10 books by African men everyone should read

18:06 - 14 September 2015

Here are some award-winning books written by crush-worthy men that shows the diversity and wonders of African literature.

After compiling a list of books by African women everyone should read, i was accused of Misandry (whatever that means), so i decided to compile a list of beautiful books written by African men.

1. The African Child by Camara Laye

In this novel Laye describes his life growing up in the village of Koroussa, Guinea. He talks of the supernatural powers both his parents possess and the distinction his father held as the village goldsmith. Soon he must choose between home or pursuit of academic success elsewhere.

2. The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah

Ayi Kwei Armah in his debut book takes a satirical attack on Kwame Nkrumah’s regime in Ghana and the period immediately after independence in the 1960s. The book tells the story of an upright and moral railway worker who resists the temptations of bribes and easy gratification much to the anger of his wife. Feeling increasingly guilty for his innocence, the novel portrays the theme of corruption and greed that many African nations such as Ghana struggled with post-independence.

3. Ake: The Years of Childhood by Wole Soyinka

Ake: The Years of Childhood are the memoirs of Wole Soyinka as a young boy through to his teenage years during the 1930’s in a Yoruba village called Ake.

4. Weep Not Child by Ngῦgῖ wa Thiong’o

This book looks at the effects of the Mau Mau war on everyday men and women in Kenya focusing on one family in particular. In the forests, the Mau Mau are waging war against the white government, and two brothers, Kamau and Njoroge, and the rest of the family must decide where their loyalties lie.

Read Now: Prof Ngugi wa Thiong'o encourages writers to translate their works to African languages

5. Waiting For An Angel by Helon Habila

A young journalist, Lomba is living in Lagos under the ruthless military regime. His life revolves around girls, soul music and the novel that he is writing. But when his flatmate goes mad and is brutally attacked by soldiers, his first love is forced into a marriage and his neighbours are planning a demonstration that is sure to cause trouble he realises he can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening. This book provides an intense and exciting insight into student life under an oppressive regime.

6. A Walk in the Night and Other Stories by Alex La Guma

A Walk in the Night and Other Stories reveals La Guma as one of the most important African writers of his time. These works reveal the plight of non-whites in apartheid South Africa, laying bare the lives of the poor and the outcasts who filled the ghettoes and shantytowns.

7. The Famished Road by Ben Okri

Azaro is an abiku- a spirit child. This is means he was only born for a short while before he has to return back to the spirit world, but he doesn’t want to. His spirit siblings are endlessly calling him back, wanting him to leave his mortal realm in order to join them again but Azaro’s love for his parents sees him reluctant to do so. As a result tension builds between those in the land of the living and those in the spirit world.

8. Houseboy by Ferdinand Oyono

Published in 1956 Houseboy is written in the form of a diary. This diary belongs to Toundi Ondoua, the main protagonist of this novel. He manages to escape from his abusive father and seeks asylum from his sponsor a local European priest who suddenly dies. He then becomes the boy of the local Commandment but his attempt to further improve his life reveals to him the reality of how difficult this is. This book looks at African's initial adoration of Europeans and how this preconception becomes skewed whilst he battles with his identity.

9. Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Patton

The novel tells the story of a Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo who travels to Johannesburg to find his son and other family members. He soon discovers that his son Absalom has been charged with murder of a white man. Paton looks at the social structures of society in a country ruled by racial injustice.

See: 6 African Literature books that perfectly capture the immigrant/refugee experience

10. Disgrace by John Maxwell Coetzee

Disgrace tells the story of David Lurie, a divorcee and 52 year old professor of Communications and Romantic Poetry at Cape Technical University who embarks on an affair with a student.

However, the affair turns sour as the student files a complaint to the school. Although admitting his guilt he refuses to apologise and resigns from his post. The story goes on from there as David tries to get his life back together and salvage his relationship with his daughter.