One way or another, it is clear that African books are finding their way all over the world, appreciated and championed by disparate voices.
By Afrocritik’s Editorial Board
Harrowing migrations to Europe through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean; a summary history of Africa; the great mountain peaks of East Africa; war-torn regions; Swahili-Arab colonial histories; poetry emerging from the story of a dead boy; ghost stories; female friendships and struggles; familial tensions, gay coming of age; a corrupt justice system; and anthologies of various topics.
These are some of the subjects of African books that came out this year. They range from fiction to nonfiction to poetry on and about Africa in the past or in the present, stories that chart the realities of being African.
Some of these books won and got nominated for awards, including the National Book Awards, others became bestsellers—a testament to both technical prowess and the popularity of African books. One way or another, it is clear that African books are finding their way all over the world, appreciated and championed by disparate voices.
But despite years of literary production on and about the continent, we have to admit that recognition is not yet fully endowed to the continent. While its writers must of necessity do more, editors, critics and literary stakeholders around the world must sit up too to take notice of African literature.
There is no reason, for instance, why The New York Times would create a list of the “best books of the 21st century” and there’s barely any African in it.
If they’re confused as to where to start in Africa—if we go so far as to assume they don’t—they can start with this list below. Here are the most Notable African books of 2024 according to Afrocritik, in no particular order.
Ghostroots – ‘Pemi Aguda (Masobe)
Pemi Aguda’s Ghostroots, a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, is a collection of 12 short stories by one of the best young writers of this generation. Imaginatively expansive and deftly written, each of the stories center around characters dealing with literal or metaphorical ghosts. One of the best books of the year.
They Dream In Gold — Mai Sennaar (Pan MacMillian)
In Mai Sennaar They Dream In Gold, Bonnie and Mansour’s love story begins in a 1968 New York jazz club. Despite their fractured pasts and childhoods spent traversing the Atlantic, they find solace in each other. As Mansour’s music, a blend of Senegalese melodies and revolutionary spirit, propels them across the globe, happiness seems within reach.
However, Mansour mysteriously vanishes during a Spanish tour, leaving Bonnie to confront the weight of not only her own grief but also the hopes of the women in her life – her mother, grandmother, and the women in Mansour’s family.
Driven by a newfound strength and the life stirring within her, Bonnie embarks on a journey to find him, a journey that spans two decades and explores the migrant experience.
Water Baby – Chioma Okereke (Masobe)
Okereke’s Water Baby is a heartfelt story of a girl growing up in the large Lagosian lagoon slum known as Makoko, where houses are built on wooden stilts sticking out of the water. It’s a story of ghetto dwelling and poverty that does not feel poverty-porn-like or patronising.
Adam – Gboyega Odubanjo (Faber)
The late Odubanjo’s masterly book of poetry uses the tragic discovery of the decapitated, limbless corpse of an unknown black boy in London in 2001 as a point of departure to craft an allegory of being black and African in a corrupt, capitalist world. Odubanjo bends and twists language to every poetic whim possible. Conflating Yoruba cosmology and Black British experience, he eminently succeeds in his project.
Obligations To The Wounded – Mubanga Kalimamukwento (University of Pittsburg Press)
In Obligations to the Wounded, each tale is a reflection of the heavy mantle womanhood carries. Rooted in the heartbeat of Zambian tradition and reaching out to the diaspora, this collection sheds light on the quiet wars fought within, as women—both at home in Zambia and abroad—navigate societal expectations, migration, and personal loss.
Through games, social media spats, letters, and folklore, the book captures the struggles of women contending with religion, violence, language, and racial prejudice. Though separated by distance and time, the women and girls within these pages are bound by shared burdens, culture, and resilience, each journey a look into the strength in struggle and the triumph found in unity.
The Road to the Country – Chigozie Obioma (Masobe)
Another novel of the Nigerian Civil War is always welcome, for here is human tragedy whose events are both under-narrated and under-explored in Nigerian literature. In the story, Kunle, a young undergraduate finds himself in the thick of hostilities when he goes to look for his brother in the breakaway state of Biafra.
Blessings – Chukwuebuka Ibeh (Masobe)
Ibeh’s novel about the coming of age of a gay young man is told with enough nuance and understanding. Obiefuna, the hero of the novel, Is sent to a boarding school where he begins his sentimental education under the auspices of time and chance meetings. He gradually grows into adulthood with a strong sense of who he is and where he stands in the world.
The Liquid Eye of a Moon – Uchenna Awoke (Catapult)
Awoke’s novel is another coming-of-age novel. This time it is the story of Dimpka, a boy growing up in the hinterlands of Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria. This is a beautifully told story of the human struggle for survival.
Crooked Seeds – Karen Jennings (Random House/Masobe)
In this Unflinchingly stark new novel by Jennings, Deidre, a Capetonian woman barely surviving in a near-future drought-ravaged South Africa, must confront her family’s old secrets and the ghosts of her country’s past.
And So I Roar – Abi Dare (Dutton)
This novel is Abi Dare’s follow-up to her first novel, The Girl With the Louding Voice. Here, Adunni story continues. As she prepares to return to school, she is faced with an accusation in her village Ikate, which she must deal with.
Someone Like Us – Dinaw Mengastu (Doubleday Canada)
Dinaw Mengestu’s Someone Like Us is an exploration of identity, memory, and the enduring power of family.
The novel follows Mamush, a journalist who escapes his past in Ethiopia for a new life in Paris, only to find his marriage crumbling and his past haunting him. Returning to his immigrant community in Washington, D.C., he confronts the unexpected death of a beloved mentor and grapples with the secrets and silences that have shaped his life.
As Mamush embarks on a cross-country journey, he delves into the past, seeking answers to the enduring question: How well can we truly know those we love, even those closest to us?
Pride and Joy – Louisa Onome (HarperCollins Canada)
From Onome comes a multi-generational family drama about a Nigerian-Canadian. A necessary novel about achievement and unity, and the lack thereof.
Let Us Conspire and Other Stories – Billy Kahora (Kibanga Books)
Let Us Conspire and Other Stories emerged from workshops hosted by Jahazi Press in partnership with Saseni! in May 2022. Guided by literary luminaries such as Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Peter Kimani, Mikhail Iossel, and Prof Mohamed Bakari, this collection pulses with the energy of creative minds shaping history’s narrative.
Perhaps one of the most vibrant assemblages of short fiction to come from Kenya in recent times, Let Us Conspire offers a rich look of personal and intellectual insights, peeling back the layers of the nation’s most defining moments, revealing the quiet forces that have shaped its soul.
Rinsing Mukami’s Soul – Njambi Macrath (Jacaranda Books)
Rinsing Mũkami’s Soul is a searing exploration of the jagged edges where gender, sex, and redemption collide. In this powerful debut, Njambi McGrath, the award-winning author of Through the Leopard’s Gaze, explores the transformative power of anger as a means of reclamation.
When young Mũkami’s carefully structured life is shattered by scandal—expelled from school, betrayed by love, and burdened by an impossible pregnancy—she is forced to confront a society that punishes her for her mistakes.
Stripped of her innocence and abandoned by her family, she rises from the ashes of her broken world, declaring fury as her weapon of justice. This provocative narrative challenges the societal norms that silence girls and women, forcing us to examine why they are so often left to fight for their voices from the shadows.
We Were Girls Once – Aiwanose Odafen (Ouida Books)
Odafen’s sophomore novel, the second book in what seems to be an ongoing trilogy, follows the lives of three women whose lives diverge and converge in contemporary Nigeria. While dealing with their life choices. We Were Girls Once is a story about female friendship and contemporary politics.
Grow Where They Fall – Michael Donkor (Fig Tree Penguin)
Donkor’s moving novel is a gay man’s story of acceptance and belonging.
The Road to the Salt Sea – Samuel Kolawole (HarperCollins)
A timely novel about the travails of African migration to Europe via the dangerous desert route of the Sahara, from Nigeria to Libya and then Italy. It is the story of one man’s confrontation with the dark side of nature and survival.
Daughter Wound – Nkateko Masinga (Hazel Press)
Released by Hazel Press in April 2024, Daughter Wound was a collection of poetry by South Africa’s Nkateko Masinga. The book charts the tumultuous landscape of a young Black South African woman as she navigates the tangled vines of love, family, and politics, each relationship a fabric of her identity.
A Kind of Madness: Stories – Uche Okonkwo (Tin House)
Okonkwo’s stories in this book of short stories are a testament to her abilities as a Nigerian. Nothing feels forced here, yet we particularly find ourselves noticing the correspondence of these stories with everyday Nigerian life, from scenes of seemingly calm domesticity to the chaos of human interactions in urban sceneries.
Bright Red Fruit – Safia Elhilo (Penguin Random House)
Safia Elhillo through Bright Red Fruit, a Kirkus Prize finalist, masterfully utilizes poetry to illuminate the complexities of growing up Sudanese-American.
