Jen Nghishitende
Jen Nghishitende is a Namibian writer, researcher, and mother based in the UK. She is the founder of African Queens' Ink, her passion project launched in December 2024. The blog amplifies the voices of African women and women of African descent through storytelling, literature, and advocacy. Jen is a former lecturer and postgraduate researcher, and she now works as an Equality and Human Rights Project Manager. Her work weaves together personal experience, scholarly insight, and deep cultural roots—exploring themes such as motherhood, migration, identity, and freedom. She holds a PhD focused on the lived experiences of women who have survived modern slavery. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s exploring the great outdoors, traveling, or making and eating delicious food with her daughter.
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Book Review and Reflection of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System Sandra Igwe
Published: 2022 Buy Book HERE Introduction This book is not very long, so it is easy to get through—yet it took me a while to finish. I kept reading, pausing, and coming back to it. That’s because it is not an easy read. I am a Black mother living in England at the time of reading. Fortunately for me, I had my daughter outside England. I was lucky enough to have a well-paying job, so I was able to afford giving birth in a private hospital, where I received premium care. Moving to England, I quickly realised that motherhood here was very, very different. In this book, Sandra takes us through…
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Book Review and reflection of: Nephilim Origins: Rise of the Nephilim by Chido Hove
Introduction I often go into books blind — no synopsis, no reviews, no expectations — just vibes. I want my reading experiences to be fresh and unfiltered. Nephilim Origins: Rise of the Nephilim by Chido Hove was one such read. The title was unfamiliar, but the cover hinted at supernatural elements that piqued my curiosity. Book Summary Set in a quiet village, the story follows Naamah, a young girl whose life takes an unexpected turn after a visit to the market. There, she meets a mysterious, ethereal man by the stream — tall, beautiful, and utterly enchanting. At the same time, Naamah is promised to another man by her father, a…
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Book Review and Reflection of If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga
Published: 2022Accolades: [As listed on Amazon] Genre: Fiction (This becomes confusing towards the end, but research confirms it is fiction.)Buy the book HERE Country: Egypt Introduction If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English is framed around two individuals from vastly different backgrounds meeting and forming a relationship. What a book! The first thing that struck me, and I loved it very early on, was how it was written. The story is narrated by the boy from Shobrakheit and the American girl. It is lyrical and poetic. Book Summary and reflections The book is divided into three parts. Every section in Part One begins with a question, such as, “Question: If you’re waiting for…
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April 2025 Book of the Month Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by Nozipo Maraire
This month, we’re centring a timeless voice: Zenzele, a moving and intimate novel written in the form of a letter from a Zimbabwean mother to her daughter, fixing to leave home to study abroad. Through this heartfelt narrative, Maraire explores the complexities of identity, womanhood, post-colonial African history, and the beauty and burden of belonging. This is another gem from Zimbabwe, just like our March 2025 book of the month! A book for mothers, daughters, and all those who carry home with them wherever they go. Let’s talk about: Have you read Zenzele? What did it mean to you? If not, get your copy now.
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Book Review and Reflection of African Love Stories: An Anthology
African love stories is authored by various African women from various African countries. Edited by: Ama Ata Aidoo Published: 2006 Get the book HERE African Love Stories: Introduction In my usual way, I went into this book blindly. I read the title, and I was sold. I love love and was extremely excited to read about African love stories. But Ama Ata Aidoo makes it very clear in the introduction that these are not conventional (the Western love stories we are used to) love stories. These stories are about love nevertheless—in the various ways it is experienced. Relationships that sometimes had a romantic connection, and others with other aims, like survival.…
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Book Review and Reflection of I Am Not Your Slave: A Memoir by Tupa Tjipombo with Chris Lockhart
Book Details Genre: Biography Year: 2020 Buy Book HERE Introduction “After a while, a person can get used to almost anything.” — Chapter 9 Imagine living a joyful life among your people, surrounded by family and familiarity—only to be suddenly plunged into a world of captivity. This is what happened to Tupa. She was violently uprooted from her home in Opuwo, Namibia, and trafficked into Angola. From there, she found herself trapped in a cycle of exploitation, moving through various countries across Africa and eventually to the Middle East. Tupa’s story is one of survival. She endured witchcraft, sexual exploitation, and years of domestic servitude. Her memoir is both heartbreaking and…
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Book Review and Reflection of Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by Nozipo Maraire
Book Review and Reflection of Zenzele Date of Publication: 1996Genre: FictionBuy the book HERE Introduction Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter, in my opinion, should be ranked as an African literary classic and should be part of the curricula in schools in Africa and around the world. This is the book I wish I had read before moving to England, and it’s the book I wish everyone would read before moving to the West. For this reason, I decided on an extensive Book Review and Reflection of Zenzele as reflected below. The first thing that came to my mind while reading is Maraire’s beautiful storytelling talent—so lyrical, so gripping. The book…
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Book Review: Onyeka and the Secret Superhero by Tọlá Okogwu
Genre: FictionPublished: 2024Recommended Age: Under 11 BUY BOOK HERE Guest Reviewer: Tungombili ShangadiThis is our first guest review on African Queens’ Ink — and it’s a special one. Written by my daughter, Tungombili Shangadi, this review captures the imagination, curiosity, and honesty of a young reader discovering the magic of Black girl superheroes in Onyeka and the Secret Superhero by Tọlá Okogwu. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Book Review This story is a type of story for little children, as it is about a group of three or four twelve-year-old superheroes on a mission to save a small remote village from a flood because a dam…
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Book Review and Reflection of Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Published: 2025Genre: Fiction[Buy the Book Here] Book Review & Reflection Introduction What is Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about? The title Dream Count doesn’t give much away—I found myself trying to guess what the book might be about, but it remained a mystery until the very end when the meaning of “dream count” is finally mentioned. At first, I thought Chimamanda was narrating her own story—especially as the opening pages explore a writer struggling to write. It felt intimate, reflective, and personal, almost like creative non-fiction. But as I read on, I was drawn into a rich narrative that traces the intertwined lives of four women. The diversity among these…
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Book Review and Reflection of Cack-Handed: A Memoir by Gina Yashere
Genre: AutobiographyFirst Published: 2021Buy the Book [Here] Book Review and Reflection Introduction I first came across Gina Yashere through her role in Bob Hearts Abishola, where she plays Kemi, Abishola’s hilarious best friend. I instantly fell in love with her character. Later, I discovered she was also an incredible stand-up comedian, so I watched a few of her shows. When I found out she had written a memoir, I knew I had to read it—I was in for a treat! And Cack-Handed: A Memoir did not disappoint. Gina delivers a raw, honest, and, of course, funny account of her life. Book Summary Cack-Handed is structured into 21 chapters, each titled after…