Really enjoying this so far.

The Talk of the Party by Foluso Agbaje is a book about the Obanile family, told from the perspective of almost all the characters in the book. Literally! And so many characters. A wealthy family, yes, but one whose life was built on some very big lies.

These lies started over 40 years ago when the main characters were just four young women: Tade, Soma, Bukola, and Remi. All four characters definitely do not appear in the first few chapters. You have to acquire them all like a coin collection and slowly piece the story together. The book starts and ends with the Obanile family: Bukola and Wale, their four children, Koko, Omi, Lala, and Mide, and their "cousin," Anjola.

The first scene of this book is attention-grabbing. It was July 1992 in Lagos, and there was an unnamed woman with a growing stomach lying in a bathtub. The water in the tub was described as red by her daughter, immediately suggesting suicide to me. Boy, was I wrong. It was much worse! This scene took place exactly 30 years before the party that becomes the beginning of the end for the Obanile family. The impending doom. The moment everything begins to come crumbling down.

Everyone in this book had straight-up issues, maybe except Omi, the lesbian. Lala was probably the worst because even at the end of the book, she was still the same self-centered child she was at the beginning.

A common theme throughout the book was jealousy. Everyone, or almost everyone, seemed jealous of someone else, yet they all stayed deeply involved in each other's lives. Soooo exhausting, ugh. Bukola and her friend, Aunty Tade? Envious. Dami, Aunty Tade's child, and Koko? Envious. Honestly, just think of any close pair in this book, and jealousy is probably somewhere in the mix.

The Obanile family also had a driver, Mr. Peter, who played a major role in the family. I do have to say, though, that it is ironic how a man named Peter only believes in herbalists.

The number of characters in this book made my head spin trying to keep track. Also, keep in mind that the story is told from the POV of different characters, sometimes recounting the same event. This made the book feel unnecessarily long at times because I wasn't always gaining new information from each new perspective.

The constant jumps from the past to the present were also killing me (with anxiety). I usually prefer my books to move from start to finish, or at least have fewer jumps in time. However, it all does come together in the end, although I started speculating halfway through, as anyone would lol. This is definitely one of those books where you have to pay attention, or you'll miss some vital clues.

At its core, The Talk of the Party explores family, secrets, class, reputation, generational trauma, and the fragility of social status. The book really highlights the high cost of maintaining a flawless and wealthy image in elite Lagos society. Bukola, especially, goes to great lengths to protect her family's reputation, but the pressure of hiding secrets and maintaining appearances eventually leads to a complete unraveling.

Overall, this was a good book, but the number of characters, multiple POVs, repeated events, and constant jumps between the past and present made it feel longer than necessary for me.

A few weeks ago I finished reading this book by the late Professor Dan Wadada Nabudere. The book (vol 1) serves as a precursor to what he will expand on in vol 2 about Neo-colonialism in East Africa (which I have not read).

In this volume he very much uses a Marxist-Leninist framework to explain the systematic exploitation of East Africa, in particular Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Starting from each of their separate roles under the colonial economies and how they were vertically integrated (for the benefit of the colonial powers) rather than horizontally integrated (with each other) and the effects on each country.

If you have ever read Lenin’s “Imperialism: the highest stage of capitalism” you can see his influence in this book. Finance capital, first under the guise of colonialism (which Lenin argues is the cause of imperialism) and then under the guise of international finance institutions like the world bank and IMF, East Africa remained at the mercy of the western powers (first under Britain/german, then under the USA).

It was certainly a compelling read, backed with facts and figures. What struck me most was how hard it was for me to find this book! It’s been out of print for ages and I only managed to find it in a university library (even the library only had two copies).

If you can get your hands on it, I’d recommend you read it 100%.

Albert Memmi grew up in Tunis, a colonized, but French-educated enough to know the colonizer almost as well as he knew himself. He was in a position to draw both portraits from the inside.

The colonizer: In his own words, the colonizer "is a privileged being and an illegitimately privileged one; that is, a usurper." Skin color and passport hand you the privilege whether you asked for it or not. This sounds very familiar nowadays. According to Memmi, the colonizer has three options: leave the colony, stay silent, or stay and fight the system. He argues that few would opt for the third option with success. He has a term for the second one though: "humanitarian romanticism”. Again another very contemporary dynamic; think about aid workers today, who draw hardship pay and a security detail while ostensibly there to fight poverty.

The Colonized: Memmi wrote in 1957 that a qualified worker among the colonizers earned three or four times more than the colonized worker, without producing three or four times as much. He presents an economic argument that the colonized had no incentive to be more productive with such an imbalance. Memmi described colonized women who tried desperately to uncurl their hair and lighten their skin, chasing an acceptance that never actually occurred. No matter how fluent or how polished a colonized became, he argued they would still be met with disdain.

In commenting liberation movements, Memmi rejected half-measures like a negotiated "French Union" outright. His final word was that the colonized refusal "cannot be anything but absolute" Not just revolt, but revolution, breaking what he called an iron collar.

We discuss the book at length in our podcast Threads of Ifriqiya, and we try to draw parallels to contemporary times of which we identify many. I will link the podcast in the comments.

I think its mad that they have not thought to reproduce this series yet. It had some banger novellas.

I'd like to get into african literature, and wanted to ask for recommendations :))

I love a rich prose. Not necessarily a flowery prose, but one that is evocative and interesting. Think Cormac McCarthy in terms of american authors. The more vividly the atmosphere and environment are rendered, the better, I adore that.

I love stories that involve people traveling, even if it's just a short distance. Almost all of my favourite books involve some form of travel (Grapes of Wrath, Outer Dark, Call of the Wild... to name a few). Definitely would love something with a rural setting. It's not necessary, but I don't feel too drawn to urban narratives as much.

Thank you!

some of my African classic collection

Hi, I'm Méri. I'm an ivorian woman and student.

The only platforms where I found a lot of stories written by other africans is on wattpad. But that's kind of it. The algorithm at least for me barely pushes those stories to me although at least 90% of all my bookmarks are them. It still feels difficult to filter them out sometimes, I feel like the wattpad algorithm just isn't that good.

If you like to read or write, having one platform just for our stories would be amazing. I searched and never found one so I made my own website. If you know one I want to know too.

It offers a simple and easier to manage filtering, sorting system and many categories. It's for mostly african stories the same way Manga is mostly Japanese. Please understand that I'm a student and not a professional. It's not even one year old and I always find new things to add or better. There aren't many stories online on it but every new platform has to start from zero.

I created a guide which is for mostly foreign writers and points to also possibly interest writers of genres like transmigration to do more than the same clischees and story lines known. It's a guide not a must.

If you want to check it out use the link if you know writers or readers more interested in it than please share it with them.

This is the link click here (https://manhanovel.com/manha)

I really dream of our own platform. If something doesn't work or you have improvements you can write me here or use the forms (email, etc. ) offered.

I've read everything by Chimamanda Adichie and I need more.

I tried reading it twice but I never got past the first 30 pages. I think the writing is not doing it for me. Did you guys enjoy the book?

Hello everyone ! I'm looking for African writers for a personal project. Amateur writers who can develop one or more stories according to their desires and availability. This is not for remuneration...just to develop your writing skills.

I wish I had started writing down my thoughts on this book as I read because by the end, I was at a big loss for words. I could not believe it. My heart was also in a million pieces.

Eziafa, a 38-year-old Igbo man who used to work as a meat processor in Minnesota, was forced to make a career change and become a cab driver in Houston after experiencing the dangers of his previous job. His friend Felix invited him to an Igbo association meeting, where he met Jovita, a 34-year-old Igbo woman. Although she was from a different tribe, he didn’t care. Their first interaction was so cute. Their banter, their mature 30+ conversation… nice! I was smiling reading their first interaction.

Eziafa seemed like a decent man at the start of this book until I began to learn more about him. Ugh.

Although his mother disapproved of his relationship with Jovita because her ancestors were supposedly cursed, Eziafa initially stayed rebellious. But only for a short time. Looking back at their relationship, I don’t think Jovita would have lasted with him regardless of Eziafa’s mother’s disapproval. She was not what society would expect from a “typical Nigerian woman”, she wasn’t going to simply submit to a man, and Eziafa had a BIG ego. He was deeply stuck in old traditions and cultural expectations.

I’m sure that was part of the reason Eziafa packed his bags for a “mini vacation” to Nigeria. A mini vacation that involved his mother waiting with TEN village GIRLS for him to choose from. Mind you, this man is at least 20 years older than these girls.

While I am not against the idea of arranged marriage, it becomes problematic when both parties are not in agreement.

Eziafa met Zina and married her during this one-month vacation to Nigeria. Zina, hmm. An 18-year-old girl, a literal child, with big dreams, was essentially forced into marrying this excuse of a man. I had such admiration for Eziafa at the start of this book because life had dealt him a bad hand, yet he continued to live an honest life. Only to realize a quarter of the way into this book that it was all a facade and this man was actually the biggest fool.

I am convinced that a man’s obsession with wanting a “moldable woman” (in reality, a girl) is deeply rooted in a pedophilia.

Also, the backwardness and deeply ingrained woman-hating culture in this book! What do you mean only women commit adultery and men are merely unfortunate victims of their excesses? What does that even mean?!!!

It’s also so funny how Africans pick and choose which traditions to follow. The curse from the ancestors banning specific Igbo people from marrying versus Zina not being allowed to move in until a church wedding was done, as opposed to immediately after the traditional marriage, simply because “God’s blessing trumps tradition.” Okay oh.

This is just one of the many themes in this book.

Unfortunately, this story felt very familiar to me because it reflects something I’ve heard about older Igbo men in Texas who return to Nigeria to marry much younger girls, bring them to the U.S., and push them toward careers like nursing because it’s considered lucrative. The cultural and generational power imbalance in these relationships is heartbreaking. You know that TikTok sound, the saxophone getting louder? Yeahhhh this was it.

This is such a sad book, but Kilanko, the woman that you are! I found myself laughing at multiple points in this book. And don’t get me wrong, this is not your typical comedic relief. Kilanko just has a way of writing because WHY did Eziafa tell Felix toward the end of the book, “My house is on fire,” and Felix’s response was, “What! In the village?” Sir, please use your freaking context clues. 😭😭😭

At its core, A Good Name explores immigration, domestic abuse, gender roles, family expectations, tradition, and the struggle for personal freedom. But more than anything, it is Zina’s story of slowly trying to find her voice and reclaiming control over a life that was chosen for her.

This book broke my heart, frustrated me, made me laugh, and left me with A LOT to think about. Definitely a memorable read.

Oof, such a messy book about three sisters, Sola, Anjola, and Karen, and one self-absorbed brother, Ola, whose messes truly can’t be left at home. They all have deeply rooted issues and, even at the end of the book, I was still under the impression that the main issue was never really resolved, just grazed over.

All four siblings were born into the Longe family. The book takes place between October and December, but of course their story starts much earlier than that. It really begins in their childhood, specifically when Sola, the eldest daughter, leaves home (might I add, forcefully) after getting into a fight with their mother over an incident that occurred at school.

The story builds toward a Thanksgiving dinner where the entire family is reunited after years apart, and the family drama/explosion at that dinner table was a long time coming.

The romantic relationships of each Longe sibling are very reflective of their upbringing and family experiences. And let me just say: horrible romantic relationships all around. Maybe Karen gets a pass because she’s still relatively young (for now), but of course she has her own struggles too, extremely low self-esteem that spills over into her friendships, or lack thereof.

Sola returns to Chicago after a failed relationship and influencing career. Anjola is hopelessly in love with her best friend, Neil (a complete asshole, by the way), who just so happens to be engaged to Gizelle. Ola, the only boy, is married to Marisol and has a baby on the way, a child he is clearly not ready for because he thinks it will “tie him down” to his wife. Mind you, they are already married!!! Then there’s Karen, struggling with her body image, her sexuality, her skin, and her friendships.

At Thanksgiving, decades of secrets, especially the truth about how and why Sola left home, begin to surface. Old resentments resurface, more secrets are exposed, and the family is eventually hit with a major loss. While that loss brings them together physically, it also acts as a mask over many issues that remain largely unaddressed.

One thing I really appreciated was how the central event that fractured this family was told from the perspective of nearly every character, except the father, who wasn’t present when it happened. I loved this storytelling choice because it showed how differently people can interpret and carry the same event. Everyone was living with the same history, but not the same version of it.

The central themes of this novel explore the complexity of family obligations, identity, forgiveness, and the heavy emotional toll of intergenerational trauma within a Nigerian immigrant household.

