Great African Reads discussion

This thread is for posting your reading plans for the challenge: 50 Books By African Women That Everyone Should Read.
Make a post if you have joined the challenge - and add your reading plans, or add books as you read them. You can edit your list using "edit post" to add more books to your original list!

Add books as you go along and/or copy this list if you like
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 
3 We Need New Names  by NoViolet Bulawayo 
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga 
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ 
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna 
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor 
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi 
9 July's People  by Nadine Gordimer 
10 Aya (Aya #1)  by Marguerite Abouet 
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta 
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa 
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor 
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif 
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire 
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa 
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani 
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed 
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo 
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction) 
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot 
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat 
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe 
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera 
29 Changes: A Love Story  by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana 
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta 
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku 
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika 
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi 
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé 
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor) 
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo 
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala 
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko 
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau 
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke 
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam 
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera 
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall 
48 David's Story  by Zoë Wicomb 
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner 

I'll aim for 40 over the next couple of years - not sure which yet - and I had read four beforehand...

Read so far 27/40
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (read Mar 2017)
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga  (read Dec 2017)
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ (read Apr 2019)
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi (read July 2018)
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer  (read Oct 2020)
10 Aya (Aya #1)  by Marguerite Abouet (read 2017)
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta (read July 2021)
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor  (read May 2019)
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire (read Oct 2019)
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa (read 2021)
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela (read 2018)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo (read July 2018)
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head (read May 2019)
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot (read Oct 2020)
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat (read Feb 2020)
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe (read Jan. 2021)
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo (read July 2018)
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana (read June 2020)
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi 
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé (read July 2018)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo (read 2017)
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala (read 2018)
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami (read June 2019)
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo (read Dec 2017)
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera (read May 2019)
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner (read Feb 2020)
50 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (read 2018)

Might be upcoming: 
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani  
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo 
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko 
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau

(More unread books in spoiler...)
(view spoiler)[
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna 
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor 
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif 
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed 
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku 
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika (UPP)
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke 
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam 
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
Probably not the very large collections:
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction) 
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor) 
French only?:
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall (French version only?)
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'll go ahead and post what I've read so far, as while I've only one other book I'm interested in reading, perhaps I can be convinced to aquire more.

Read:
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo

To Read:

What I have read so far is in bold: 46/50



1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner
50 Qualifying books (written by African women) I've read during this challenge:
~ A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn
~ Sula and Ja by Ellen Banda-Aaku
~ Akissi Tome 1 - Attaque de chats by Marguerite Abouet
~ The Queue by Basma Abdel Aziz
~ An Elegy for Easterly: Stories by Petina Gappah
~ Three Solid Stones by Martha Mvungi
~ La Bastarda: A Novel by Trifonia Melibea Obono
~ Awu's Story: A Novel by Justine Mintsa
~ Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
~ Women's Wisdom from the Heart of Africa by Sobonfu E. Somé
~ Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela
~ Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste
~ Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
~ Mighty Be Our Powers by Leymah Gbowee
~ My Fathers' Daughter by Hannah Pool
~ Children of the New World by Assia Djebar
~ Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga
~ Maru by Bessie Head
~ Ève de ses décombres by Ananda Devi
~ When Hoopoes Go to Heaven by Gaile Parkin
~ Reading the Ceiling by Dayo Forster
~ soft magic. by Upile Chisala
~ Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
~ We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
~ Nineveh by Henrietta Rose-Innes
~ Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja

I'm most excited about this challenge. I've copied over the entire list, made the links live, and will indicate as books are read.

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif (I just can't. I'm still experiencing PTSD from reading Eye of the Sun in 2017.)
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo (It's me, not the novel. I DNF'd it a couple of years ago due to a scene of graphic violence against a dog)
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo
23 Our Sister Killjoy
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner

In place of #15, I read Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo. Finished March 7.

