Feb 20, 2019 black history month gives us 29 days to honor african americans and the everexpanding contributions they make to culture. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or. With thousands of registered members and vibrant communities on twitter and facebook, africa book club is a leading destination for readers interested in african literature. Chinua achebe is one of the best african authors who have contributed a lot in the field of african literature.
Achebes characters pepper their speech with proverbs in things fall apart 1958. The literary traditions of the region have been shaped by these interlocking cultural histories, just as the cultural identities of the region are products. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Her works and life were usually preoccupied with several issues such as power, gender relations, and inequality. Chinelo okparanta looks at six west african books that each take a. His first groundbreaking novel titled things fall apart was published in 1958. This anthology is a radical collection of love stories from african women. It also has an englishlanguage version modified, which may be helpful. For authors and publishers interested in promoting their books, africa book club provides a number of opportunities. Jul 18, 2017 nevertheless, im grouping these picture books together because i think it is a useful way for parents to get started sharing these books with their children.
Finally, it has arrived and once more, the ukbased ugandan writer has. I visit the bookstores or internet looking strictly for books by my favorite authors such as j. Now there are tons of books from different cultures all over the kid book market for us to read alongside our kids. Poetry, business leadership, academic novel, drama, fiction, nonfiction, biography, and more. One of africas most influential women authors, mariama ba is known for her powerful. The top west african diaspora authors you must read. Aalbc is the largest and most popular online bookstore dedicated to african american literature and black literature from around the world. In general these west african novelists have treated four areas. Early west african writers is a thoughtful and provocative book, challenging readers to rethink familiar literary categories as well as addressing broader questions of african nationhood and identity. Instructions to authors papers for submission to the west african journal of applied ecology should be written in english and should not exceed 8,000 words in total length. South africa, zimbabwe, nigeria, tanzania, kenya, mauritius. This is a list of prominent and notable writers from africa.
And i learned all about how animals lived in their houses and liked to dress in clothes and speak when were not looking. She has been regarded as one of the best and most original african authors to come from west africa. Liyou libsekal is an ethiopian poet who spent a number of years in the u. So i have not got to the part of the book where the quote i want to end this blogpost with is located. The collection is a radical departure from conventional anthologies and the love theme is aimed at debunking the myth that african. Todays writers are as bold, unique, and captivating in their various styles, broaching topics from queerness to gender identity, and west african mythology to postcolonial migration among other things. The red sea press is also a distributor of books of over 250 publishing companies, specializing in books by and about people of african decent and the african diaspora. I want to thank the british council for this great partnership and for their strong belief in the development of african writers. An honest, compelling, surprising, and vastly reassuring book about the spiritual life of women. Adichies works are primarily characterdriven, interweaving the background of her native nigeria and social and political events into the narrative. Why i chose an african publisher over a western one books.
Jul 16, 2019 from evocative prose to moving memoirs and hilarious satire, we bring you some of africas best reads from the first half of 2019. West african book publishers, nigeria liquidity management in nigeria by ademola ariyo west african book publishers, nigeria. As an activist, panafricanist, sociologist, educator, historian and prolific writer, w. Browse a long list of black female and male book writers authors in the african continent and their books. A wave of new fiction from nigeria, as young writers. However, it includes many authors who have published only a single book, and their works are hard to find. Owomoyelas portrait points to the major impact of west african literature on the evolution of both african and world literatures in english.
Unfortunately, in this new and unfamiliar setting, boy is made to deal with some. After i finished writing my novel in 2007, i asked friends living in britain to mail the. The 10 best contemporary african books culture the. Africas 100 best books of the 20th century african. There, she discovers her ancestors and becomes entangled in their lives. Boy novak, a young white girl traumatized by her home life, runs off on the day of her 20th birthday from new york to flax hill in an attempt to escape the clutches of her abusive father. The 10 best contemporary african books culture the guardian. Two other famous africans authors were tertullian ca. Authors great listens from african american authors. It sent more than 460 cuban doctors and nurses to west africa. The black notebooks is one of the most extraordinary and courageous accounts of race in this country, seen through the eyes of a lightskinned black woman and a respected american poet.
