space and follows Mia on a journey of self-discovery while on her first job. She consistently reminisces over her last few years in school with her first love and finding friends with her new teammates. The best part of this book is it’s set in a world where only queer women and non-binary people exist.
Mooncakes is one of the cutest recommendations in this article. Who doesn’t love a good story about a witch and her werewolf lover? Exactly. Nova and Tam are forced into each other’s life after years apart, and what was just a friendship blossomed into something sweeter. Except now, they have this big bad to defeat. How much cuter can it get?
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
There’s falling in love with a mermaid, and there’s falling in love with a Selkie — a seal that turns human on special occasions. Morgan has the pleasure of falling in love with one over the summer, and it’s so heartbreakingly cute.
Taproot by Keezy Young
For fans of ghost stories, Taproot is the perfect blend of romance with a sprinkle of ghoul. The only thing stopping Blue from being with his true love, Hamal, is that he’s dead. This book is proof love transcends death. Blue is a ghost who’s been in love with Hamal for the longest time, and conveniently, Hamal can see ghosts. Except, with powers like that come great enemies.
Wynd by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas
Another sweet book for men who love men. Wynd is a simple and quiet soul, he works at a local tarven aand finds time to gaze at his love Intrest the castle’s ground keepers soon. All would have been okay except Wynd is a magical folk and they are outlawed in Pipetown and trust that that revelation leads him to an interesting adventure.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
While, as queer Nigerians, we can’t understand the reality of American immigrants, we do understand having parents who are so set in their ways coming out would feel like a betrayal. Tien enjoys reading with his parents even though they struggle with the new language. His love for books helps him assimilate the language faster until he can no longer communicate with his parents. It’s a delicate story of a boy finding the confidence to come out to his parents, and such a powerful read.
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
This queer graphic novel is every 20-something’s reality — trying to move out and find yourself, full of big dreams, but your parents have other plans. It’s Ari’s reality too. His parents hope he’ll stay in town and help with the bakery, but Ari wants to move out to become a famous musician. He starts finding a replacement baker to work at his parents bakery, Hector, but then sparks begin to fly.
Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin and Nina Vakueva
Volume 1: Riot On The Radio focuses on Chris and her job at a record store she thinks her co-workers hate her. That’s until she discovers they’re an undercover all-female fight club. For all the music-loving queers, this is a great short read full of badass fight scenes and music recommendations.
Hi, I’m Shelah Jegede, a 25-year-old bookstagrammer who writes book reviews.
I like rock music. I read a lot and work at a bookstore as a buyer/procurer. For fun, I watch anime. I don’t really think I’m interesting.
What’s your favourite anime?
One Piece!
See, I don’t know why I asked. Your Twitter name is “Luffy’s wife”
Laughs* Yeah, that’s my favourite anime.
So, you’re a bookstagrammer. How did that happen?
I have a friend, Uche, who ran a bookstagram account two years ago. I read a lot, and I’d tell him how good I think a particular book is, so he asked me to open one too. I was so confused about what a bookstagram account was. He showed me his page, and I saw that the people he was following and his followers were all book accounts. I opened mine in 2020.
What’s it like to be a bookstagrammer?
You get to meet many people and work in the book industry. It’s always funny to hear people say, “Nigerians don’t read,” because working in the book industry has shown me that’s a lie. The sales we make daily at the bookstore where I work, selling only books, show that a lot of Nigerians read. I’ve seen someone walk into the store and buy ₦100k worth of books just like that. Not for a library or charity, just for themselves.
Have you always been a big reader?
Yes, I’ve been a big reader since I was a child. I always make sure to read 100 pages every day.
What types of books did you read as a child?
When I started reading, I didn’t read children’s books. I was reading thrillers and horror when I was like seven.
So like Goosebumps? Please say Goosebumps
Yes, I read those, but I started with the gory ones. It got to a point where my mum started burning my books when she noticed I was buying and reading stuff like that.
Do you think those books had any influence on you?
Well, I’m goth. I’ve always been into dark stuff like rock music and horror. I used to take pictures at home dressed as a goth, but I no longer have time for that. I also have a lot of tattoos, and people are always surprised by them. It’s just what I am and what I’ve always been. I can’t go full goth to work, but I always wear black. When people ask if I’m mourning someone, I just explain that I’m goth and can’t express myself how I’d like.
And you said you’re not interesting. If you could live in a fictional universe, what would it be?
I wouldn’t survive but the universe of Six of Crows. You can only survive if you have money. Actually, even money can’t save you. Tbh a better option would be One Piece. I’d like to chill with Luffy and the gang.
How many books do you own?
I own a lot of books. I started to run out of shelf space, so now, they live in boxes. They should be up to 300.