5Jan: adding Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta to my planned reads

Completed, as of 6/18/2019
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, We Should All Be Feminists, and Americanah, each by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

I'll update this as I go along! :) I've marked those I've read in bold.

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (3x)
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner

Yaa Gyasi's Homecoming should be on the list but seeing that it's the January read, no harm.

For those wondering which book to read next in the list, I would recommend We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo. Nice easy read. And it spoke to me specifically because the narrator's voice is exactly how we used to speak as children.

Only read about 4 of the books so I am excited to give this a shot!!

Hi all,

Here's my list:
In bold what I have already read. (s) for what's waiting on my shelves.

45/49 by Feb, 2025, only 4 to go!

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala (difficult to get)
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (s)
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner

how do you make text appear in bold ?

Whitlaw wrote: "how do you make text appear in bold ?"

I tried to provide you the codes, but they will not appear as raw text in a message.

If you open a new comment box, above and to the right of it is a live link that states, "(some html is okay)". If you click on that link a list of common formatting instructions are revealed.

Here is my completed list! Books I have read in bold. Am also reading Nervous Conditions, which I am really enjoying so far!

1Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
9 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
10 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
11 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
12 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
13 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
14 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
15 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
16 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
17 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
18 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
19 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
20 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam

Bold is a b in two sharp brackets < b > to begin, and < /b > inside sharp (arrow) brackets to end it (without spaces) - as Carol said you can see examples in the menu (some html is okay) above the comment field :)

Thanks Anetq.

Laura wrote: "Am also reading Nervous Conditions, which I am really enjoying so far!"

Nice, I am looking forward to reading that book soon...

And all the credits for putting the list here are for Anetq. Thanks for the initiative!

I'm in! Bold are the ones I've read so far. I'm starting with 7, since I am counting Homegoing as #50

Add books as you go along and/or copy this list if you like
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner
50 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

I am feeling very committed to this group today in light of my annoying President's insensitive comments. These are not "shithole countries!" GRRRRRR

I will try to read 20 of the following. For some authors I have found alternate books to add to the 20. Bold I have read, italics for those TBR:
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
Read: Lyrics Alley
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
Read: A Question of Power
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner

I set my goal at a rather unambitious five.
I've read just 2 of the books in the list previously,
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 2016 and
July's People by Nadine Gordimer in 2012

The others that I have in my next 2 years-worth to-read list are:
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga - (I'm just waiting for this one to come back in to the library)
Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
So Long A Letter by Mariama Bâ
and The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta.
I'll probably read a reader's choice one and perhaps I will add others as I go along?

George wrote: "I set my goal at a rather unambitious five.
I've read just 2 of the books in the list previously,
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 2016 and
July's People by Nadine Gordimer in ..."

Good you're participating, George. Of the 5 you plan to read, I particularly recommend Nervous conditions and Americanah, both are excellent books.

Can you fill in a gap for me? Is this a list that originated somewhere or a list we are suggesting titles for?

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Can you fill in a gap for me? Is this a list that originated somewhere or a list we are suggesting titles for?"

It is a list published by the Royal African Society.

The list appeared in 2014 on http://whatsonafrica.org/50-books-by-... - and it has been put together by Dele Meiji Fatunla and Bookshy Blogger’s Zahrah Nessbit-Ahmed.
The second half of the books can be found on the bookshy site:
http://www.bookshybooks.com/2014/07/5...

Note: some jerk's added two books to the Listopia version which don't belong: 'Stay with Me' by Ayobami Adebayo and 'The River and the Source' by Margaret A. Ogola.

Thanks for the heads up, Aubrey!

Just thought I'd give a prop to a book of short stories I'm reading called African Love Stories: An Anthology edited by Ama Ata Aidoo. All 21 of the stories are by African women writers, and eight of them are writers with books on this list, including Adichie, Tadjo and El-Saadawi. I was able to borrow it from the university near me. I highly recommend it.
PS: It may help you decide which of these writers you want to read more of (or not).