Sep 08, 2017 a quick browse through their online bookstore shows a vast array of subjects and genres, including fiction, nonfiction, and childrens literature. Along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a collected edition of a major living african poet each year, and this year it is gabriel okara, the only person who could ever be called both the elder statesman of nigerian literature and the first modernist poet of anglophone africa. Butlers kindred is a classic of african american science fiction. Aug 25, 2012 the 10 best contemporary african books. Afrikaans literature in south africa can be viewed in the context of dutch literary tradition or south african literary tradition. However, it was posted on the pan african tumblr, dynamic africa, and coincidentally my mum who was reading the book said to me, mimmi. He was born in 1930, and schooled at the university of ibadan, nigeria. Achebe focused first on west african writers, but soon the series branched out, publishing the. This book provides a wonderful insight into the early period of christianity in west africa, and articulates its prechristian heritage significantly. Sure to become the definitive text for research in the field, the columbia guide to west african literature in english since 1945 is a vital resource for newcomers as well as for advanced scholars seeking. Kenyans are said not to have a reading culture, but undaunted, our writers have churned books over the last 50 years, some written in words that could.
Nov 30, 2014 in international conversations about african literature, their books receive no mention. Du bois was one of the most influential african american thought leaders of the 20 th. Born in nigeria in 1977, chimamanda ngozi adichie is part of a new generation of african writers taking the literary world by storm. Opinion african books for western eyes the new york times. The author also expressed that prior to christianity acculturation of elements of the traditional th african religious experience had occurred precipitated by contact with islam. Information for authors west african journal of applied ecology. What are the best books on african history and african.
It includes poets, novelists, childrens writers, essayists, and scholars, listed by country. Famous books of african authors literature nigeria. Her poetry explores the themes of identity, displacement and the reality of growing up away from home. Hear from the authors who brought their stories to life. One of the worlds most widely recognized and praised writers, chinua achebe wrote some of the most extraordinary works of the. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been published by heinemann since 1962. African american women of the old west profiles ten incredible women overlooked in most history booksincluding biddy mason, a slave who fought for her familys freedom. The fundamental desires of my protagonist, ijeoma, are unconventional in her west african setting in the sense that she does not find her value via an attachment to a man. These are a new wave of literary voices emerging from diasporans originating from west africa.
The top west african diaspora authors you must read culture trip. These are a new wave of literary voices emerging from diasporans originating from west. Why i chose an african publisher over a western one. The top 10 contemporary african writers you should know. As a person of ghanaian heritage, i enjoy discovering new ghanaian writers and learning about our pioneer writers. So far, cassava republic has published eight books in the united states, including childrens books, crime novels and literary fiction, a nonfiction book about the west african. Throughout the book, a major theme is the demonstration that, despite slavery and colonialism, africans remained very close to their. Africas 100 best books of the 20th century african studies. In geographical terms, west africa is bordered by the atlantic ocean on the west and south, the sahara desert on the north. The narratives depict the struggles of women trying to hold together their families and preserve their cultures, but they often find themselves overruled by men.
The author himself lived in africa for ten years, and his view in not that of an outsider, since it is as a black man that he speaks about black people. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been published by. Their tempered friendship turns into a beautiful love story, one filled with hardships, patiences, and the love of stars. Papers should not have been submitted or be considered for submission for publication elsewhere. West african authors who are also unconventional in their portrayal of. Questia compiled this list based on the mostread african american authors in their library a list of most influential african american authors might also include fellow omahan, malcolm x, the. Oh yes, i know all about those crafty animals and their secret lives.
His interviews and biographical discoveries raise fresh questions about key figures in west africa s national literatures. One of the first african writers in latin was apuleius 123180 ce, who wrote a bawdy picaresque novel in latin. Novels, biographies, politics, academics, business and. Ali mazrui came up with the idea of a list of africas 100 best books in order to direct the worlds attention on the achievements of african writers who have had their work published during the 20th century.
The paradoxical primacy of european languages in african literatures necessitates another anomalythe inclusion of a separate chapter on literature in african languages. Apr 20, 2016 the covers of both my books eschew the lazy visual tropes that are often relied upon by the publishers of african authored literature in the west think sunsets, bare torsos, palm trees. Things fall apart by chinua achebe, americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, half of a yellow sun by chimamanda ngozi ad. As more african literature began to be written and published in european languages, some scholars have criticized its place in the african academic community. Elizabeth thorn scott flood, a teacher determined to educate black children and aid them in leading better lives. The columbia guide to west african literature in english.