While exploring the potential darkness within the slam poetry world, Elhillo presents it as a vibrant, dynamic stage, a communal celebration of expression that invites all to share their truths.
Through her novel-in-verse, she powerfully examines poetry as an art form, delves into self identity identity as a theme, and poignantly explores the universal longing for love.
Allow Me to Introduce Myself – Onyi Nwabineli (Graydon House Books)
Social media shenanigans plus rivalry. Nwabineli’s novel is very contemporary in its subject; a triller that keeps the reader’s attention.
Captive New Short Fiction From Africa – Short Story Day Africa
In the 2024 edition of the Short Story Day anthologies, Captive presents eleven storytellers from Africa and from all corners its far-flung shores, who dive into narratives that connect us as Africans together, the desires that ensnare our hearts, and the illusions we chase that fuel our journeys in the continent.
Facing The Mountains – Jackline Asiimiwe (Mahiri Books)
In the shadow of East Africa’s majestic peaks, Jacqueline Asiimwe beckons readers to embark on a journey of soul and self. Facing Mountains is a poetic odyssey where the towering giants of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya became mirrors reflecting the heart’s deepest trials.
With a blend of grace, Jacqueline crafts a narrative of personal battles and triumphs, revealing that each rise, each fall, and each ascent is a testament to the unbreakable will of her spirit — not merely a tale of summits conquered, but of the courage blossoming in the space between.
After the End – Olukorede S. Yishau (Masobe)
Olukorede Yishau’s writing is like a vibrant symphony, echoing loudly with every word. Though After the End is a brief journey, it still emerges as a wide expanse of profound themes, never rushing or feeling strained. Each character blooms in subtle bursts of depth.
While Yishau may tell a familiar tale, he does so with a distinctive finesse that leaves its mark. After the End is a fine look at life’s real struggles— as it may concern love, trust, and betrayal. Through his words, Yishau breathes life into unique perspectives, creating a story that resonates long after the final page.
Who Will Bury You – Chido Muchemwa (House of Anansi)
Who Will Bury You? by Chido Muchemwa is a collection of twelve short stories that looks at the complexities of Zimbabwean life, both at home and in the diaspora. Set against the backdrop of social and political upheaval, the stories delve into themes of loss, identity, and inequality, following characters grappling with profound shifts in their lives.
From a mother and daughter navigating a difficult truth to a journalist accompanying her grieving mother on a surreal journey, Muchemwa’s evocative prose captures the fragility of human connection and the enduring power of family bonds.
Ultimately, the collection invites readers to contemplate the forces that shape our lives, prompting us to question what compels us to leave, what draws us back, and what ultimately defines our sense of belonging.
Samahani – Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin (Foundry Editions)
Samahani, the Swahili word for forgiveness, offers a poignant counterpoint to the brutal realities depicted in this novel. Set in 19th-century Zanzibar, the story unfolds amidst the horrors of the slave trade, where the island’s beauty is marred by cruelty and oppression.
Zanzibaris, once free, are subjected to the brutal rule of both European and Arab colonizers, transforming their paradise into a living hell of exploitation.
The novel focuses on the harrowing relationship between an entitled Omani princess and Sundus, an enslaved man mutilated by Arab slavers. This chilling tale of barbarism and inhumanity serves as a powerful indictment of human cruelty, exposing the deep wounds inflicted by oppression.
The Imaginative Vision of Abdilatif Abdalla’s Voice Of Agony – Abdilatif Abdalla (University of Michigan Press)
Sauti ya Dhiki (Voice of Agony), a groundbreaking collection of Swahili prison poems by Abdilatif Abdalla, was finally available in English as “Imaginative Vision.” This landmark translation, by the late Kenyan novelist Ken Walibora Waliaula, offers more than just poetry.
It tells the story of the book’s creation, from Abdilatif’s imprisonment for political activism to his clandestine journey out of prison. Imaginative Vision explores the historical and literary context of these powerful poems, connecting them to the works of other imprisoned writers like Alamin Mazrui and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, while also tracing their roots in Swahili literary tradition.
With insightful essays and contextualizing materials, this volume provides a comprehensive understanding of “
Sauti ya Dhiki, its impact, and its enduring significance in Swahili and world literature.
Terminal Maladies – Okwudili Nebeolisa (Autumn House Press)
Okwudili Nebeolisa’s debut poetry collection, Terminal Maladies explores love, loss, and the complexities of family in the face of illness. Through intimate and moving poems, Nebeolisa chronicles his mother’s battle with cancer, grappling with the guilt of being geographically distant from her while she faces this devastating disease in Nigeria.