Wim wrote: "George wrote: "I set my goal at a rather unambitious five.
I've read just 2 of the books in the list previously..."

Good you're participating, George. Of the 5 you plan to read, I particularly recommend Nervous Conditions and Americanah, both are excellent books."

Thanks, noted!

I've bought a used paperback of Nervous Conditions, so that will be my 4th book on the list. It will probably be about 2 months before I get to it though. I just picked up a novel by Thiong'o of Kenya (The River Between) and a couple by Bosnian writers (Selimovic and Andric) from the University library, among others to be read soon.

I have been slacking off in the reading of 50 African Women - so I have decided to give it a go again :) I have just ordered what looked interesting, was available and not too long in the first half of the alphabet - so now just waiting for the books to pour in from to libraries :)
Anybody else want to join some 50AW summer reading?

I would love to, though I fear I won't have lots of time to catch up. I have been reading several books by African women, but few are on the 50AW list...

We could try and read books together (as a summer bonus group read)?

And let's also vote for books from this list for the next regional group reads! 2018 Sept/Oct poll for example. Anetq, maybe you should send a message to all group members as a reminder to vote?

Wim wrote: We could try and read books together (as a summer bonus group read)?
I find it's a bit hard to do something very organised - as availability is a bit random on these books - very few exist as e-books, for those of us who use those, and what is accessible, is well a bit dependent on where you are and what libraries you may have access to.
But I am up for 'Buddy Reading' and setting up threads for those who want to read the same book at the same time? (My suggestions in the next comment :) )

Wim wrote: Anetq, maybe you should send a message to all group members as a reminder to vote?
Thanks for reminding me, yes I will, just wanted to make sure I included all relevant news today :)

50AW books...
I have just gotten my hands on:

Buchi Emecheta: The Joys of Motherhood
Grace Ogot: The Promised Land
Rebeka Njau: Ripples in the Pool
Bessie Head: The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales
Ama Ata Aidoo Our Sister Killjoy
Ama Ata Aidoo Changes: A Love Story

Would anyone like to join me for some summer reading of any of those?

I’d be up for The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta and I have access to a copy!

Also interested to read Ama Ata Aidoo but I don’t have access to her novels through my library and need to wait a bit before I spend more money on books 😁

Sofia wrote: "I’d be up for The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta and I have access to a copy!"

Excellent!

I've copied the list. Don't know how long it will take though...

Cornelia wrote: "I've copied the list. Don't know how long it will take though..."
There's a few years to read however many you like for the challenge, if that's what you mean :)

So far I've only read

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo


Looking forward to more

I am in for:
- Buchi Emecheta: The Joys of Motherhood
- Grace Ogot: The Promised Land
- Bessie Head: The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales
But I won't have them before 2-3 weeks...

I read Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo and I really liked it! Unfortunately, I could not find Our Sister Killjoy.

I read both the books by Ama Ata Aidoo and really liked both!
She has a sharp feminist angle and tells a good story, I really recommend both of them :)
My (no spoiler) reviews:
Changes: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Killjoy: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi - and liked it a lot - review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I wrote in April:
I set my goal at a rather unambitious five.
I've read just 2 of the books in the list previously,
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 2016 and
July's People by Nadine Gordimer in 2012
The others that I have in my next 2 years-worth to-read list are:
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga - (I'm just waiting for this one to come back in to the library)
Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
So Long A Letter by Mariama Bâ
and The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta..."

I read African Love Stories: An Anthology in May for #3, and am now reading both Nervous Conditions and Woman at Point Zero for # 4 & 5.
I will probably also read Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories in the near future along with a couple books by African men, Things Fall Apart and A Dry White Season. I bought the copy of Nervous Conditions, which I plan to pass on to a co-worker who is from Ghana.

Read:

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
4 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
5 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
6 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
7 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
8 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
9 Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
10 Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi
11 Minaret, Leila Aboulela
12 The Bride Price, Buchi Emecheta
13 Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Upcoming

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

So far this is what I have managed to read on this list, I think I will be able to add about five more books on this list before the year ends.

