Readers are always preoccupied with western books, this becomes a little surprising when you meet a Nigerian book lover who claims to have never read a Nigerian book.
There appears to be a solid misconception that Nigerian books cannot tender to young adults and are generally uninteresting. Young Nigerian writers are putting this idea to rest with their captivating narrative technique and their innovative subject matter.
It should now be a thing of the past that as a Nigerian you have nothing good to say about Nigerian and African fiction. Knowledge should sprout from one’s root and then diversify to the areas around.
This is why it is necessary to be acquainted with Nigerian authors and the stories they tell. As a literary enthusiast trying to get into the world of African fiction, you’ll find a list of texts here that would keep you glued and committed to the world of African fiction.
Taking the first spot is a collection of short stories by Damilare Kuku;
Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad: This is the perfect fiction for beginners because it serves you all the burst of Nigerianess in little dosage. Every story in this collection captures the reality of modern relationship while exposing you to the buzz and fast paced life of Lagos. As a young adult, you have no choice but to relate to the stories here.
The second text is a short novel by Akwaeke Emezi;
The death of Vivek Orj: There is no single text Akwaeke had written that doesn’t leave readers impressed. This fiction has an enthralling delivery. There is no way you’ll start this book and not want to finish on the spot, it can easily be a one sitting read for really fast paced readers.
It pulls the contemporaneity of a global world and the spirituality of a traditional African world and puts them on a bridge, the merging of these two forms an absolutely brilliant and striking story. It takes you on a short but entertaining ride through the life of Vivek.
The third on this list is a novel by Lola Shoneyin;
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives: Men are scum, men are scum, oya here’s a book that shows you, women are scum too. It does not have the contemporary aura like the others on this list, but it delivers a beautiful view of the marital struggle in Nigeria.
It shines light on the inner workings of a polygamous home where infidelity and lies are the status quo. What happens when a man’s ego meets a woman’s manipulation? You get a text like this one.
The fourth on this list is a novel by Chikw Unigwe;
On Black Sister’s Street: This is a tale of Nigerians in diaspora. See life through the eyes of sex workers. The status quo of human trafficking for sex work has been over throned with these women who willingly left their unfulfilling life in Nigeria to find greener pastures outside. It’s not often we get to experience mystery in an African text. You would ask questions and have many rethought with this text.
The last fiction on this list is by Sefi Atta;
Everything good will come: It is somewhat bigger than all the fiction mentioned above, it makes for a serious read. It’s length spans through the growing process of the female protagonist. It is a bildungsroman that follows the life of Enitan.
It takes into great consideration the social-political context of Nigeria over the years, while still telling a beautiful tale of friendship, love and resilience. Feminism is questioned in the divergent personalities possessed by the two female characters.
How does a woman navigate her world and how is a woman “supposed” to navigate her world? What is the expectation placed upon the female gender? This text raises such question in the mind of readers.
These are just to get you started on your journey, the doorway to realize African fiction can be entertaining and also educative. There are thousands of novels by Nigerian authors that would steal your attention with its brilliance.