Introduction to African Literatures (52 books)

This is a list for people looking for a starting point, a way to begin, an entry. These are not books that require a lot of background knowledge or extensive previous experience with the subject. These are books to reward the curious reader.

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1	Things Fall Apart (Norton Critical Edition) by Chinua Achebe 3.75 avg rating — 412,731 ratings score: 593, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 4.34 avg rating — 183,573 ratings score: 483, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Under African Skies: Modern African Stories by Charles R. Larson (Editor) 3.91 avg rating — 134 ratings score: 299, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 16,520 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Ways of Dying (Toloki #1) by Zakes Mda 3.89 avg rating — 1,979 ratings score: 180, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Life Times: Stories, 1952-2007 by Nadine Gordimer 3.94 avg rating — 148 ratings score: 179, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga 4.04 avg rating — 22,998 ratings score: 179, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Cion (Toloki #2) by Zakes Mda 3.64 avg rating — 212 ratings score: 178, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The River Between by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o 3.79 avg rating — 5,387 ratings score: 176, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o 3.88 avg rating — 6,829 ratings score: 176, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	GraceLand by Chris Abani 3.79 avg rating — 2,687 ratings score: 175, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (Goodreads Author) 3.62 avg rating — 11,607 ratings score: 166, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	A Wending Life by Nnaemeka Prince Anizoba really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Last Savanna by Mike Bond (Goodreads Author) 3.45 avg rating — 1,729 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Love's Affliction by Fidelis O. Mkparu (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 42 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Power of One (The Power of One, #1) by Bryce Courtenay 4.36 avg rating — 94,550 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Shifting Allegiances: A Nigerian's story of Nigeria, America and Culture Shock by Amaka Lily (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Numen Yeye by Biola Olatunde (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Cry, The Beloved Country: A Story of Comfort in Desolation by Alan Paton 3.93 avg rating — 79,599 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Oral Literature in Africa by Ruth Finnegan (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 49 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed 3.75 avg rating — 2,355 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Sunset Tales by Biola Olatunde (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry by Gerald Moore (Editor, Translator) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 219 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 1,558 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho by Immaculée Ilibagiza 4.39 avg rating — 1,185 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Women Writing Africa: The Eastern Region by Amandina Lihamba (Editor) 4.23 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste 3.96 avg rating — 3,876 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary Speaks to the World from the Heart of Africa by Immaculée Ilibagiza 4.55 avg rating — 1,816 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Women Writing Africa: West Africa and the Sahel by Esi Sutherland-Addy (Editor) 3.95 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 9,518 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Blood Contract by Biola Olatunde (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Women Writing Africa: The Northern Region by Azza El-Kholy (Editor) 4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Women Writing Africa: Volume 1: The Southern Region (Women Writing Africa, 1) by M.J. Daymond (Editor) 4.29 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street (The Cairo Trilogy #1-3) by Naguib Mahfouz 4.47 avg rating — 5,076 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	One Day I Will Write About This Place: A Memoir by Binyavanga Wainaina 3.76 avg rating — 2,492 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Palm-Wine Drinkard & My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola 3.88 avg rating — 1,479 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee 3.93 avg rating — 35,839 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif 3.81 avg rating — 7,285 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Aké: The Years of Childhood by Wole Soyinka 3.86 avg rating — 2,022 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Blood Knot and Other Plays by Athol Fugard 3.81 avg rating — 167 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 28,310 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Modern African Drama: A Norton Critical Edition by Biodun Jeyifo (Editor) 3.82 avg rating — 45 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Anchor Book of Modern African Stories by Nadežda Obradović (Editor) 3.98 avg rating — 41 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila 3.94 avg rating — 500 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta 4.22 avg rating — 8,361 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town by Zoë Wicomb 3.57 avg rating — 529 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	In the Eye of the Sun by Ahdaf Soueif 3.92 avg rating — 1,157 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Statements by Athol Fugard 3.85 avg rating — 279 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Arabian Nights & Days by Naguib Mahfouz 4.10 avg rating — 9,929 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Going Down River Road by Meja Mwangi 3.94 avg rating — 337 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	To Stir the Heart: Four African Stories by Bessie Head 3.57 avg rating — 97 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Stars of the New Curfew by Ben Okri 3.78 avg rating — 361 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars