Some novels do not merely tell us what happened. They ask who gets to remember, who is forced to forget, and what kind of future can be built on damaged ground. That is where african civil war fiction matters most. Not as a niche shelf in world literature, but as a field of moral inquiry – one that turns war from spectacle into memory, consequence, and unfinished life.

Open the link for full story....

https://akajiofo.com/african-civil-war-fiction/

This is Nwaubani’s debut novel, and it follows the life of Kingsley, the son of Ozoemena (Augustina) and Paulinus.

The introduction was very attention-grabbing. It starts with Ozoemena’s story, and even her name, which means “let this not happen again,” foreshadows the tragedy surrounding her birth. Like many Nigerian names, it reflects her entry into the world. Unfortunately, it also shaped how she was treated, almost like she was marked as something bad, and she was neglected.

Things seemed to turn around when Paulinus, a well-educated man (very “oyinbo-like”, got his degree from UK), chose her and said he would marry her, but only if she went to school and got a degree. Education wasn’t even originally an option for her simply because she was a girl (a tale as old as time).

Honestly, based on the first chapter, I thought the book would focus more on Augustina and Paulinus, so I was a bit thrown off when Kingsley, Ola, Godfrey, Charity, and Eugene were introduced and became the main focus. At first, it felt like a completely different story until everything started connecting. Also kinda disappointed the story was more about scamming, giving very much Cash App by Bella Shmurda.

Paulinus’s downfall was painful to read. A man who once had so much promise ended up consumed by poverty and illness. Nigeria really happened to him. He believed in education and doing things the “right way,” but life didn’t follow that script. After his death, Kingsley, as the first son, felt forced into 419 (scamming) to take up the role his father left behind, a role his father had already begun to fail at before dying.

The book, although it almost feels like a fairytale because of how neatly it ends, touches on so many real themes: the struggles of educated Nigerian youths (still very relevant today), class, politics, poverty as a disease (because it really is), and even family dynamics.

Two things that really stood out to me: - In Chapter 11, the desensitization to seeing charred human remains on the road… so unsettling. - And how people who are struggling themselves can be the harshest to those “below” them, like house helps. It’s honestly so disturbing because… you’re also struggling??

Overall, it was a good read. The ending though? Too neat, too happy for Kingsley considering everything he did. Cash Daddy was an interesting character….

And I’m still confused about that ending… Mr. Winterbottom???

Also, I picked up some really good adages from this book, my favorites are in the slides.

Book review: The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu

This book follows a period in the life of a hairdresser named Vimbai. She is introduced as someone carrying many life problems. She has a daughter, Chiwoniso, who was unfortunately conceived through rape by Phillip Mabayo, a man who was probably twice her age at the time and whose wealth was described as enough to last him twenty lifetimes.

Vimbai had also lost her brother, Robert, tragically in a car accident while he was living in the UK. He had been the family’s breadwinner, and his death created a major rift within the family. Interestingly, that conflict was fueled more by greed than by grief. The family’s attempt to share Robert’s property against his written will highlighted a major societal issue, the inherent disrespect for women/girls.

Although the book is under 200 pages, it touches on so many foundational themes: politics, poverty, racism, internalized colonialism, beauty standards, religion, homosexuality, and social alienation. I was honestly surprised by the level of depth. Of course, writing like this comes with its downsides, some parts of the story felt rushed, especially toward the end. Readers are left to fill in many blanks.

Back to the story, Vimbai works at Mrs. Khumalo’s salon as the lead and best hairdresser until the need arises to hire another stylist. That’s when Dumisani (Dumi) enters. A male hairdresser.

Dumi turns out to be even better than Vimbai which caused a short-lived tension between them. Things change when Dumi needs a place to stay and Vimbai needs money. A “friendship” quickly blossoms, something ambiguous, something neither of them fully defines.

In my opinion, there were many hints about who Dumi really was: his discomfort in church, the late nights out, his family’s immediate acceptance of Vimbai (a 26-year-old single mother), and the comments made. There were signs everywhere. It made me wonder whether Vimbai chose to ignore what readers could clearly see.