What! How do you handle rodents?
I don’t have rodent issues. They don’t disturb my books.
How can you afford that? Are you laundering money?
Laughs* I’ve been buying books since I can’t remember. Plus the old ones and the ones I’ve been given. If I have a book I don’t like, I read and sell or give it out.
Does working at a bookstore get you discounts?
Yes, I get discounts. I also get proof copies. Also, one advantage of running a bookstagram account is authors and publishers will reach out to you for book reviews. I don’t review books for self published authors in Nigeria anymore because they don’t take criticism well. They also like to pay, and I don’t like getting paid so I don’t feel obligated to write a nice review. If your book is horrible, I’ll say it’s horrible, and I don’t want money to tie me down.
Ever had issues because of a bad review you wrote?
Yes, two of them. I didn’t even give bad reviews. I have a reputation on Instagram as the Gordon Ramsey of books because I’m always honest. The first author sent me a review copy, and the book was awful. I had to force myself to finish. When I was done, I took a picture and said, “For reasons known to me, I will not be reviewing this book”, and she blocked me. What if I had reviewed the book instead?
The second author wrote about queer people condescendingly, and it had nothing to do with the plot. It was even Christian fiction. I had to call it out. Then she wrote a blog post saying how she was not homophobic. I told her to write her Christian fiction and go away, abeg.
How do you get to review books from non-Nigerians?
You reach out to the publishers, not the authors, and tell them what you do. Share your handle and where you’d be reviewing it. Some of them will air your message because, who are you? And there is this bias they have towards African book reviewers. During COVID, they told me that because of the pandemic, they couldn’t send books out, but they sent them to other non-Africans. It’s just luck. Most times, I just buy the book.
What are some other struggles you face as a bookstagrammer?
Sometimes, it can be overwhelming when other bookstagrammers are reading a so many books. I feel pressured to do the same. There’s also the pressure of taking nice pictures. Sometimes, I take breaks from posting so I don’t feel pressured and can just enjoy my book. Another thing is there’s always the pressure to read popular books. People ignore you when you’re talking about the non-popular ones, except you already have a following.
How did you become the Gordon Ramsey of book reviews?
There are these popular books people on TikTok always say are interesting, but when you read them, it’ll be the worst thing you’ve ever read. No plot, just heterosexual sex. I started doing this thing where I review those specific books, dissect and tell people how trash it is.
There was a time when I said many writers on TikTok don’t know how to write romance. They’d write sexual connections and sell them as romantic, and people started agreeing with me. I like romance but let it be well written. I’m just tired of the heteronormative rubbish in romance. If it’s good, I won’t say it’s bad. I thought people would unfollow me for these opinions, but it turns out they like them.
Which romantic books do you consider well-written?
I’ll say She Gets the Girl, the Heartstopper series. I don’t read a lot of romance; fantasy is my favourite genre. Six of Crows is fantasy, but some of the characters were in love and had good relationships. The Song of Achilles is also good, and finally, Seven Days in June.
Her favourite books right now
Which do you prefer, hard copies or ebooks?
Definitely hard copies. I don’t enjoy reading on my phone; it’s very distracting.
Book pet peeve?
Unremovable stickers and annotating books. I can’t stand it. Just get a jotter or something. It’s like defacing a beautiful white wall. Why would you do that? Get sticky notes, don’t just write on the book nau.
No. Let’s fight because I annotate. Let me guess, you don’t lend people your books, right?
Let’s not fight, please. I don’t borrow people my books oh. I’d rather buy you a copy. I had this book titled Knots and Crosses, a series about an alternate universe where white people are oppressed. I borrowed this boy, but he didn’t tell me he was travelling. I didn’t see him for a week so I visited and his Grandma said he’d travelled. With my book! I bought a new one, but never again.
What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about being a bookstagrammer?
Just discussing books with people is what I love most about it. I love when I post about a book I’m reading, people reply, and we have the most interesting conversation. I don’t like the arguments and when people are snobbish with books that aren’t even good.
D’you think you’ll still be talking about books in the next five years?
Way more even. I’ll still be reading and reviewing books. That can never change. I’m thinking of starting a sapphic book club. The idea is nice, but I’m not an extrovert and gathering people together is hard. It’ll be monthly, for people who are just starting to read and want something fluffy. No pressure to read whatever we’d be reading monthly.
What’s your favourite quote about books?
A book is a gift you can open over and over again. I don’t know who said it.
Eloghosa Osunde has written one of the most talked-about books of 2022. Her debut novel, “Vagabonds”! introduces audiences to complex characters navigating life as outliers in a society that sometimes refuses to see them. While fiction can sometimes be alienating, Eloghosa’s work feels real, familiar even, and a reminder that beneath every smile and encounter lies a stranger’s story waiting to be told.
