For the past few months, I've been struggling to finish more than three books in a month. My reading target for the year was fifty books and I've successfully read forty-one, thank God for the speed I had at the start of the year. These days I read bigger books with over 500 pages, so I guess I'll use that as an excuse for not reading more. Out of the 41 books I've read, 31 are authored by women. I'm such a woman's woman and it shows in whatever I do, subconsciously even. I particularly enjoyed the ones written by African women. So In today's article, I'm going to give my top 5 recommendations of books by African women that you have to read.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin:
If you grew up watching Fuji House of Commotion as a child, you'll totally enjoy this book. It follows the story of a young educated woman, Bolanle who gets married to a polygamist, Baba Segi who already has three wives. After two years of marriage, Bolanle is unable to conceive a child and this makes her an object of mockery among Baba Segi's other wives who all have children. To find a solution to her childlessness, they go to the hospital and that's how it is revealed that there's a looming secret in his household.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how Nollywoody it is. It plays out just like African magic movies. Because of its reliability, creating a mental picture of the novel is pretty easy. It discusses polygamy in Nigerian homes and how each wife struggles to be the favorite of her husband. In this book, you'll find out how women married to a polygamist really feel about their situation. This novel also mirrors how women are seen majorly as objects of childbearing. If you are unable to bear children, you're seen as a failure. Told in all the major character's points of view, I could get an insight into each of their perspectives and understand them better. It's an enjoyable and funny read.
Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisakwe:
"How liberating it would be to wear such color, to wear whatever she wanted to wear, to do whatever she wanted to do" - My favorite quote from the book.
The story follows a young girl, Ogadinma in the 1980s who is raised by her single father and has high hopes of getting into the university. She gets caught up in a very unpleasant situation and all her ambitions go down the drain.
Every woman directly or indirectly can totally relate to this story. The author went into depth about what it was like to be a woman in Nigeria at that time, even now cause nothing has changed. Despite how weighty the themes in this book are, it's quite a page-turner. It shows a patriarchal society where women are victimized for abuse, how easy it is to throw away a woman's ambition, men getting away with everything, women being forced to stay in an abusive marriage, and how they are trained to always boost a man's fragile ego.
"He has lost everything again. So don't be upset that he takes out his frustration on you; that is the burden we women have to bear you hear me?"
No, we don't have to. How did society come up with the theory of suffering in marriage as being "a virtuous wife"?? I love how this book was written, awesome storytelling. It was told from a 3rd person's POV. As a modern feminist book, the author did an amazing job of discussing prevailing issues. Themes include Rape, domestic violence, and postpartum depression.
Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo:
This book right here is one of my favorite novels of all time. I read it for the second time this year for a book club I was part of and it felt better than the first time.
"Yejide and Akin have been married since they met and fell in love at university. Though many expected Akin to take several wives, he and Yejide have always agreed: polygamy is not for them. But four years into their marriage--after consulting fertility doctors and healers, trying strange teas and unlikely cures--Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time--until her family arrives on her doorstep with a young woman they introduce as Akin's second wife. Furious, shocked, and livid with jealousy, Yejide knows the only way to save her marriage is to get pregnant, which, finally, she does--but at a cost far greater than she could have dared to imagine."
Source - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32969150-stay-with-me
Stay with me is as delicious as jollof rice and I read it in one sitting. It is an exceptional debut novel and great for discussions as it stirs up questions in the minds of readers. It explores the themes of barrenness, depression, and societal expectation of men. Alternating between Yejide's and Akin's POV, it is a page-turner with unexpected plot twists. I highly recommend it.
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola:
This list will be incomplete without the inclusion of romance. This is the first book I read this year and as the lover girl that I am, I devoured it. Love in Colour is a collection of 13 short stories that center around the common theme of Love.
Bolu retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity.
Source - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32969150-stay-with-me.
My favorite thing about the stories is the showcase of feminism. Women are the protagonist of each story, living their lives based on their terms, being badass and successful. My favorite stories are Scherherazade, Attem, Yah, and Thisbe. I read these ones with a never leaving smile on my face, especially Scherherazade. Some stories explore the theme of self-love. There was also several Beyonce reference and as a stan, I was pleased. If you love romance a lot as I do, you'll totally love this.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide:
This book is written by a Nigerian woman in the diaspora so the setting was America. The story focuses on Chiamaka and Devon, the only black students in a predominantly white school, Niveus High. In their senior year, they are both selected as prefects. Everything is normal until Ace comes into the picture; an anonymous texter who begins to reveal secrets about students and then shifts his focus solely on Chiamaka and Devon. So the big question is, who is Ace?
I really enjoyed this one. I didn't go into the book with any expectations, but I was secretly hoping it'd be good because of the hype and it didn't disappoint. I was hooked from start to finish. It's suspenseful, thrilling, and creepy too because I felt like I was being watched. The end made my jaw drop. It was worth every single minute I spent reading it. It's written in dual POVs and I loved it because it made me understand the main characters better. By now you should know I'm a sucker for dual/ multiple POVs.Themes include Racism, classism, bullying, and homophobia. If you like thrillers, this is for you.
"I hate that these systems, all this institutional shit, can get to me. I hate how they have the power to kill my future, kill me. They treat my Black skin like a gun or a grenade or a knife that is dangerous and lethal when really, it’s them. The guys at the top powering everything." - My favorite quote from the book.
I hope you read these books and enjoy them just like I did. I'd be looking forward to hearing positive reviews only. I'm not going to tolerate any negative slander from these books because they are my babies. Enjoyyyy.
All the books can be downloaded for free at https://z-lib.org/
Book cover sources:
Book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7194279-the-secret-lives-of-baba-segi-s-wives
Book 2: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51823843-ogadinma-or-everything-will-be-all-right
Book 3: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32969150-stay-with-me
Book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51102251-love-in-colour
Book 5: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42603984-ace-of-spades
Cover photo designed using Canva.com
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I've read the secret lives of baba segi's wives. I enjoyed the book alot. I even displayed it in one of our book club discord meetings. Hey @stevenson7 do we still have the book club meeting?
We should get it back?
What do you say?
One more thing, You can source your pictures underneath the Image so it seems cooler.
I almost thought u made a mistake without sourcing again till I got to the end.
I enjoyed your post. I would read the 4 books left in my spare time.
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Thank you for reading, it would be nice of you to send feedback when you read the remaining books. For the sourcing, I'd work on it, Thanks.
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