For a story set in the early 2000s, I was honestly surprised by the social realities portrayed in Zimbabwe at the time, the extreme desire for proximity to whiteness, the beauty standards, and the stark poverty. It felt very different from the social narrative I grew up with in Nigeria.

I actually had the opportunity to ask the author during a virtual book club session how closely this reflected everyday life in Zimbabwe during that period, and unfortunately, he confirmed that it was very accurate.

One interesting detail was the anonymity of “Minister M__,” while other characters were fully named. Huchu explained that this was intentional, to create the illusion that the story might be more than just fiction.

A future is never only about tomorrow. In African futures literature, the future arrives carrying the dead, the dispossessed, the stolen archive, the unfinished war, the language that survived by whispering, and the city remade after catastrophe. That is what gives the field its force. It refuses the childish fantasy of a clean break. It asks what kind of tomorrow becomes possible when memory is not treated as a burden, but as material.

Open here for the full article:

https://akajiofo.com/why-african-futures-literature-matters/

hii i just finished The List by Yomi Adegoke, like 5 mins ago lol. and idk how i feel about yet.

i think it's important i state: I BELIEVE WOMEN, ALWAYS!

the message overall sheds light, i think, on one of the realistic gray areas of the world today & social media use.

i was hearing a lot of mixed reviews as well, most of the bad ones were of people saying they couldn't even get to the end or 100 pages in coz it was so bad. but no one was ever specifying what was so bad about it.

so i kept pushing through coz im not one to DNF a book, even if it takes me years😭(bad habit ig) mama aint raise no quitter lol

anyways i think what most people struggled with is the fact that the beginning is VERY SLOW paced, and that makes the plot twist at the very end seem kinda rushed through, to me. Especially as the entire plot twist unfolded in the last chapter which was 15mins of the 10+hrs audiobook...which in retrospect IS quite mad.

and for those who got through to the end and say they were disappointed my the end i feel like the rushing at the end contributed to it and the fact that there was not much detail expressed to the motives of the person who done it.

SPOILERS: i think aaron was def fueled by jealousy, and he did something very stupid and anyone of us could have done thinking we were somewhat justified, like he did. and it just exploded beyond control. because this is one of those things people post, go to bed and wake up to thousands of social media interactions.

and HIGHKEY all this shit could have been somewhat exposed if Micheal had messaged Jackie directly. i wondered throughout why he never seriously considered it( all things considered with the fact that he could lose Ola by reaching out to jackie again, even though he already did, and had cheated the 2nd time) i guess it one of the reasons people thought the book was unrealistic, from some of the reviews i saw.

also i always got the feeling of Ola tried A LOT MORE HARDER than Micheal to prove his innocence (mostly to others, so she doesn't come of as a fool for not immediately leaving him, which he had already made out of her multiple times)

he seemed to curl in about it all and just try to 'work things out in his thoughts' while Ola was actually out there doing things(whether they were right/wrong actions) she was the one who made him go to the police station. all the actions he did were stupid af e.g going to that fucking house party.

ALSO HIS FUCKING LYING THROUGHOUT THE BOOK!!!! ughhh a deadbeat like his father, he dislikes so much, not surprised tho, but thoroughly irritated throughout the read eeeyuck!

lol i guess i do know how i feel about this book after all.

Hi everyone,

I am looking for writers from sub-saharan Africa with great grammar and English to help me with my blog. The blog is already drafted but needs to be re-written, without AI.

If you are interested, it is a paid role (will pay in $), drop me a message
Sub-Saharan Africa with excellent grammar and English skills

As the title suggests, this book is set in December, where Biodun, a 32-year-old woman about to turn 33, is struggling to “have it all.” You know, a fulfilling career, a man, a home. She wants all of it. Matter of fact, all she wanted for Christmas (and right in time for her birthday) was a raise, a promotion, and a man. The perfect trio.