The collection beautifully captures the shared burden of caregiving, the emotional and physical distance that weighs heavily on the family, and the poet’s profound reflections on his mother’s resilience and the unspoken wounds she carries.
The Silence Of The Choir – Mohammed Mbougar Sarr (Europa Editions)
Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr’s Paris-based novel explores the refugee experience. When 72 African men arrive in rural Sicily, they face mixed reactions. Through diverse voices, Sarr examines humanity’s flaws, belonging, and compassion, urging understanding over distrust in this thought-provoking book.
She Who Knows – Nnedi Okoroafor (DAW Books)
A prequel to the Nigerian-American author’s acclaimed novel, Who Fears Death. It is also part of a three-book project by the famous speculative writer.
Lost Ark Dreaming – Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Macmillan/Tor)
Off the coast of West Africa, decades after the dangerous rise of the Atlantic Ocean, the region’s survivors live inside five partially submerged, kilometers-high towers originally created as a playground for the wealthy.
Now the towers’ most affluent rule from their lofty perch at the top while the rest are crammed into the dark, fetid floors below sea level. A remarkable novella from the highly imaginative Okungbowa.
Children of Anguish and Anarchy – Tomi Adeyemi (Macmillan)
A continuation of Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orisha series. When Zelie seized the royal palace on a fateful night, she thought her battles had come to an end. The monarchy had finally fallen. The maji had risen again. She, however, never expected to find herself locked in a cage and trapped on a foreign ship. Now warriors with iron skulls traffic her.
Parasol Against the Axe – Helen Oyeyemi (Penguin)
Set in Prague, Czech Republic, this novel is a story about stories. But more than that, Oyeyemi’s unconventionally storytelling is what makes this novel stand out
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow – Damilare Kuku (Ouida Books)
This novel from the popular writer is predicated on the story of a young woman who decides to get a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) and the uproarious response of her family and friends. A genuinely hilarious and light-hearted novel with serious themes of self esteem and societal judgement.
The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus – Umar Abubakar Sidi (Masobe)
This remarkable experimental novel inspired by the likes of Italo Calvino and interlaced with Sufi philosophy details the convoluted journey of an elusive book. As complex as it is mesmerizing.
Egypt +100 – Ahmed Naji (Comma Press)
Egypt + 100 imagines Egypt in 2111, a century after the protests that shook the country. In 12 stories, writers explore themes of climate change, virtual spaces, and government control, painting a picture of a future where public and private spaces have eroded, leaving people isolated yet still fighting for connection and freedom.
How to Make a Space Masquerade and Other Speculative Stories – Mazi Nwonwu (Narrative Landscape)
For years, Nwonwu has been a pioneer of African speculative fiction magazine editing. His writing has also been widely published in the spec-fi genre as well as journalism. His debut collection does not disappoint as it corrals the bizarre, the fantastic and the futuristic, adding Igbo cosmology for good measure.
Half Portraits Under Water – Dennis Mugaa (Masobe)
This interlinked story collection from the Kenyan writer explores friendships, exile, memory, and the discovery of self.
Like Water Like Sea – Olumide Popoola (Cassava Republic)
Set in London, the novel follows the 28-year-old herbal medicine practitioner grappling with the loss of her older sister Johari. Like Water Like Sea explores various aspects of friendship, relationships, and gender. Through her characters, Popoola normalises and subtly educates her readers about the fluidity in sexuality
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years – Shubnum Khan (Penguin)
A historical Gothic novel by the South African Author Khan, The Djinn is the story of a haunting. Akbar Manzil, a grand estate off the coast of South Africa, now stands in ruins a century later, becoming an isolated boarding house for eclectic misfits, seeking solely to disappear into the mansion’s dark corridors. Sana is curious and questioning and finds herself irresistibly drawn to the history of the mansion. A fascinating read.
Loss is An Aftertaste of Memories – Michael Chiedoziem Chukwudera (Mmụta Books)
Chukwudera’s debut novel is the nostalgic coming-of-age story of a boy growing up in Benin City, Nigeria, with his parents and siblings. A remarkable tale of love, family bond, and self-examination.
Flying Up the Mountain – Elizabeth-Irene Baitie (Cassava Republic)
A young adult novel centered around Ato and his friends Dzifa and Leslie have been selected to visit Nnoma, the bird sanctuary that Ato’s father helped build before he died.
Ato is convinced that his father hid something valuable on the island, meant only for him. When the trio arrives at Nnoma with other children from across West Africa, they are split into teams and given missions to help broaden their knowledge of nature.
