The year has been riddled with many great literary works and
African literature has no doubt had a great year; what with it being a rich
tapestry of differing cultures and vibrant story telling. With great works
calling out from every direction for the readers’ attention, narrowing down the
decision to just 10 books has been a categorically tough task. I have however
done it, here they are, the top 10 African novels of 2014.
1.
We Need New Names – NoViolet Bulawayo
We Need New Names’ back cover reads ‘Then we are rushing, then we are running, then we are running, then we are laughing and laughing and laughing.’ This speaks volumes to the type of read this is, the reader gets the sense that there is a pursuit of sorts, a moving towards a particular thing. The story is told through a 10year old girl named Darling living in a colourful shanty town called Paradise whose residents attempt life through tumultuous settings. Her aspirations together with those of her friends are big, they dream of greater futures. Darling, actualises these desires as she relocates to America, this draws very closely to Bulawayo’s own reality. From this point onwards the story becomes a coming of age tale. A young woman trying to make sense of a foreign world.
We Need New Names’ back cover reads ‘Then we are rushing, then we are running, then we are running, then we are laughing and laughing and laughing.’ This speaks volumes to the type of read this is, the reader gets the sense that there is a pursuit of sorts, a moving towards a particular thing. The story is told through a 10year old girl named Darling living in a colourful shanty town called Paradise whose residents attempt life through tumultuous settings. Her aspirations together with those of her friends are big, they dream of greater futures. Darling, actualises these desires as she relocates to America, this draws very closely to Bulawayo’s own reality. From this point onwards the story becomes a coming of age tale. A young woman trying to make sense of a foreign world.
There is a basicness to be found within the
storyline, the beauty and poetry of the Bulawayo’s native language is
contained, with obvious purpose, through the fibres of the narrative. It feels
almost as though the words first existed in the writer’s natural tongue.
2.
Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Yes, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie features
twice on this list and this is for multiple reasons; she has had a great year,
she’s a great writer and she’s become what could be termed a figure of popular culture.
Firstly, this is a big book! That being said though, it is not a difficult read especially if you’ve read other works written by the author. The writing style and narrative flow to a point where it feels as though a friend was telling you of what had happened to another friend. The themes carried within Americanah are love and race and the former instantly comes to the fore as the protagonist, Ifemelu meets and falls in love with Obinze. Through the winding twists of fate Ifemelu finds her way to America whilst Obinze dares the undocumented immigrant life in London.
A prickling loneliness and dislocation is a constant throughout this novel, This book is of cause a love story, spanning through time and distance, but it is also a lot more than that, it brings to the fore matters of self-identification and volatile feelings of depression. It is a marvellously written work that opens up doors to exploration and so much more.
Firstly, this is a big book! That being said though, it is not a difficult read especially if you’ve read other works written by the author. The writing style and narrative flow to a point where it feels as though a friend was telling you of what had happened to another friend. The themes carried within Americanah are love and race and the former instantly comes to the fore as the protagonist, Ifemelu meets and falls in love with Obinze. Through the winding twists of fate Ifemelu finds her way to America whilst Obinze dares the undocumented immigrant life in London.
A prickling loneliness and dislocation is a constant throughout this novel, This book is of cause a love story, spanning through time and distance, but it is also a lot more than that, it brings to the fore matters of self-identification and volatile feelings of depression. It is a marvellously written work that opens up doors to exploration and so much more.
3.
Radiance of tomorrow – Ishmael Beah
An impressively tender peak into post war Sierra Leone, this is what Ishmael Beah delivers in this novel. He first published a memoir ‘A Long Way Home’ in 2007 and was quickly heralded, making best sellers lists and garnering adornment from critics and fans alike. Radiance of Tomorrow is somewhat of a continuation of the story told in his first book. It speaks of the return home and the process of reconstruction, the attempts made at moving forward after the devastation.
In the book, Beah Writes, Mama Kadie may yearn to ask, ”How are you, your children and grandchildren, your wife, their health?” but she knows better. “These days one must be careful to avoid awakening the pain of another.” Instead, Mama Kadie thinks, “We are here, and we must go on living.” This is a central cognitive point for the narrative, the resilience of putting back together the broken pieces, the hope that the bad will soon fade into nonexistence and the continuous scuffle to make peace with thoughts of the past, the present as well as the future.
An impressively tender peak into post war Sierra Leone, this is what Ishmael Beah delivers in this novel. He first published a memoir ‘A Long Way Home’ in 2007 and was quickly heralded, making best sellers lists and garnering adornment from critics and fans alike. Radiance of Tomorrow is somewhat of a continuation of the story told in his first book. It speaks of the return home and the process of reconstruction, the attempts made at moving forward after the devastation.