While I had my own questions about the book and her writing process, I thought it’d slap harder if I invited some of her biggest fans to submit questions for the rockstar storyteller. They asked and she answered.
What are you feeling right now?
I’m feeling… overjoyed. I’m a little exhausted. In love. At ease. In awe. Thankful.
How do you weave your characters into being? I’m curious about how you craft these characters in a way that feels so real to the rest of us.
By listening to the story and what it needs; by listening to the characters and what they want to share; by thinking seriously of stories as powerful forces that can (and do) alter our lived realities. When I remember to do these things, what I choose to write about and how far I will let myself go reflects them too.
Are you a linear or non-linear writer?
Neither and both. Some stories move from start to finish. Some start at the end, others in the middle. I do what each story needs.
Tell me about your connection to Benin and how it influences your work?
My entire lineage is from Benin, and because of this, there aren’t many things about life that shock me. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve been there or are from there. Hard to explain, but basically, almost everything in Benin is openly spiritual. Almost anything can happen right in front of your eyes. Seeing Benin at different points in my life is part of why spiritual and physical realms are interwoven to me. I write how I see, so the stories carry this energy too.
Do you ever worry that people might misunderstand your work?
Not so much anymore. I used to, until a few years ago. But even then, I had more pressing anxiety about people seeing my work before I felt ready to share it. If something I’ve made feels complete or clear to the people who know me or to the people it’s for, other people’s understanding (beyond that point) only affects me if I’m also joining them in misunderstanding myself. I understand my work enough for that not to happen often. I’m also blessed with readers who take their time to read what I’m saying, who share their insights as they go, and I’m so thankful for this because it makes it so much easier to ignore those who don’t.
How much of your work is really fiction? Do you see the world the same way your characters do?
I don’t know that what I write is always fiction. It’s storytelling and a kind of literature that feels personal, historic and ancient. Sometimes, I search for characters in my mind who have answers I don’t. Sometimes, I write a character as a way to reach out to a past or future self. Many of the characters I write could easily be in my life. Like the protagonist in Good Boy. Or Maro. Or May. Daisy and Divine are familiar to me. So is Rain. So is Wura. Other characters you haven’t met yet, too. They’re part of my community, so writing these stories is like encountering spirits of all ages who trust me and who I trust to help me navigate this life. Sometimes, I make that process public. Other times, I don’t.
What did 2020 do and undo for you when it comes to your writing?
It undid my relationship with urgency. Being forced to slow down helped me make a new writing pace and practice that involves more patience and care.
Be honest, are you TaTaFo?
How?! DKM.
You’ve spoken about making time for work and for joy. Considering how you have a lot going on right now, how you dey run am?
My daily life is full of joy and that makes me happy. I make sure I don’t miss out on beautiful ordinary moments at home or pressure myself to be busier than I need to be. I say no to opportunities that don’t serve me and take every single chance to celebrate milestones as they happen. The people in my life make that experience so much richer. I’m thankful for them.
You wrote this book for queer babies like me, and while I’ve taken so much from this book already, I still have to ask: What feeling do you want us to walk away with when we put down this book?
I’m so glad you enjoyed this reading experience! What feeling do I want readers to walk away with? Whatever feels true. Seriously. People have been paying attention to the parts of the book that strike them, move them, or create a new desire they thought was impossible before. They’re taking scenes, language and passages, and applying them in real life. I love that I get to see this in real-time. For queer people who read this book, I hope that somewhere in the mix of things you’re probably feeling, there’s hope, courage and the reminder that nothing is impossible, whether that is a lasting love or a community of people who get you for you, or a whole new family, or dance and laughter after a rough patch.
Is it too soon to ask what’s next?
The answer isn’t one thing, and I’m not ready to share that yet.
Take away the inspiration behind the title. What does it mean to be a Vagabond! according to Eloghosa Osunde?
To be free, audacious, self-accepting and gracious. To be an outsider of any kind. To be a strange thing without remorse.
Everyone knows that Nigerian women are best in everything, including writing books. In these books, there are good and bad women, there are strong and weak women who fight for themselves and for those around them. Here’s a list of books written by Nigerian women that everyone should read.
1. Second Class Citizen — Buchi Emecheta
This book features a middle-aged woman who defies tradition to find independence. If that’s not enough empowerment for women’s month, I don’t know what is.
In this book, the women are fearless. We learn that being bad and being good are social constructs. We also learn to support not just women’s rights but also women’s wrongs. You should inject it this minute.
