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Spotlight on Ms. Lyna Gitonga
About Ms. Lyna Gitonga Ms. Lyna Gitonga is a proudly Kenyan professional currently residing in the Netherlands. A Chevening Scholar (2017/2018), she holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from Queen Mary University of London. With extensive expertise in Financial Planning & Analysis, Audit, and Data Analysis, she is proficient in tools such as Power BI, Python, ERP systems (Dynamics AX & Dynamics 365), and EViews. Her background also includes a strong foundation in Project Management, specialising in Scrum Methodology and Design Thinking. Currently, she works for a leading global commercial equipment manufacturing company in the food and beverage industry, where she has successfully leveraged her skills in various impactful…
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The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas
Book Review First published: 2001 Genre: FictionNotable quote: “Time is a wonderful thing. It is an ointment. It is a healer.” – Page 64 Click here to buy Introduction Have you ever read a book and felt like you were home? The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas did precisely that for me. I could not put it down. Every page transported me back home, filling me with nostalgia and warmth. The novel is set in a fictional village based in Owamboland, where I am from, where the Ovawambo (not Ovambo, Ambo, Vambo, as we have often been mislabelled) of Namibia reside. Our tribe is divided into five mini-tribes, each…
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Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Author: Oyinkan BraithwaiteRelease Date: 2020 (Hush Collection) Formats Available: Kindle (free on unlimited), Audible (£1.99) Genre: Dark FictionSetting: Lagos, Nigeria Get book here BOOK REVIEW Summary Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite follows the story of an aspiring Instagram influencer, Treasure, who carefully curates a glamorous online persona—one far removed from her actual life. She borrows her wealthy employer’s belongings to maintain the illusion, as she works in an affluent estate in Lagos, hoping to grow her follower count and eventually monetise her presence on social media. Her life takes a dark turn when she crosses online paths with @Sho4Sure, a man who must be struggling with mental health issues because there are…
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I do not come to you by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
I Do Not Come to You by Chance book review Book Details Introduction I Do Not Come to You by Chance is a genuinely enthralling novel that follows the journey of Kingsley (Kings) Ibe, a well-brought-up and hardworking young man struggling to find employment after university. Living in poverty with his family, Kingsley faces numerous challenges until he reconnects with his uncle Boniface, also known as “Cash Daddy.” What follows is a gripping, deeply layered story about survival, family, morality, and the realities of navigating a failing economic system. I Do Not Come to You by Chance book review seeks to uncover these intricacies. Summary of the Book The novel opens…
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The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam
Author: Aida EdemariamPublished: 2018Formats Available: Kindle, Audible, Paperback, HardbackSetting: Ethiopia The Wife’s Tale book review Introduction Aida Edemariam’s The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History is a profoundly moving and beautifully written biography that brings to life the remarkable journey of Yetemegnu, the author’s grandmother. Set in Ethiopia, the book spans nearly a century, capturing the personal and political transformations that shaped Yetemegnu’s life. Book Summary The Wife’s Tale book review unpacks Yetemegnu’s life. Married off at a shockingly young age—less than ten years old—Yetemegnu became the wife of an influential priest and community leader, a man much older than her who called her “my child.” He was intelligent and composed, both…
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The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Book Details First Published: 2021Buy Book HERE Book Review Introduction “Freedom – I feel most free when I am myself: stripped of all pretenses, lounging naked on my bed, my boobies freely rolling wherever they choose.” Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah’s The Sex Lives of African Women is a phenomenal book that delves into themes of self-discovery, agency, identity, and the deeply personal journeys of African women navigating sex, love, and relationships. It touches on an incredible range of intersectional topics—non-heteronormativity, disability, long-distance relationships, online dating, marriage, polyamory, polygamy, religion, culture, spirituality, and much more. This book impacted me so deeply that I’ve listened to it three times in three years. Book Summary…
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Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku
Publication Date: 2021Available Formats: Buy Book HERE Book Review Introduction Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku – What a title! I was immediately drawn to this book just by its name—I was curious to find out why nearly all the men in Lagos were “mad”! I habitually never read blurbs before diving into a book, so titles play a significant role in my reading choices. This one intrigued me, and I suspected it would explore relationships and everything that comes with them and the realities of dating in Nigeria. Summary This collection of 12 short stories did not disappoint! Each one had me laughing out loud,…
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The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Book Details Year Published: 2021Available Formats: Kindle (£0.00), Audible (£1.74)Buy Book HERE Book Review When I first started reading The Visit, I was a little confused. Like most books I read, I went in blind—no previews, no reviews—just an open mind. But within a few pages, I realized what was happening, and I absolutely loved it! Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie flips the script in this thought-provoking short story. The Visit follows Obina, a house husband with a successful wife, as he receives a visit from an old friend who now lives in America. Obina is unemployed, staying at home to care for their children while his wife works long hours, often away…
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Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
First Published in 2003Available formats: Audible (included in membership), paperback, hardback, Kindle UnlimitedBuy book HERE Book Review and Reflection Purple Hibiscus is not based on actual events, but reading it gives the impression that it could be. In this debut novel, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie delivers a profoundly intersectional and complex story of family life, domestic abuse, religion, self-discovery, and the consequences of political unrest and failing governments. Spanning 17 chapters, the story follows Kambili, a 15-year-old girl raised by a wealthy, abusive, religious fundamentalist father. Kambili lives with her older brother, Jaja, her resigned mother, and her domineering father, whom she calls Papa. Kambili struggles to find her voice and sense…
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Tomorrow I become a woman by Aiwanose Odafen
Book Details Author: Aiwanose Odafen, a Nigerian writerPublished: 2022Format Read: AudibleOther Available Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback Book Review Tomorrow I Become a Woman, Aiwanose Odafen’s debut novel, tells the compelling yet all-too-familiar story of Obianuju, a young woman growing up in 1970s Nigeria who endures the harsh realities of patriarchy. Obianuju begins her journey as a promising university student with dreams of pursuing a master’s degree after graduation. However, these ambitions are abruptly cut short when she succumbs to societal pressures and marries Gozie, a handsome and charismatic bachelor highly regarded within their church. At just 21 years old, Obianuju’s initial hesitations about marrying Gozie are overshadowed by her mother’s relentless…