In the book, Beah Writes, Mama Kadie may yearn to ask, ”How are you, your children and grandchildren, your wife, their health?” but she knows better. “These days one must be careful to avoid awakening the pain of another.” Instead, Mama Kadie thinks, “We are here, and we must go on living.” This is a central cognitive point for the narrative, the resilience of putting back together the broken pieces, the hope that the bad will soon fade into nonexistence and the continuous scuffle to make peace with thoughts of the past, the present as well as the future.
4.
Every day is for the thief – Teju Cole
Every Day is for the Thief tells the story
of a man returning home to Lagos, Nigeria after having been away for some
fifteen. Upon his return he reconnects with old friends, an ex-girlfriend and
family and he reconnects with his native land, the consistent thump, the
constant shuffle and vivacity that is Nigeria. We later learn of the reasons
for his departure – fallout with his mother and his father’s passing. He
quickly realises that this city is no longer what he remembers and Cole tells
so vividly the familiar yet strange, the forlorn yet beloved feelings of the
protagonist towards this city. He removes all the romantic notions ever written
about Africa and paints it in its truest form, describing places and people and
occurrences so opulently the reader forms clear images in their mind.
No one write like Cole, he is brilliant and
gaudy.
5.
All our names – Dinaw Megestu
A huge clash, a big bang calling you to take note. This is the simplest way to describe this book. Isaac is the novel’s chief character and is introduced to the reader as he moves from his home in Ethiopia to study in Uganda. As in many of the novels written by African writers, the notion of foreign lands offering greener pastures is almost always present and this book is no different. Isaac wants more – a greater life and reinvention - and considers the possibility of attaining this elsewhere. The interracial relationship between Isaac and Helen is the plot’s first agitator, bringing to the fore the book’s crucial areas. Isaac, newly arrived to America meets Helen, a white social worker who is responsible for his case. Their affair is instantaneous and bonds the two to further explore their identities as individuals.
Timing is absolutely crucial to this story as two characters chronicle very separate yet interwoven tales and Megestu is great with this, writing skilfully all the while allowing enough room for the story to grow exclusively within the reader’s mind.
A huge clash, a big bang calling you to take note. This is the simplest way to describe this book. Isaac is the novel’s chief character and is introduced to the reader as he moves from his home in Ethiopia to study in Uganda. As in many of the novels written by African writers, the notion of foreign lands offering greener pastures is almost always present and this book is no different. Isaac wants more – a greater life and reinvention - and considers the possibility of attaining this elsewhere. The interracial relationship between Isaac and Helen is the plot’s first agitator, bringing to the fore the book’s crucial areas. Isaac, newly arrived to America meets Helen, a white social worker who is responsible for his case. Their affair is instantaneous and bonds the two to further explore their identities as individuals.
Timing is absolutely crucial to this story as two characters chronicle very separate yet interwoven tales and Megestu is great with this, writing skilfully all the while allowing enough room for the story to grow exclusively within the reader’s mind.
6.
Foreign Gods, Inc – Okey Ndibe
Ndibe has created a beautiful body of work with a storyline so astounding and so engaging. Foreign Gods, Inc which is the tale of a man named Ike who returns home to Nigeria with the intention of stealing a statue of a once famous lord of war and selling it off upon his return to New York. A prominent feature in the novel is the smallness of Ike’s ambitions when the story begins; this in contrast to the big city within which he exists is mention worthy, particularly because this city cares very little for him. Beaten down and broken, he views the sale of the statue as his opportunity to attain the slice of American life he has for so long now wanted.
Ndibe writes with a great vibrancy, allowing the reader to feel, taste and smell the hardships of life, the desperation encapsulated within trying to fully exist in a foreign land and with a similar exuberance paints Nigerian culture and life with a swift realism. Throughout the narrative I found myself rooting for Ike to come out victorious, but I also humoured myself because even though Ndibe writes a serious, thought provoking story he does it in a strikingly funny way.
Ndibe has created a beautiful body of work with a storyline so astounding and so engaging. Foreign Gods, Inc which is the tale of a man named Ike who returns home to Nigeria with the intention of stealing a statue of a once famous lord of war and selling it off upon his return to New York. A prominent feature in the novel is the smallness of Ike’s ambitions when the story begins; this in contrast to the big city within which he exists is mention worthy, particularly because this city cares very little for him. Beaten down and broken, he views the sale of the statue as his opportunity to attain the slice of American life he has for so long now wanted.
Ndibe writes with a great vibrancy, allowing the reader to feel, taste and smell the hardships of life, the desperation encapsulated within trying to fully exist in a foreign land and with a similar exuberance paints Nigerian culture and life with a swift realism. Throughout the narrative I found myself rooting for Ike to come out victorious, but I also humoured myself because even though Ndibe writes a serious, thought provoking story he does it in a strikingly funny way.
7.