3. Ogadinma Or, Everything Will Be All Right — Ukamaka Olisakwe
The book follows a teenager in the 1980s as she finds her voice after a traumatising event. It’s a soft read that you’ll want to share with your friends.
Ayobami Adebayo wrote a timeless book about how the pressure to have children and perform the duties of women in a patriarchal society takes its toll on women over time. You can even share this book with your mummies and aunties.
5. Everything Good Will Come – Sefi Atta
In Everything Good Will Come, women define what independence meant to them after the Biafran war in a Nigeria where even men had to bow to authority. 10/10 recommendation.
6. On Black Sisters Street – Chika Unigwe
The story follows four African women who become sex workers in Belgium to raise money for their families and pay back their traffickers. It’s a heartbreaking story but it’s one of those books everyone should read to learn about worlds beyond theirs.
7. Under The Udala Trees – Chinelo Okparanta
This book follows a girl who discovers early that she’d have to hide her love for women. This secret almost costs her her life. In the end, though. she chooses herself. It’s one of Chinelo Okparanta’s finest works.
8. Ordinary People – Diana Evans
Similar to the theme in Stay With Me, Ordinary People depicts a middle-aged couple struggling with different layers of marital crisis. It’s a well-written book that deserves its flowers.
Many millennials discovered their passion for books in different forms: a literature book, FOMO because all your friends were reading or just general curiosity, etc. Whatever reasons that made us love books were good enough.
In this article, I’m going to share some of my personal favourite books that were definitely some of yours too.
1. Koku Baboni — Kola Onadipe
I read this book when I was in Primary 5 and it’s one of the books that have stuck with me since then. It was part of the school curriculum but it was very well written for kids. Koku Baboni is a story about an abandoned boy who was rescued by an old lady and raised by her. I hope to get a copy and read it again. 10/10 book.
2. A Woman in Her Prime — Asare Konadu
I’m glad that books written by African authors have come a long way from being forced into school curriculums. But I’m also glad that this was included in mine back in the day (the day being 2010). This book made me know what a woman being in her prime really means to society. It touches on barrenness, the need to have children before your “time” runs out and how much women sacrifice to have children of their own.
3.The Joys of Motherhood— Buchi Emecheta
The first time I read this book, I was too young to understand the intricacies of it, but I know I felt nothing but grief at the end. A young woman who had many children died on the road at the end of the book. The Joys of Motherhood conjured so many emotions in it: from rage, to hope, sadness, pity, exhaustion, more rage, etc. It’s What a life!
The concubine is about a woman whose husbands die after marrying her. The book touches on Igbo culture, tradition and the worship of gods amongst the eastern people of Nigeria. I don’t remember much about it, but I know it’s a book I should pick up to read again.
5. Purple Hibiscus— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Purple Hibiscus touches on several topics, but for me, it mostly opened my mind up to the complexities of fanaticism. Beyond its focus on religion, the book also focuses on life from childhood to teenagehood and family and societal impacts on young adults.
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.
Adapting a book and transferring it to the screen is no easy task. While Hollywood is known for churning out like 80 adaptations a year, Nigerian novels rarely get adapted, and even when they do, some of them make us wish the source material had been left alone. Following the success of Kunle Afolayan’s Swallow (and its many wigs) and HBO’s current adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s Americannah starring Lupita Nyong’o, we decided to list out some of the other adaptations we’re excited to see in the coming years.
1. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives – Lola Soneyin
While Lola Soneyin’s debut novel has already been adapted into a critically acclaimed play starring Bimbo Akintola and Uzor Asimkpa, in 2020, EbonyLife Studio’s Mo Abudu announced that she was adapting the award-winning book in a collaboration with Netflix.
The book, which can be described as Fuji House of Commotion on steroids follows a polygamist, Baba Segi, and the chaos that unfolds when he decides to bring in a younger, more exposed woman into the family as his fourth wife. Although we don’t have a date yet, let’s just say we are super excited to see this one when it hits the screen.
Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi
A controversial story and a pretty interesting read, Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater is the autobiography of an Ogbanje. Yes, you read that right. Its lead character Ada begins to manifest different alter egos and down the line, shit blows up fast (read it for the full gist). An adaptation was announced back in 2019 by FX, the American channel known for another creepy show, American Horror Story. We’re still waiting to see it, so fingers crossed.
Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi
There was a time when almost everybody had a copy of this book either in their hands or somewhere in their house like a piece of decoration. While the author has been known to get into a little bit of drama here and there, we’re still gassed to see the adaptation of this award-winning book. The book follows its protagonist, Zellie as she fights to restore magic to the Orisha Kingdom. Currently in development at LucasFilms—the brains behind Star Wars, this is one book that seems to be in long development hell. Anyway, we’re willing to wait.