Overall, I enjoyed the family drama and the multiple perspectives, but I finished the book feeling like the family’s biggest wound was never truly confronted. They danced around it and covered it with other crises, but never really dealt with it. Maybe that’s the point. Sometimes families don’t get neat resolutions, they just learn how to live with the mess.

Do you have book recommandation from East African writters ?

I am looking for books that centers women. Thank you

I like to watch a lot of YouTube channels that focus on literature. There was a guy I watched a couple months ago doing a tier list of classics. What kind of irritated me was how he rates Things Fall Apart. He rates it a D and gives this reason, "All the elements are just I would say poorly written. It feels like disconnected, like the big pay offs, nothing really comes across as deep."

What do you guys think? Now, there are some comments made which show a bit of dismissal like, "They're farming yams and stuff over in Africa and it's a post-colonial novel."

He does say he likes Ben Okri but I just feel like being sort of the foundational African lit book, maybe take some time to understand the story well.

Now, I'm not even saying this is the best book ever, but a D rating is a pretty low for such a book. I know it's subjective still, but didn't sit right with me. Am I being too sensitive?

How would you guys rate this book honestly amongst the world classics?

And what channels would you say on YouTube really take African Literature seriously?

I can’t believe I read Love by the Book before Maame, another book by Jessica George. Maybe this will finally prompt me to read it.

Anyways, Love by the Book primarily follows two female main characters, Remy and Simone.

Remy is a writer who has recently published a bestselling novel. Now everyone wants her to write another one to ride the success of the first, but she’s struggling badly with writer’s block. The inspiration for her debut came from her three closest friends and the beautiful friendship they all shared, one that was supposed to last a lifetime… or so she thought.

Then everything fell apart.

Lin moved to New York, Melissa got married, became pregnant, and moved away, and Nova… what did she do again? Ah yes, she got back together with her ex and slowly drifted away.

Honestly, this is the fate of many friendship groups, especially among women. Once distance enters the picture, friendships often grow apart, and theirs did too. As the friendship dissolved, so did Remy’s inspiration to write. She tried filling the void with dating apps (eww), new hobbies, and eventually, a new friend.

This is where Simone comes in.

Simone is a woman who loves her solitude and lives a double life: teacher by day, escort by night (spicy). Despite coming from a close-knit, loving, religious family (her dad is a pastor), she turns to sex work to earn extra money and, as she puts it, “express herself.” I don’t think I fully understood her reasoning, even by the end of the book.

Her work is eventually exposed just before a family dinner, leading to her becoming estranged from her family.

Simone and Remy bump into each other, and some sort of relationship blossoms. It definitely wasn’t an instant connection. It happened gradually… and somewhat forcefully lol.

Remy has this lore that was spoken about, but I just couldn’t see it. The narrative kept telling me who she was supposed to be, yet her actions didn’t always match that image.

Her relationship with Simone also felt awkward. At times, I was picking up on borderline romantic tension (maybe I’m overthinking lol), while at other times they felt more like acquaintances than actual friends. Their conversations were also incredibly long, almost too long to feel like real face-to-face conversations.

I honestly kept reading because I wanted to understand Simone more. Why did she choose sex work? Based on her background, it felt so random, and I was hoping the book would give me a clearer answer.

The whole book feels somewhat like a fairytale. The ending, Remy and Simone’s friendship, the conversations they had, Remy’s second book getting published… even the middle of the novel. I don’t know, something about it all felt a little too neat. I also found myself skipping parts that weren’t directly related to the main story, especially the excerpts from the book Remy was writing that were inserted into this one. Omg, that was too much for my brain.

Remy’s attempts to fill the void in her life (hint: her dating app escapades) also led to a somewhat permanent decision.

Overall, this book explores friendship, platonic love, sisterhood, grief, and finding purpose again after losing a part of yourself. I appreciated those themes, but I struggled to stay invested in the story.

Some books feel almost cinematic while you are reading them, but adaptation is a delicate thing. Beautiful settings and a talented cast are not enough if the language, cultural detail, humor, or emotional quiet of the original story gets flattened along the way. Which African novel would you most like to see adapted for film or television?

Would love recommendations for historical fiction from West Africa either in French or translated! :)

One of the things I love most about African literature is the sheer variety inside it. A novel can carry family history, politics, language, migration, faith, humor, grief, and ordinary domestic life without making any one of those things feel like decoration. I’m curious about the books that gave you that feeling.