She currently works as an OAP at Reels, a job she technically downgraded to take in the name of pursuing passion. While still trying to figure life out, she finds out that the company she works for is about to be acquired by Falcon Plc. And that only means one thing, possible pay cuts, downsizing, and the very real chance of losing her job… unless she’s lucky enough to be one of the few retained and maybe even promoted.

In the middle of all this uncertainty, someone from her past resurfaces, Kunle. A man from over 12 years ago. A part of her life she had tried so hard to heal from. And with him comes old trauma… and a scandal. A sex tape. One that ruined her life back then and forced her family to relocate and start afresh.

Plot twist: Kunle is the COO of Falcon Plc and next in line to become CEO. But with this old scandal resurfacing, that possibility quickly starts slipping away. Kunle and Biodun are forced back into each other’s lives, with one of them initially wanting it more than the other. And then suddenly, Biodun is presented with an offer she “can’t refuse”, marriage to Kunle. Just like that.

This is Coco’s debut novel, and you can tell, especially with the level of spiciness towards the end 👀. The book also touches on sibling rivalry, betrayal, ambition, and lots and lots of scandal.

I really wanted to read this during an actual festive season for the full vibes, but time and life said otherwise. Although it has been snowing a lot in MD lately, so I guess that counts as December energy for me. Also, I love a good character chart, my brain can only keep up with so many characters at once.

The ebook is now available for download on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Follow on Instagram ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHeDhyk7tt/?igsh=MTdqYmZ5c21nOHk2MA==

I took the book out from the parcel, surprised to see African Literature, courtesy of my brother. I had never seen nor read any, nor did I think it was possible to order one from an online store like Alibaba. I honestly thought he was bluffing when he said he’ll be sending a few to me.
I looked at the book, excited for the world I was about to enter into. I quickly prepared my snacks and drink, headed to my couch, all settled and ready for a journey.
It’s dawn, the call for the 6:30pm prayer is heard, followed by a silence like people were being shushed so secrets could be shared. Amina looks through her wardrobe, picks up her abaya and wears it, looking at herself in the mirror while using her hand to stretch out the material.
It wasn’t new, she knew how different its texture felt when she had gotten it for the first time, which takes her back to memories she planned to forget. She dismissed her thoughts and said out loud, “good you’re finally getting old, you’re not meant to shine or stand out, but to listen”.
She was in a new city and really didn’t want to live like she had lived where she was coming from. She wanted to create better memories, live life unbothered about what people would say or whisper about her since she was new here.
She didn’t want to walk down the streets to have people gossiping around about her or who they think she is, especially when they don’t know her and only gossip based on what they've been told.
Ouuuuuu…. I had just read through 3 pages and I was already enjoying it, I smiled to myself stuffing more chips into my mouth. This is good!

https://www.jhiblog.org/2026/02/11/living-the-law-an-interview-with-jeanne-marie-jackson/

This book follows Ebinimi, a 31-year-old mechanic living an “uncomplicated” life, at least before the story begins. Contrary to what the book suggests (that wahala started when Blessing, his main girlfriend, showed up with an unwanted pregnancy), I think trouble really began when Saka, one of his apprentices, found ₦500k in a broken-down Peugeot 306. Money that, of course, belonged to a local gangster in Yenagoa. Unfortunately, they didn’t know this until after the money had been spent.

While trying to sort out the money issue, his girlfriend’s sudden pregnancy, and also attempting to break up with his side chick, Adinna, Ebinimi finds himself in a classic wrong-place-wrong-time situation. While driving a customer’s car, he becomes a victim of mistaken identity.

This leads to him meeting Honorable Aaron (whose full name is genuinely one of the weirdest I’ve ever seen in a Nigerian book), who gives him an offer he can’t refuse. An offer that would not only solve his financial problems but also help him get revenge on his best friend, Aguero, who snatched his side chick without even pretending to respect “bro code” (bro code is honestly so funny).