Who Fears Death – Nnedi Okoroafor
For a country that understands the intricacies of juju, it’s funny that we don’t have a lot of books that focus on magic. Chronicling the magical journey of its protagonist, Onyesonwu, Who Fears Death is one of Nnedi Okoroafor’s best works. The science fantasy novel is set to be adapted by HBO into a television series. Why are we itching to see this? Bruh, HBO gave us Game of Thrones, so we already know this adaptation is going to be fire.
Death and the King’s Horseman – Wole Soyinka
Although Chimamanda Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun gave us a fictional glimpse into Nigeria’s political history, not a lot of Nigerian adaptations have touched on this. Based on a true story about the horseman of a Yoruba King who is prevented from committing ritual suicide by colonial authorities, this play has all the makings of a quality drama. Currently being shot by EbonyLife in collaboration with Netflix, this is one project we’re looking forward to, most especially because it’s one of the few being adapted by Nigerians.
As any Nigerian who grew in the Nigerian school system knows, there were certain novels we were made to read in literature class. Some of them were clearly written for kids while others were adult books we had to read anyway. I always assumed these books were picked just because they had lessons to teach or whatever, but I recently realized that it was much more than that.
The authors of these books seemingly aimed to teach lessons in the most horrifying ways possible. Some of them went so ham that the messages got lost in the horror. Here are a couple of offenders:
1)Ralia the Sugar Girl
Ralia is a happy-go-lucky village girl who everyone loves because she’s so…happy-go-lucky. At some point, she wanders into a forest and gets lost. While there, she runs into so much weird and scary shit. The worst of the weird shit is an evil topless witch with sausage boobs who threatens to dig out Ralia’s eyes and suck her blood, just because she trespassed on the witch’s property.
Ralia eventually finds her way home and the book ends. But I’ve always thought of writing a sequel, set three years after the events of the first book, where Ralia is in an asylum because she had a mental breakdown and murdered her entire family. The epilogue would see Ralia get a visit from a mysterious woman offering to get her out in exchange for her joining a secret organization.
The mysterious woman is Alice.
Alice from Wonderland.
2) A Mother’s Choice
Mother’s Choice is about a boy named Ade. Ade has just graduated from primary school and his mother insists (despite her husband’s concerns) that Ade go to secondary school in the UK. As a weird form of foreshadowing, Ade’s father tells his wife that whatever happens to their son during his time overseas will be her fault. She agrees and lives to regret it because Ade goes to England, becomes an alcoholic, gets hooked on drugs, engages in orgies with prostitutes, gets arrested, and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. So much shit happens that by the end, you’re left wondering what lesson you were supposed to learn.
3) A Chained Tomb
The narrative of A Chained Tomb spans a couple of decades in the lives of a couple of people (most of them relatives) living separate lives in the same town. The main character is a boy named Uze, and he is the absolute worst kind of offspring. He joins a gang, steals, beats his mother to death in a violent rage, etc.
By the end, Uze in prison for murder.. A friend of his named Jade comes to visit him. The warden informs Jade that Uze died two days prior. After asking to see where Uze’s grave, the warden takes her to a patch of land behind the building that serves as a burial ground for deceased prisoners with no family on the outside. Uze’s grave has an unmarked tombstone with a chain around it. Seeing the confusion on her face, the warden lets Jade know that chains are put around the tombstones of prisoners who died without finishing their sentences, to KEEP THEIR SOULS BOUND UNTIL THE END OF THEIR SENTENCE.
And that’s how the book ends.
TF?!
4) The Gods Are Not To Blame
You know what? I don’t think 12-year-olds need to be reading the Yoruba version of Oedipus Rex. I mean, the story’s themes of how free will is a myth, and fate is inescapable are awesome. But this story also contains patricide, incest, suicide, and self-mutilation.
Let’s face it, reading can be tedious. With a crippling work schedule, long commute time, and so many adult things to catch up on, books are not just it. Especially self-development books that can sometimes be difficult to grasp. You want to relax after a long day at work and not read anything unexciting. To save you that stress, I read some of what is generally considered as the best self-development books.
Below are key lessons from the books (something light):
1) “The Power Of Habit” – Charles Duhigg.
Summary: You can learn and unlearn any habit.
Habits are neurological patterns formed in the brain and there are three parts to the formation of any habit – the trigger, the routine, enjoyment. Understanding this helps on the journey to either forming or dropping any habit. The best part? – one good habit can help in the formation of other good habits and vice versa.
2) “How To Win Friends And Influence People” – Dale Carnegie.
Summary: Smile, don’t be an asshole.
Genuinely care about people and their interests. You can never go wrong with kindness, being genuinely concerned, a smile, and a sprinkle of emotional intelligence.
