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Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieYear of Publication: 2020Available Formats: Kindle | Audible 👉 [BUY BOOK HERE] Review & Summary Zikora is a poignant short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that explores motherhood, love, abandonment, and family dynamics. Set in Washington, D.C., the story follows Zikora, a Nigerian woman practising law in DC and was now in labour with her first child, as she reflects on her past, her ice queen of a mother’s cold presence, and the absence of the man she loved—the father of her child—who abandoned her when she became pregnant despite their deep connection. As she gives birth, Zikora re-examines her mother’s rigid ways, finding unexpected grace and understanding.…
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Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Nompumelelo Mungi Ngomane Book Review
Book Details Title: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African WayAuthor: Nompumelelo Mungi NgomaneYear: 2019Genre: Self-Help, Personal Development, PhilosophyAvailable Formats: Kindle, Audible, Hardcover Buy Book HERE Introduction Have you ever read a book that feels like a warm embrace? Everyday Ubuntu by Nompumelelo Mungi Ngomane felt exactly like a tender, loving hug every time I picked it up. Upon reflection, this perfectly encapsulates the philosophy of Ubuntu—community, support, and togetherness. While I usually save my recommendations for the end, this book genuinely is for everyone—young or old. For those familiar with me, the African philosophy of Ubuntu holds deep personal meaning. Since 2021, I’ve had the honour of lecturing on Ubuntu…
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Hope Amidst Tears – My Journey to Motherhood by Itunu Victor-Saleh
Book Details Author: Itunu Victor-SalehAvailable Formats: Kindle (included with Kindle Unlimited), PaperbackYear of Publication: 2023Genre: Autobiography/Self-HelpNotable Quote: “I can still remember a nurse giving my fiancé and me a bombastic side eye when we visited a health clinic for family planning. Why?” (Hope Amidst Tears – My Journey to Motherhood, p. 8 Kindle Edition) Get book HERE Book Review Introduction: Hope Amidst Tears – My Journey to Motherhood Africans, by nature, are genuinely hopeful people. I love that about us because we exhibit Black Joy in profound ways! I felt a mixture of emotions while reading Hope Amidst Tears – My Journey to Motherhood—happiness, sorrow, admiration, and deep empathy. Itunu Victor-Saleh’s…
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The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas
Book Review Author: Neshani AndreasFormats available: Kindle and paperbackFirst 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…
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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: Self Discovery, Freedom, and Healing by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Author: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah First Published: 2021 Available Formats: Kindle, Audible, Hardcover, Paperback Version Read: Audiobook, narrated by Maria Gbeleyi, Rachel Adedeji, and Sara Powell 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.…
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Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad
Author: Damilare Kuku (Nigerian author and actress)Publication Date: 2021Available Formats: Audible, Paperback, Kindle, and Hardcover Book Review Introduction Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad – 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…
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The Visit (Black Stars)
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieAvailable Formats: Kindle (£0.00), Audible (£1.74)Format Read: AudibleYear Published: 2021 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 with…