An Imperfect Storm – Chikwe Ihekweazu with Vivian Ihekweazu (Masobe)
The COVID-19 pandemic is the subject of this engrossing book which details the human struggle and seismic shift in world affairs, in grand scale and in small details. It is a book about the love of humanity, the power of family, of hope, resilience, and collaboration. A timely, unique account by two health practitioners.
African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Civilisation to Independence – Zeinab Badawi (Ebury Publishing)
The history of Africa, both as a continent and as a people, is often oversimplified, especially in Western narratives. However, in this book, Zeinab takes on the challenging task of telling Africa’s history through the multifaceted kaleidoscope that defines the African people.
Outriders Africa – Edited by Bibi Bakare-Yusuf & Layla Mohamed (Cassava Republic)
In Outriders Africa, 10 African writers journey across the continent in 2020, sharing their captivating experiences, both personal and collective, in the countries they visit. This gripping collection of essays, travelogues, poetry, and letters details not only their travels but also their reflections upon returning.
The World Was in Our Hands – Chitra Nagarajan (Cassava Republic)
In this nonfiction collection, Nigerian writer and activist Chitra Nagarajan boldly tells the story of the Boko Haram crisis through the eyes of survivors, offering insights beyond what is often depicted in the media. Her book serves as an eye-opening illumination for all who read it.
Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System – Dele Farotimi (Amazon)
In a country like Nigeria, where corruption is endemic and extends even to the justice system meant to address it, confronting this anomaly requires both intelligence and strength. This book does exactly that. It exposes the decayed justice system and serves as a clarion call for the eradication of such practices.
Sister Deborah – Scholastique Mukasonga (Archipelago Books)
This historical fiction unravels the myths and misconceptions surrounding Rwanda’s past. The novel spans colonial and post-colonial Rwanda, exploring the desperate attempt to conceal history and the determined search to uncover, in full detail, what is true and false amidst colonial efforts.
A Man With No Title – Xavier Le Clerc (Saqi Books)
This book honours immigrant struggles, individuality, and literature’s transformative impact. Mohand-Saïd Aït-Taleb, tormented by memories of Algeria’s conflict, isolates himself in France, distant from his family. His son Xavier finds Camus’s writings about his father’s brutal upbringing and follows his path from poverty in Kabylia to a factory in Normandy.
The Legend Of Beach House – Peter Ngila Njeri (Abibiman Publishing)
The Legend of Beach House centers on the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 on March 8, 2014. In 2040, the timeless Angel of Dreams introduces orphaned triplets—Francis, Francisca, and Moses Otieno—and recounts their extraordinary quest to uncover the truth about MH370 and humanity’s connections to other worlds.
Ground – Jadaline Gangbo (Congo, Brazaville)
In 1982, young Redesof and his siblings escape a fire, left behind by parents who return to Congo-Brazzaville. Raised in Italian institutions, they struggle with identity, racism, and the empty promises of their father while battling their insecurities. This novel touches on personal themes of familial tension, and displacement.
A Mouth Full Of Salt – Reem Gafar (Saqi Books)
This novel highlights the female characters and their independent decisions. A young girl chooses to leave her barely livable village in North Sudan for Khartoum, while a single mother in Khartoum stands up for herself despite facing strong societal opposition.
A Nose And Three Eyes – Ihsan Abdel Kouddous (AUC Press)
Set in 1950s Cairo, 16-year-old Amina is engaged to an older man, yet her heart belongs to another—Dr. Hashim Abdel-Latif, her first love but a notorious womanizer. A Nose and Three Eyes explores female desire, societal constraints, and political critique.
Bald Dadelions With Their Wishes Blown Off – Nadifa Mohammed Featuring E.A Authors (Huza Press)
This anthology features ten stories from Rwanda, Kenya, Somaliland, Somalia, and Ethiopia, showcasing fresh African voices. With themes of love, crime, resilience, and family, the stories in this book explore complex subjects like gender, tradition, education, and illness, presenting radical, experimental takes on African identity beyond national borders.
Chimezie Chika’s short stories and essays have appeared in or forthcoming from, amongst other places, The Weganda Review, The Republic, Terrain.org, Isele Magazine, Lolwe, Fahmidan Journal, Efiko Magazine, Dappled Things, Channel Magazine and Afrocritik. He is the fiction editor of Ngiga Review. His interests range from culture, history, to art, literature, and the environment. You can find him on Twitter @chimeziechika1.
Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.
Evidence Egwuono Adjarho is a Gen-Z who loves God. She enjoys reading books and writing about them. Finally, she is an undergraduate studying English at the University of Lagos.