Dust – Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
Winner of the 2013 Caine Prize for her short story ‘Weight of Whispers’, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s debut novel Dust is the epitome of human experience. The story kicks off steadfastly from word go. Odidi the narrative’s protagonist is fleeing for his life, gets gunned down and dies. The reader later learns that the circumstances pertaining to his death relate to corruption which forms the central part of the novel and its themes. Life, death, truth, deceit, and love offer support to this overall theme.
The plot is action packed and fast, ensuring that the reader is never left to feel a sense of deficiency. With the turn of every page there’s something new; beautifully written and a refreshingly original plot. Owuor delivers a greatly poetic prose that is not afraid of standing out and separating its self from the rest.
Winner of the 2013 Caine Prize for her short story ‘Weight of Whispers’, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s debut novel Dust is the epitome of human experience. The story kicks off steadfastly from word go. Odidi the narrative’s protagonist is fleeing for his life, gets gunned down and dies. The reader later learns that the circumstances pertaining to his death relate to corruption which forms the central part of the novel and its themes. Life, death, truth, deceit, and love offer support to this overall theme.
The plot is action packed and fast, ensuring that the reader is never left to feel a sense of deficiency. With the turn of every page there’s something new; beautifully written and a refreshingly original plot. Owuor delivers a greatly poetic prose that is not afraid of standing out and separating its self from the rest.
8.
Half a yellow sun – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Bravely attempting to retell history, Adichie writes a beautifully woven tale that tells the story of the 1960s Nigerian civil war, the bond a young houseboy has with his employers and betrayal. Various sub-themes make up the back bone of this novel and this in turn encourages it to further appeal to the reading masses, love, race, class and ethnic loyalties are a few of these. The novel’s characters, although varying, hold a few similarities; the glaringly evident uncertainty about the future, the feeling of displacement and the great need to belong.
First published in 2006, the novel claimed the Orange Prize for Fiction 2007 went on to garner major popularity in 2013, with a movie adaptation featuring formidable actors such as Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Thandie Newton as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor filmed in that year and released in 2014. The novel continues to gain momentum and has no doubt solidified Adichie as one to pay particular attention to for a long time to come.
Bravely attempting to retell history, Adichie writes a beautifully woven tale that tells the story of the 1960s Nigerian civil war, the bond a young houseboy has with his employers and betrayal. Various sub-themes make up the back bone of this novel and this in turn encourages it to further appeal to the reading masses, love, race, class and ethnic loyalties are a few of these. The novel’s characters, although varying, hold a few similarities; the glaringly evident uncertainty about the future, the feeling of displacement and the great need to belong.
First published in 2006, the novel claimed the Orange Prize for Fiction 2007 went on to garner major popularity in 2013, with a movie adaptation featuring formidable actors such as Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Thandie Newton as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor filmed in that year and released in 2014. The novel continues to gain momentum and has no doubt solidified Adichie as one to pay particular attention to for a long time to come.
9.
Peace and Conflict – Irene Sebatini
Peace and Conflict appears to be a
heart-warming tale of family life told through the eyes of 10 year old Roberto,
but is in fact so much more than that. Although the family structure is an
important one throughout the narrative, the actual issues dealt with are of a
political and socio-economic nature; theft, dictatorship, the British massacre
of Kenya’s Mau Mau rebels, the poaching trade and intergenerational relations
amongst others.
This is a beautifully written piece of literature that explores views on morality and justice through the eyes of a young boy growing up in a world not without its confusions.
This is a beautifully written piece of literature that explores views on morality and justice through the eyes of a young boy growing up in a world not without its confusions.
10.
The Sculptors of Mapungubwe – Zakes Mda
This is Mda’s first novel since 2009 and though the wait may have been long and the novel’s start-up slow. I was not disappointed. This is a magical epic about two brothers in constant rivalry. The dynamics of the relationship between Chata and Rendani offers up the possibilities for a grand tale of family and love; and is this not what great fables primarily comprise of? It was also very refreshing to read about pre-colonial South Africa and Mda went back, not just in time, but also in art form. His writing and the story told reminded me of ‘Mhudi by Sol Plaatje’ very primitive and focused solely on story telling.
With Sculptors of Mapungubwe, Mda attempts to prove that he’s still got it and he comes out triumphant.
This is Mda’s first novel since 2009 and though the wait may have been long and the novel’s start-up slow. I was not disappointed. This is a magical epic about two brothers in constant rivalry. The dynamics of the relationship between Chata and Rendani offers up the possibilities for a grand tale of family and love; and is this not what great fables primarily comprise of? It was also very refreshing to read about pre-colonial South Africa and Mda went back, not just in time, but also in art form. His writing and the story told reminded me of ‘Mhudi by Sol Plaatje’ very primitive and focused solely on story telling.
With Sculptors of Mapungubwe, Mda attempts to prove that he’s still got it and he comes out triumphant.