The series has ensured an international voice to major african writersincluding chinua achebe, ngugi wa thiongo, steve biko, ama ata aidoo, nadine gordimer, buchi emecheta, and okot pbitek. The collection is a radical departure from conventional anthologies and the love theme is aimed at debunking the myth that african women are poor and helpless victims. Acclaimed american poet, author and activist maya angelou was born in st. The novel tells the story of young boy, agu, who is forced to join a group of soldiers fighting a war in an unnamed west african country. Manchester happened by jennifer nansubuga makumbi upon finishing jennifer nansubuga makumbis debut novel kintu, many a reader sat in impatience waiting for news of her next book. Collected poems by gabriel okara nebraska university press along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a collected edition of a major living african poet each year, and this year it is gabriel okara, the only person who could ever be called both the elder statesman of nigerian literature. And though there is no shortage of secular writers writing about religion, aboulela is. Some of the first african writings to gain attention in the west were the poignant slave narratives, such as the interesting narrative of the life and adventures of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african 1789, which described vividly the horrors of slavery and the slave trade. Part of the heinemann african writers series, and later the penguin african writers series, neighbours tells the political story of a nation, which is often forgotten by the west, in a thoughtful and provocative manner.
Their electric offerings include poetry and literature, academic works, memoir, and biography. Being a lover of african literature and literature of the diaspora, i find that ghanaian authors and. Get your own author profile on, or let us host your primary web presence. The roots of englishlanguage literature in west africa may be traced to the formation of various cultures in reaction to external contacts during successive overlapping historical periods. These books have literary value and are mainly used as setwork material in schools. Lately, ive been interested in finding other west african authors who are also unconventional in their portrayal of love and marriage, of gender and power.
Literature in particular has been a space for black authors to tell their. As africans became literate in their own languages, they. List of books and articles about african literature online. List of books and articles about west africa online. African folktales for kids i have a penchant for pourquoi tales from all cultures and this list reflects that interest. Best books of the 20th century appearing in part two. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been. Black classic press is devoted to publishing obscure and significant works by and about people of african descent. From achebe to zora, youll discover a wide variety african american and black writers from all over the world.
The book is hailed for its confrontational and immersive firstperson narrative as well as for its depiction of the complexities experienced by child soldiers. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. His novella, every day is for the thief, was named a book of the year by the new york times. The covers of both my books eschew the lazy visual tropes that are often relied upon by the publishers of african authored literature in the west. Explore the most talented writers in africa and their books.
She may have been churning them out like butter for over two decades, but every new book brings new and. These new and upcoming books by black authors will. Its eastern border is defined as either the benue trough, or the line running from mount cameroon to lake chad. There are many, many reasons to love this book and each is a title in this brilliant collection. Within an african context, afrikaans literature will be forever on the outside. You may also share your work with readers on our discussion.
Welcome back to part 3 the final installment of the series. Upon finishing jennifer nansubuga makumbis debut novel kintu, many a reader sat in impatience waiting for news of her next book. Also check out a beautiful collage of all 25 african womens photos, a list of all of their books, and our list of 25 african male writers. We can basically all agree, as readers, that she is one of the greatest historical romance authorsand allout storytellersof our time, black, white or otherwise. African literature african literature literatures in european and europeanderived languages.
Many writers incorporate other arts into their work and often weave oral conventions into their writing. From a mystery novel set in nigeria to a scifi graphic novel following the life of a warrior princess, this list of books by black authors has something for everyone, no matter your genre. Blackowned publishers you need to know about book riot. Myth or reality by cheikh anta diop you can also watch his interview on youtube. He currently resides in brooklyn and is the author of four books. Oct 10, 2019 a new set of books inspired by real stories from girls in west africa aims to help girls navigate the unique challenges they face. Things fall apart by chinua achebe, half of a yellow sun by chimamanda ngozi adichie, purple.
This landmark book is spiritual precisely because it is authentic. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. The african writers series comprises a classic collection of literary fiction, short stories, poetry, translations, drama and nonfiction written by authors of african descent. Maria ba is also an african author born in 1929, dakar, senegal. South africa has a rich and vibrant history of producing excellent literature. As is the case with the language, it is caught in an identity crisis that was created. For example, literature in english is the subject of five chapters, and french the subject of three, while literature in portuguese is confined to a single chapter. Ali mazrui africas 100 best books of the 20th century project was first suggested at the 1998 zimbabwe international book fair in harare. It challenges all our preconceived notions of what it means to be black or white, and what it means to be human.
Africanamerican authors from african and the african. We celebrate black culture, through books, for readers of all backgrounds to enjoy. African authors and their books explore african books. This novel which has since been translated into over 50 languages due to its high demand, made achebe very popular. Her chapbook, bearing heavy things, is part of the 2015 african poetry book funds new generation african poets series.
Reading this post has opened my eyes to a new dimension entirely. In october, germany sent medical supplies, and later that month a hundred additional u. African literature literatures in european and european. Born in the us in 1975 to nigerian parents, teju cole is a writer, art historian, and photographer. This is the story of how a south african conspiracy to infiltrate and destabilise mozambique creates tragedy for ordinary people.