40 books by African Women You Should Read
From Chika Unigwe’s story on human trafficking and prostitution to Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero that shares the real life story of a female prisoner waiting for execution in Qanatir Prison, Wayetu Moore’s dramatic story of Liberia’s early years through three unforgettable characters who share an uncommon bond and Dr Stella Nyanzi’s continued activism against dictatorship in No Roses From My Mouth, African women are championing conversations that are long overdue to be had.
Gender disparity in religion, health care, education, and how they affect women in different circumstances ranging from wealth to poverty and even war are finding more common place in books and in everyday discourses. Women from different countries on the continent are right at the heart of championing a revolution in the stories we tell.
Here’s a list of books by African female writers that you should absolutely get your hands on.
Aegis by Isioma Onyegikei
Akata Witch - Nnedi Okorafor
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Aya of Yop City by Marguerite Abouet
Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohammed
Black sisters speak out by Awa Thiam
Changes: A love Story - Ama Ata Aidoo
Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi_adeyemi
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by tomi_adeyemi
Cinderella By Any Other Name by Annemarie Musawale
Daughters who walk this path Yejide Kilanko
Disowned- Nina Iphechukwude Anyiaku
Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
Ghana Must Go - Taiye Selasie
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
House of stone by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangaremba
New daughters of Africa - a collection of stories from 200 women edited by Margaret Busby
News From Home by Sefi Atta
No Roses From My Mouth by Stella Nyanzi.
On Black sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
Part of my Soul by Winnie Mandela
Ripples in the pool by Rebeka Njau
She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore.
Cloth Girl by Marilyn Heward Mills
So long a letter by Mariama Mariama Bâ
Stay with me by Ayòbámi Adébáyò
Teaching my Mother How to Give birth - Warsan Shire
The Accidental Wife by Abimbola Dare
The girl with the louding voice by Abimbola Dare
The memory of love by Aminatta Forna
The secret life of Baba Segi's wives by Lola Shoneyin
The Seven Necessary Sins For Women And Girls - Mona Eltahawy
Thirteen months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun
Unbowed by Wangari Mathai
We need new names by Noviolet Bulawayo
We should all be feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Woman at point zero by Nawal El Saadawi
This list certainly doesn’t cover all the exceptional books by amazing African women. Drop more ideas in the comments, we would like to hear from you. Visit our elibrary here or our physical place at 196, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