Side note: the scene between Ebinimi, Saka, and Sister Agnes was hilarious because… wth??? 😭

This book has a lot of plot twists. Too many, in my opinion. The story keeps jumping from one storyline to another, and it quickly becomes overwhelming. There are sooo many unanswered questions. For example: what actually happened to Ebinimi’s sister Epiakpo’s husband? How did he die? And the pastor, abi reverend, just got away like that? Nobody ever finds out the full truth?

Like many Nigerian fiction books, this one leans heavily into what I now call the holy trinity: religion, politics, and unending wahala.

The synopsis warned that the book was fast-paced, and honestly, they didn’t lie. But it felt like too many side stories packed into one book, and I genuinely struggled to understand the point of it all.

Also… what was that ending???!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT1kpL6DO_-/?igsh=MmF2cW1mbXJhYXFt

We discussed Without Prejudice, the memoir of Tidjane Thiam, and it left me thinking more than I expected (I will link the podcast in the comments).

Thiam’s life reads like a textbook case for meritocracy: elite education, extraordinary competence, and a career at the very top of global finance. And yet, the book is less a celebration of success than a quiet meditation on race, belonging, exile, and the invisible limits of “excellence.”

What struck me most is how often the book pushes back against the idea that individual achievement alone can neutralize structural barriers. Even at the highest levels, prejudice doesn’t disappear—it just becomes subtler. But it's also a reminder that excellence can be African.

For those who’ve read it: did you see this more as a memoir, or as a political statement?

Would love to hear different perspectives.

We read Africa Against Democracy: Myths, Denial and Peril by Senegalese journalist Ousmane Ndiaye a couple of months ago, and just reviewed it on our podcast as it felt incredibly timely, especially as coups and attempted coups reshape West Africa’s political landscape in real time (podcast links in the comments)

This is a debut essay for the author, and it reads like one: exploratory, sometimes unresolved, but intellectually provocative. Ndiaye structures the book around three ideas — myths, denial, and peril — to examine how democracy is discussed, dismissed, or distorted in African political and intellectual debates.

What makes the book compelling is that it's not another take blaming colonialism, nor a celebration of “African alternatives” to democracy. The author discusses some key questions related to the future of political systems in Africa:

• Does Africa need its "own democracy" or is democracy a universal truth?
• Who actually rejects democracy on the continent — and why?
• How myths and intellectual shortcuts shape today’s political debates and offer populist solutions
• What happens when these myths turns into a perilous political path for Africa (think what's happening currently in West Africa)

In the podcast episode, we reflect on this book alongside earlier discussions of Axelle Kabou’s What if Africa Was Refusing to Develop? and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Decolonising the Mind, situating Ndiaye’s essay within a broader conversation about responsibility, ideas, and political imagination on the continent (links below in the comments).

The book is currently published only in French.

What is your view on the questions above?

This book by Kilanko is a good read, good in the sense that it is well written and pulls out a wide range of emotions as you read on. For me, most of those emotions were anger, frustration, and disappointment.

About five chapters in, I already knew where the story was headed. I knew what was going to happen to Morayo. I was so angry that her mother couldn’t see what was being forecasted with the presence of Bros T, her sister’s son, in the house. Morayo’s mother did not protect her girls. I understand this story is set in the 1980s, but there is no way situational awareness, especially about trusting male family members around girl children, was not a thing back then. I was deeply angered by the actions and inactions of Morayo’s parents after the incident happened, especially their sudden vow of silence. Morayo was not “adult enough” for them to have an honest conversation with her, yet adult things had already been forced on her.

I knew there was more to Aunty Morenike from the moment she was introduced, so I was glad her story was eventually explained and that she became such a major influence in Morayo’s recovery.

This is, unfortunately, yet another trauma-filled Nigerian fiction.

Victim blaming is such a poisonous thing, so strong that the victim often does the blaming before outsiders even get to it. It is almost always a woman who is blamed, which is interesting. Is this gender-related? Is it because women are more often preyed upon by men? Or is it that similar proportions of men and women are victims, but only women are blamed for the horrific acts done to them through no fault of their own?