3) “The Course Of Love” – Alain De Botton.
Summary: “Love is a skill rather than an enthusiasm.”
When all the excitement and hormones of infatuation fade away? Will you still choose your partner down the line?
Maybe they don’t wash plates or they fight danfo drivers, will you still love them? or, they like cold indomie? What will you do? Learning to love someone is a skill that must be acquired like riding a bicycle. It’s not by gra gra. It takes patience, humility, and time.
4) “Shoe Dog” – Phil Knight (Founder of Nike).
Summary: Find the price for success, pay it, and hope you are lucky. Like really lucky.
Life comes with opportunity costs. The price of building a worldwide business comes with the risk of failure, losing valuable time with your kids, fighting with your best friends. It can also mean making your innermost dreams come to life and the development of one of the best sports brands ever. Life is a series of tradeoffs and always know the charges that come with any option before embarking on it.
5) Soldiers of fortune – Max Siollun.
Summary: Hands from Nigeria’s past still have a far-reaching effect on today’s reality.
Every young Nigerian should understand Nigeria’s history. This book explains how the period from 1984 to 1993 shaped Nigeria’s current reality across political, economic, and sometimes religious landscapes. It addition, it helps to understand how good intentions can quickly go bad. “You either die a hero or you live long enough to become a military dictator.”
If you grew up in Nigeria and aren’t Igbo, chances are that you probably heard about the Nigerian civil war in detail at a later part of your life. This is because shockingly, an important part of our history is left out of the school curriculum. Seeing as we are entering the decade of intense adulting – marriage, and other serious responsibilities are going to spring up. It is important that we don’t let down the next generation as we have been let down. Therefore, it is necessary we all know what happened so that we may tell the people coming after us. To better understand what transpired and to make sure it never repeats itself, here are some books to guide you on that journey.
1) The Making of an African Legend – The Biafra Story.
This an excerpt from the book:
” This book is not a detached account; it seeks to explain what Biafra is, why its people decided to separate themselves from Nigeria, how they have reacted to what has been inflicted on them. I may be accused of presenting the Biafran case; this would not be without justification. It is the Biafra story, and it is told from the Biafran standpoint. Nevertheless, wherever possible I have sought to find corroborative evidence from other sources, notably those foreigners (largely British) who were in Biafra at the start of the war.”
This book paints the transition from independence to the coup that led to the war. It also paints a total picture from where the country started, where it was headed, and how it veered off track. It is told from the perspective of a seasoned war journalist.
2) Oil, Politics, and Violence – Max Siollun.
A gripping excerpt:
“Underestimating the win-at-all-costs mentality of the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), the UPGA unwisely decided to boycott the elections on the ground that the NNA was planning to rig it… Due to the widespread electoral malpractices, President Azikiwe refused to call Balewa to form a new government following the elections. For several days, Nigeria teetered on the edge of an abyss as the President and the Prime Minister tried to scheme each other out of power”.
3) Why We Struck – Adewale Ademoyega.
Told from the perspective of one of the main coup plotters of 1966, this is an excerpt to show you how gripping the writing style is:
“It was the dramatic end of the regime of deceit, bad faith, ambivalence, misdirection, and misrulership. Ironsi’s regime was a colossal failure”
4) The Nigerian Revolution and The Biafran War – Alexander Madiebo.
The book starts with this excerpt:
“This book is not intended to serve as political propaganda material for the benefit of any section or group of individuals. It is rather a genuine attempt to render a dispassionate account of the Nigerian revolution and the civil war which took place from January 1966 to January 1970.”
5) The Tragedy Of Victory – Godwin Alabi-Isama.
Excerpt:
“My attraction to the army was rather unusual because there was nothing military about it. It was not borne out of the usual big talk of love for the fatherland to fight to save the country in the face of external aggression, or against centrifugal forces aiming at getting the country disintegrated. I was 19 years old in 1959 when I first saw the army march past at Oke Bola in front of Ibadan Boys’ High School (IBHS). I neither knew nor even suspected any potential threat to our country’s socio-political stability. But with the benefit of hindsight today, I can say that some important people might have known that real challenges confronted the nation and so did some senior military officers at that time.”
The best part of this book is the use of pictures to tell stories and the way the author takes you in the transition from peace to war using his life to map timelines. You also go from boyhood to manhood and from peace to war.
6) Surviving Biafra: A Nigerwife’s Story by Elizabeth Birdand Rosina Umelo.