1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3 We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
4 Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
5 So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
6 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
7 Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
8 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi
9 July's People by Nadine Gordimer
10 Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet
11 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
12 The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
13 Efuru by Flora Nwapa
14 Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
15 The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
16 Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
17 Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
18 I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
19 The Translator by Leila Aboulela
20 Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
21 The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo
22 African Love Stories: An Anthology by Ama Ata Aidoo (Editor/Introduction)
23 Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
24 The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales by Bessie Head
25 The Promised Land by Grace Ogot
26 Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat
27 On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
28 Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera
29 Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo
30 Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
31 Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
32 Patchwork by Ellen Banda-Aaku
33 In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
34 Your Madness, Not Mine: Stories of Cameroon by Makuchi
35 Neighbours: The Story of a Murder by Lília Momplé
36 Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby (Editor)
37 As the Crow Flies by Véronique Tadjo
38 Our Wife & Other Stories by Karen King-Aribisala
39 The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
40 Secret Son by Laila Lalami
41 Sundowners by Lesley Lokko
42 Ripples in the Pool by Rebeka Njau
43 Bitter Leaf by Chioma Okereke
44 This September Sun by Bryony Rheam
45 The Blind Kingdom by Véronique Tadjo
46 Nehanda by Yvonne Vera
47 Le revenant by Aminata Sow Fall
48 David's Story by Zoë Wicomb
49 Men of the South by Zukiswa Wanner

Whitlaw wrote: "So far this is what I have managed to read on this list, I think I will be able to add about five more books on this list before the year ends."

That's good progress, Whitlaw - did you simply start at the top, or is that coincidental I wonder :)

Wow, I really need to catch up! I’m going to get started on The Translator asap

Whitlaw wrote: "So far this is what I have managed to read on this list, I think I will be able to add about five more books on this list before the year ends.
1 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
..."

Do you have a favorite of the nine you've read so far? I'm also reading Nervous Conditions now and quite like it; I think it may become my favorite of my five.

I just saw that Amazon.com seems to have a sale on Aminatta Forna's books - so The Memory of Love is 1,99§ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
...just in case anyone else need or want a copy of #6 on the list :) Other works by Forna are on sale as well.

The sad thing is, a lot of these interesting books aren't available in German (my native language) and it makes me angry, that so many well-worth-read authors never received a German translation for their books.
I have now ordered Bessie Head's book "The Collector of Treasures and other Botswana Village Tales" and I am really looking forward to read it.
I hope, as it's short stories, that my English will prove sufficient. :0) I think, it makes sense for me, to start with short stories/anthologies and then work my way up to more and more pages. Well that's the plan anyway. :0)

Einfach_Buecherbar wrote: "The sad thing is, a lot of these interesting books aren't available in German (my native language) and it makes me angry, that so many well-worth-read authors never received a German translation fo..."

It's the same in Spain, there are very few books edited by african authors, Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda are the most popular, but when you start reading them, then you want more and it's almost impossible to find more authors, specially women african writers so I read them in english :-).

When Rain Clouds Gather" and Maru (Maru is almost a short story, a novella) are the two books by Bessie Head I have read and I totally recommend them. Bessie Head is a luminous writer.

saludos

I'll join the no-translations choir; Not much in Danish either. An odd selection of things on very small "exotic literature" publishing houses :) (Luckily I have great access to the English versions through libraries) But it is sad that some of these great writers never find readers outside the English readers (og French for Francophone Africa) - I fear the explanation is simple; probably isn't very lucrative. Still a shame though!

The same echo here: very few translations to Dutch. But on the other hand, it is equally amazing that very few African authors write in their mother tongue, which means that their works remain inaccessible to a large part of Africans. By writing in English (or French or Portuguese) they do reach a large international audience.
I also feel this list of 50 books by African women is somehow biased, as it mainly contains books in English, and most of the books are written a long time ago. I like reading those classics, but African lit by women has more to offer.