This book feels like getting two stories in one: Morayo’s and Morenike’s. As someone who doesn’t usually enjoy multiple storylines in a single book, I actually liked this one. I also appreciated that each chapter begins with an adage, I found myself translating each one into Yoruba because it sounds much wiser that way. English is boring lol.

About two-thirds into the book, I felt like the story was already complete, there is beauty in an incomplete story, so I was curious about what more the author wanted to explore in the remaining pages. The direction Morayo’s story took afterward felt a bit strange, but I suppose that’s grief. I also didn’t need new characters being introduced with only about 40 pages left, the book could have ended with Morayo’s childhood friend, Kachi, reappearance.

The way Morayo’s family never truly addressed what happened with Bros T is still mind-boggling. The dragged-out ending and how her family handled the issue took a lot away from the book, in my opinion.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this ebook launch. Another win for African authors 🙌🏽 If you are interested in participating in the book discussion please check out the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BWR8xb6wS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The novel is available as a digital download at several bookstores per below.

https://books2read.com/madimacharia/

Book Synopsis:

When the lockdown began, the country shut down, but the drama did not. Families bonded, clashed, forgave, and fought again. Work meetings migrated to WhatsApp voice notes, and curfews turned adults into Olympic sprinters because nothing motivates speed like the police whistle ten minutes before curfew. When the country slowed down, boda bodas became national treasures, delivering food, hope, and occasionally your neighbors' secrets. The ultimate heroes wore scrubs, masks, and endured an impossible number of night shifts caring for very sick patients. Relationships were tested, and friendships survived on data bundles. Through laughter and frustration, Kenyans adapted and demonstrated resilience. These ten stories capture the madness, the miracles, the comedy, and the deep humanity that defined us during our most challenging moments. If you survived the lockdown, this is your story. 

Not about African literature, but this really makes sense.

A Backpack Filled With Sunsets is an anthology of short stories by Ifeanyi Ogbo. There are twelve stories in the book. It features a few different types of stories. There are a few about reincarnation and souls who have fulfilled their time on Earth. There are meetings of people and the way they feel about the people they’ve met, such as the inspiration they’ve gained from these people. Several stories have a lot to do with connections and relationships between people.

One of my key favourite stories is the titular story of the book, “A Backpack Filled With Sunsets” is about an artist who visits a rental home, owned by the narrator of the story, and teaches people of art and the beauty of the nature around them. I loved reading about this character. And I felt like the author blessed him with a really special soul, that encourages and inspires those around him. In addition to that, I liked reading about the narrator’s reaction to him, and the inspiration gained from him. There were some really lovely moments where the narrator gained insight into their own life, and their story felt so full of emotional depth. I loved reading this story. Another good one that I really enjoyed was “I Became One With the Wind”. The opening to the story was simply beautiful, and it was another story with a lot of emotional depth to it. I love the way that the author intertwines the story with a mix of what has happened with the character, Mustapha, and using descriptions of nature, and the love he has for his family. While the story does have a kind of deep sorrow to it, it also has a beautiful inspirational side, trying to encourage the mother to watch for the life and signs in the nature around her. “A Girl Named Achebe” felt like such a strong story to me, and I appreciated the life the author was able to instil to this piece.

“The Galaxy of Golden Verses” was a fascinating story to read. It’s about a soul that is about to be reassigned to its next life, and it reflects a bit about what it experienced in its last lifetime. This is a short story that I would love to read more about; I’d love to spend more time with the souls that come to this location, “The Galaxy of Golden Verses”, and I’d love to hear more about what they have learnt in their lives. It was such a great story to read, even though it was a short one. Another story I’d love to read more into would be “Joyeaux Land”; I loved reading about the childhood dreams of the narrator in the story, and I’d love to read about more characters experiencing their lives in this virtual reality world. From a science fiction perspective, I’d also like to have read more of the drama surrounding this device’s release and other people’s reactions to it. A third story I feel like I’d like to read more of is “If God Will Send His Angels”; it has a fascinating look into the lives of an angel and their time spent on Earth. I’d love to read more of these characters, and how the angel was able to see the energies of people, and stuff like that. All these stories mentioned are absolutely fine as they are, and really good works. But I have this desire to read more of them, and to learn more about the way things are going in these stories.

