10 African books to help you laugh through the recession

Bwahahaha, the Naira is doing like this, the cost of living has become too expensive, life is too hard, exchange rates is not smiling and your boss at work has refused to increase your salary.

To help make sense of it all (or at least find some humor in it), we’ve collected this list of books to help us look at everything from a more humorous perspective.

1. How To Be a Nigerian by Peter Enahoro

The book is described as a guide for Nigerians and expatriates on the conduct, deportment, comportment, bearing, demeanour, mien, carriage, actions, the misdoings, misconduct and misbehaviours of the Nigerian adult male and female. Sprinkled with anecdotes and cartoons, the book addresses the Nigerian essence.

2. We Need New names by No Violet Bulawayo

This book tells the unflinching and powerful story of a young girl's journey out of Zimbabwe to America. Be prepared to laugh like a junkie, because the ride characters like "Darling, Stina, Chipo, Bastard and Godknows" will give you across Zimbabwe will be an interesting and life changing one.

3. Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed

Mumbo Jumbo is Ishmael Reed's brilliantly satiric deconstruction of Western civilization, he mixes portraits of historical figures and fictional characters with sound bites on subjects ranging from ragtime to Greek philosophy. Mumbo Jumbo is a trenchant and often biting look at black-white relations throughout history, from a keen observer of our culture.

4. London Life, Lagos Living by Bobo Omotayo

These collection of short stories are inherently Nigerian, capturing certain nuances of everyday "Naija" life, and presenting it, through Bobo's eyes for anyone, anywhere.

5. Is It Coz I'm Black? by Ndumiso Ngcobo

This streetwise book is aimed at looking at a fresh range of typically South African characters and social issues, including obvious targets such as Jacob Zuma, xenophobia, black-on-black relationships and Benoni Afrikaners. South African satire at its best.

6. How Laziness Changed my Life by Okechukwu Ofili

Not a huge fan of motivational books cloaked with humor but this collection of radical business ideas is perfect for tired, overworked and frustrated people looking for an easier way to get stuff done!

7. The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu

This book portrayed the heart of contemporary Zimbabwean society with humor and grace.

8. Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun by Sarah Ladipo-Manyika

A subtle story about ageing, friendship and loss, this is also a nuanced study of the erotic yearnings of an older woman.

9. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin

This book is the story of Baba Segi, a middle-aged polygamous man with four wives, seven children and a robust appetite. Weaving the voices of Baba Segi and his four competing wives into a portrait of a clamorous household of twelve, Lola Shoneyin evokes an extraordinary Nigerian family in splashes of vibrant colour.

10. Dog Eat Dog by Niq Mhlongo

This is an authentic, witty, slice-of-life piece of fiction set at the time of the first South African democratic elections. This book has no regard for political correctness or sacred cows of any size, shape or form.

Compliment this with 8 powerful crime books by African writers you should read right now, Why Nigerians should start paying attention to unhyped writers and 10 African countries you can visit in books

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