The book draws you in with this introduction:
“One cold morning in 1950s London, Rosina (‘Rose’) Martin struck up a conversation with a young Nigerian on a station platform—Royal Oak, she recalls. The two were worlds apart; John Umelo, born in Eastern Nigeria, had come to London in the waning days of colonialism, ‘thinking the streets were paved with gold’. Rose was born and raised in Frodsham, Cheshire, a small market town of barely 5,000, about sixteen miles south of Liverpool. Over the next days and weeks, their relationship grew; defying social norms, they first lived together, had a son, and then married in 1961.”
This book is important because it tells the story from a civilian point of view and it is therefore apolitical, unlike many stories that are told by participants of the war. It is also from the perspective of one of the few women who have written about the war. It narrates what it feels like to be caught up in the war as an ordinary person.
Did we miss any book that paints an objective view? Let us know in the comments section.
Yeah, we’ve heard that Nigerians–Africans in general–don’t read. While awfully stereotypical that narrative is, it is also untrue.
Just like in any other place, there are individuals who love to read and some that can’t stand the sight of books. However, for those bibliophiles looking for where to buy used books, here are five places you can get them:
Ikeja-Along Bus Stop:
Beside the railway line, right under the pedestrian bridge. There are different genres to be found here, including sci-fi, dystopian, suspense, horror, romance and more. Book prices range from N100 to N1000. Yes, we know, that’s quite a steal!
Ojuelegba Bus Stop:
You’d find different kinds of used books here, but the book sellers mostly favor self-help books, old editions of fashion magazines, and newspapers. You can also get rare finds, books like Latin history, encyclopedias, Guinness book of record and more here.
Obalende Bus Stop:
Also a major bus-stop in Lagos like the other two, Obalende boasts of used book sellers although with fewer sellers and books. Here you’d mostly see African literature, children’s books and a few motivational books. Hardcore literature or classics are a rare find in Obalende
Egbeda Bus Stop:
There’s a used book seller by the bus stop, beside a shopping complex, who mostly sells genres such as romance, chick-lit, suspense and crime and the occasional classic. All at low cost, usually from N100.
Ikeja Bus Stop:
Yes, Ikeja again! Ikeja bus sop is filled with several used book sellers, some with kiosks, some with just tables and others displaying their wares on the floor. These sellers can be found in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Computer Village.
Used books that can be bought here include; self-help books, religious books, DIY, motivational, textbooks, fiction, nonfiction, memoirs,autobiographies and more. Prices start from N500.
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 thisUrban 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?
Published in 1984, Chinua Achebe addressed the problems of Nigeria as a country and the challenges that are keeping the country from being as great as it can be. The book, though only 68 pages long, provides a clear analysis of why Nigeria is the shit show it is now. The following passage will explain better:
‘The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.’
That is all from page 1.
With the chapter titles, Achebe lists out all the other problems that he had identified: Corruption, Social Injustice, Tribalism, False Image, Indiscipline etc.
2. Soldiers of Fortune by Max Siolllun
Published in 2013, this book tells the story of Nigeria’s political journey between the 1st of January 1984 and the 27th of August 1993.
The book is an objective analysis of the major events of the Buhari and Babangida era, revealing the true stories behind controversies like the annulment of the June 12 elections, the assassination of Dele Giwa, the execution of Mamman Vatsa and the failed kidnapping of Umaru Dikko.
3. How To Be A Nigerian by Anthony Enahoro
Published in 1996, this book is described as a guide for both Nigerians and foreigners on the conduct, demeanor, carriage, actions and misbehavior of the average Nigerian adult male and female. The author does this by turning a funny eye on the people around him and makes the whole thing even more hilarious by adding anecdotes and cartoons.
4. Oil, Politics and Violence by Max Siolllun
Published in 2009, the author traces the details of hopes and ambition gone wrong in Nigeria. It tells the story of how the hopes of Nigeria becoming Africa’s super power were dashed after gaining it’s independence from Britain by a succession of military authoritarian governments and military coups which went on from 1966 to 1999. It also shows how the different factions of the military were able to hold on to power and resist international pressure by exploiting the country’s oil wealth and ethnic divisions to its advantage.
5. Sozaboy by Ken Saro Wiwa
Published in 1985, this book tells the story of a young and naive boy, Mene, who joins the military during the Civil War for every foolish reasons. He believes it will make him an adult, get him the girl of his dreams (Agnes) and also earn him the respect of everyone back home in his village.
Not long after he joins, he realizes that he couldn’t have been more wrong.
6. Why We Struck by Adewale Ademoyega
Published in 1986, this book tells the story of the first military intervention in Nigerian politics in the form of the coup that took place on the 15th of January 1966.
This book is a captivating account of the most historical events in Nigeria because it is was written by the the last surviving member of the trio that planned and executed the coup, Major Ademoyega.