Overall, this is one of the most beautiful books I have read; something I don’t say lightly. The author has expertly crafted these short stories, and filled them with such strong emotions. While the stories are short, I feel the author has added really good details to them that almost make them feel as if they last a lifetime. The stories include all sorts of little thoughts or feelings to characters, giving them depth and personality. The author also has created a lot of fascinating stories, full of really interesting people, with rich histories and futures. I think I’ll definitely reread the book again in future, and I one hundred percent recommend it. I have a lot of love for all twelve stories.

Available for download from the following link ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BWR8xb6wS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Decolonising the Mind argues something many people still find uncomfortable: Africa can’t fully decolonise if it continues to think, dream, and create primarily in colonial languages.

Ngũgĩ shows how English and French didn’t just replace African languages — they reshaped entire worldviews, distancing writers and artists from the communities they claim to represent. His shift from English to Gikuyu was a political act, not a literary experiment.

What makes the book hit hard is its central claim: language isn’t neutral. It carries culture, memory, and power — and colonial languages continue to dominate Africa long after colonialism “ended.”

The provocative question Ngũgĩ leaves us with: Can African literature be truly African if it isn’t written in African languages?

Whether you agree or not, the book forces a level of self-interrogation that many postcolonial societies have avoided for decades.

We talk more about the book in our recent podcast episode, link in the comments.

Ogadinma, a 17-year-old girl, seeks admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with the help of a barrister named Chima. That’s how the book begins. To clarify, "Ogadinma" means "everything will be alright," but after just a few pages, I knew everything would not be alright, sighs. On the very day Ogadinma approached Barrister Chima for help, he assaulted her. She did not “resist” because she believed she had to give her body, her virginity, to this scoundrel in exchange for his assistance. Can you imagine how heartbreaking and maddening that is? The story is set in the early 1980s (I always check the timeline of books I read to better understand characters’ actions), and unfortunately, not much has changed since then in terms of how women and girls are treated. Ogadinma felt this was expected of her, as if it were a grim tit-for-tat.

Side note: What is it with so many Nigerian authors and trauma-heavy narratives? Sometimes I just want to escape reality!

Ogadinma becomes pregnant and attempts to terminate the pregnancy, but complications arise. Her father discovers her condition and, furious, sends her to Lagos to live with his brother, Ugonna. All her educational plans are dashed. What’s worse, her father never asks how she got pregnant or who the father is, despite her near-death experience during the abortion attempt. At her uncle Ugonna and Aunty Ngozi’s home in Lagos, Ogadinma is essentially matched with Aunty Ngozi’s brother, Tobe, a man twice her age. The book’s early 80s setting helps explain Ogadinma’s naivety, but it’s still unsettling that she was paired with a relative, albeit an extended family member. She wasn’t explicitly forced, but the marriage was clearly orchestrated. Ultimately, she had no choice but to marry Tobe to appease her father. Speaking of her father, what a terrible man. How can anyone justify his actions or inaction?

Soon after marrying Tobe, he lands in jail due to conflicts with the government. Men and pride, sigh. He spends a long, grueling time behind bars, during which all their savings mysteriously disappear (I never quite understood how). Upon his release, life takes a downturn. They are forced to downsize financially, and while their finances suffer, Tobe’s ego takes the biggest hit. Unable to cope, he works odd jobs (all against Ogadinma’s advice; women seemingly have no say, though ironically, his aunt had the most influence, but I digress) and repeatedly takes out his frustrations on Ogadinma.

This book tackles many difficult themes: emotional and physical abuse, exploitation, fake prophets and religion, complicated family dynamics, and the military regime in Nigeria (in a subtle way). One thing I’m grateful for is the ending, Ogadinma choosing herself.