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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…
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Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Author: Nnedi Okorafor Published: 2025Genre: Science Fiction, Afrofuturism, SuspenseBUY BOOK HERE Introduction One of the most anticipated book releases by an African woman author this year—2025—is Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. It is a gripping, multi-layered sci-fi saga. Book Summary Death of the Author follows the fascinating life of Zelu, a Nigerian-American woman who transitions from a struggling writer and educator to an overnight sensation after publishing a groundbreaking novel. Zelu wrote the Novel that would be her making – Rusted Robots after losing her job and when her life was seemingly descending into a dark and spiralling tunnel. Death Of The Author, however, has so many stories intertwined that you…
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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…