7. Sunset In Biafra by Elechi Amadi
Published in 1973, the author, Elechi Amadi, tells the story of how he resigned from the Nigerian army before the civil war began because he opposed the Biafran cause but still ended up getting caught in the cross fire.
8. A History Of Nigeria by Toyin Falola and Matthew Heaton
Published in 2008, this book offers a unique portrayal of Nigerians as a resilient people living in a country with great but untapped potential. It explains Nigeria’s recent troubles by exploration of its colonial and pre-colonial past and also, its journey from Independence to statehood.
9. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Published in 1958, the book follows the life and times of Okonkwo, an Igbo leader and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian village of Umuofia. It also chronicles the effects of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on the Igbo community.
10. Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta
Published in 1983, this novel tells the story Adah, a strong independent woman who struggles to overcome the strict tribal domination of women at the time and moves her family to London. Seeking a new and easy life for herself and her children, she encounters brutal racism and the harsh truths that come with being a new citizen in a foreign country.
Chimamanda Adichie, Uzodinma Iweala and a bunch of other amazing writers are proof that Nigerian books deserve a spot on the big screen.
23-year-old Tomi Adeyemi’s debut fantasy novel, ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ recently got signed by Fox 2000 – which means another Nigerian adapted film will hit the cinemas real soon!
The Black Lives Matter- inspired book (which is not even published yet), tells the story of a little girl, Zelie Adebola and her stand against oppression.
While details of the film are still unknown, we can only wait impatiently to see how great this film turns out.
Also, you can keep up with Tomi Adeyemi’s work w=on her website, TomiAdeyemi.com.
While some Nigerian musicians like Tiwa Savage and Wizkid are gradually taking over the world with their artistry, a certain D-List musician, Peeshaun from musical duo, Skuki, has decided that the next path in life for him is to write books.
That shouldn’t be a bad idea actually. People can decide to shelve their creativity for a while and show the world their intellectual side.
But when the said book is about the same old boring relationship advice for women, you can imagine how hard we rolled our eyes.
As if the ridiculous ‘Act Like A Woman, Think Like A Man’ ideology isn’t bad enough, Peeshaun’s book aims to teach women ‘how to make their man fall in love over and over again’.
He claims his book aims to dish quality relationship advice to single women aged 18-40 from a guy’s point of view.
Words are not enough to describe how ridiculous that is. But one thing needs to be said, women don’t need any more ‘think pieces’ on how to keep a man, sincerely, mind your business!
Instead, Peeshaun needs to mind his business and probably work on being the A-list musicians, Skuki have been trying to become all these years.
Balaraba Ramat Yakubu is one of the few indigenous authors whose works have been translated into another language and made into a movie.
She is also one of the pioneer writers of Littattafan Soyayya (Books of love) genre which started and has now become popular in Northern Nigeria.
However her life as an author didn’t start as beautifully as the books she wrote…
At 12, Balaraba Ramat Yakubu was pulled out of school by her father when he discovered she had been secretly going to school and married her off to a 40 year old man despite protests from her older brother, Murtala Mohammed (former Military Ruler of Nigeria).
And because she was the imperfect wife who couldn’t conveniently boil even a pot of water, she was sent back to her parents, in disgrace.
The end of her first marriage strengthened her resolve to get an education even more. With help from her mother, she attended adult education classes themed at reading and writing Hausa under the guise of learning sewing and knitting.
Her father discovered her primary school certificate and simply responded by informing her of another arranged marriage.
At 15, she walked into her second marriage with a little sense of fulfilment at having at least an elementary education. However, this marriage was unsuccessful because she was “too independent” and wasn’t as obedient as her husband wanted her to be.
At 18, she was once again sent back to her parents but she stood her ground to complete her education this time around.
She enrolled at the Kano State Agency for Mass Education and later went on to teach other women Hausa language.
Two failed marriages and 5 children later, Balaraba gave up on the institution of marriage and focused on her writing career.
Her first book, Budurwar Zuciya meaning ‘Young At Heart’ was published in 1987. In 1990, she published Wa Zai Auri Jahila (Who will marry an ignorant woman) which was inspired by her life as a child bride and centered around a 13 year old girl who was pulled out of school and forced to marry an elderly man.
And in spite of the ground she has gained among her readers, she received threatening letters and was the subject of criticism from religious clerics.
However, she continues to write stories that address rape, child marriage, maltreatment of women and domestic violence, all in Hausa language.
Some of her work have been translated into English. An excerpt of Wa Zai Auri was also translated into English by Carmen McCain.
At 57, she continues to speak out against injustice against women especially in Northern Nigeria and works as the program officer coordinating trauma counselling at the Murtala Mohammed Foundation.
With help from the team at the foundation, she counsels victims affected by Boko Haram attacks and offers them support.
