Welcome to the Africa Reading Challenge.
This will be the second time that I’m hosting the Africa Reading Challenge. Details and requirements are the same this year as for the 2012 Africa Reading Challenge, which started with:
“I have absolutely no reason for hosting nor urging you to participate in this challenge save for the joy of discovering and reading African literature!”
Here are the details:
Challenge Period
January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
Region
The entire African continent, including its island-states, which are often overlooked. Please refer to this Wikipedia “list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa”. Pre-colonial empires and regions are also included.
Reading Goal
5 books. That’s it. There will be no other levels. Of course, participants are encouraged to read more than 5 books. Eligible books include those which are written by African writers, or take place in Africa, or are concerned with Africans and with historical and contemporary African issues. Note that at least 3 books must be written by African writers.
Genres
- Fiction – novels, short stories, poetry, drama, children’s books. Note: You can choose to read a number of individual and uncollected short stories. In this case, 12 such stories would constitute 1 book. Individual poems do not count but books of poetry do.
- Non-fiction – memoirs, autobiographies, history and current events
Reading Suggestions
- Cover at least two regions, pick from North Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa and Central Africa
- Include translated fiction from Arabic, Francophone and Lusophone literature
- You can mix classic and contemporary fiction
- If you are intend to read mostly non-fiction, then please include at least one book (out of the five) of fiction
I’m not inclined to push any reading philosophy, I would however like to encourage participants to broaden their knowledge of African literature. Broadly then:
For the novice, if you have not read any African lit or if you’ve read one book (E.g. Achebe’s Things Fall Apart): I would advise a mix of at least two regions, two languages, classic and contemporary, with both men and women writers. A sample reading list could be:
- Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih (North Africa, Arabic, classic)
- Maps by Nuruddin Farah (East Africa)
- Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga (Southern Africa, contemporary)
- So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba (West Africa, classic, Francophone)
- Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (Southern Africa, contemporary, modern fantasy)
For the advanced reader of African literature: perhaps there is some gap (country, region, language, theme, gender) you want to fill or author(s) whose works you want to explore further?
You could also, for example:
- Read only collection/anthologies of short stories
- Stick to the literary tradition of one country
- Explore literature written in African languages
- Read only Lusophone literature
- Explore the literature of contemporary South Africa
- Read the books of North African countries of the Arab Spring
- Read wherever the urge takes you!
My suggestions notwithstanding, the most important thing is to have fun and to explore Africa through books.
Other Details
- Overlap with other challenges is allowed.
- E-books and audio books are allowed.
- There is no need to make a list beforehand. Although most of us love lists, don’t we?
To Sign up:
Leave a comment below to sign-up. You can list the books you intend to read if you’ve already decided.
For those with blogs: write a post on your blog about the challenge (with or without your list) and link to this post.
Reviews and Completion of Challenge
Reviews of books read are not required but are encouraged especially for those with blogs. Please share your reviews with the rest of community the on Reviews Page. If you do not have a blog and would like to guest review on this blog, then please feel free to contact me.
Likewise, completion posts are encouraged and you can share those on the Completion Page.
On Books and Reading Lists
Some classic African literature can be hard to find. Please check your libraries and use inter-library loans if you have access to such services. You will be able to do this challenge with the books currently available on the market.
I will publish lists of reading materials under various themes until I tire of the process. Please contact me at kinnareadsATgmailDOTcom if you need any help.
Associated Events
- Ghanaian Literature Week – I have hosted this event for the past two years. So you could save your GhanaLit reads for then.
- There’re probably be a readalong or two. I will announce those in the coming months.
You can subscribe to this blog (see top of the right sidebar) to stay updated on this challenge.
That’s it. Let’s enjoy reading for the 2014 Africa Reading Challenge.
A number of years ago when I taught freshmen English, everyone had to read “Things Fall Apart”. Some loved it, some hated it, some remained unsure. However, the next year when questions showed up about it on the PSAT, I felt totally vindicated. Now, years later, when I encounter these former students, even those who did not like reading it very much, they remember the main character, even his name. I ask them if they remember the names of main characters of other books they have read and most do not. Now I have several African selections for my senior students to choose from to read. Most seem uninterested, but a few do read these and hopefully expand their horizons at least a bit.
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https://debrabooks.wordpress.com/african-reading-challenge/
And finally, here is my fifth entry for the 2014 challenge. Better late than never?
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[…] It is also my fifth and final entry in the African Reading Challenge for 2014 hosted by kinna at Kinna Reads. (It is late, I know. Sorry!) https://kinnareads.com/2014/01/14/2014-africa-reading-challenge/ […]
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[…] I was strongly reminded of the character of Okonkwo in fellow Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. In fact I wonder if perhaps Foreign Gods Inc. is, in part, the latest instalment in a series of literary conversations stemming from that ‘archetypal modern African novel’ –Okonkwo also resembles a character in Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. I will have to keep reading African literature to find out, which is fine by me, as I enter my second year of Kinna’s African Reading Challenge. […]
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https://debrabooks.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/discovering-the-heart-of-darkness-in-minnesota-chinua-achebes-things-fall-apart/
Here’s my fourth book of the 2014 challenge. I didn’t quite make the 2014 deadline, but I’m still going to complete the five book challenge!
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https://debrabooks.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/killing-them-with-the-englishness-nervous-conditions-by-tsitsi-dangarembga/
Here’s my latest post. This one is on “Nervous Conditions” by Tsitsi Dangarembga
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[…] enjoyed revisiting Onyesonwu’s world so that I could write this response to Kinna’s Africa Reading Challenge. (It’s my second book of three before the end of the […]
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[…] will be great. I suggest everyone to try it. If you’re interested in the challenge, go here: https://kinnareads.com/2014/01/14/2014-africa-reading-challenge/#respond. I found about this late in the year. Hopefully, Kinna Reads can do another one for […]
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[…] Find out more about the reading challenge at: https://kinnareads.com/2014/01/14/2014-africa-reading-challenge […]
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What a great challenge – pity I found out about it so late in the year, not sure I can complete it in 3 weeks! Will there be one next year?
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Yes, it will continue next year.
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That’s great news. Thanks for the follow too – and I guess you will have seen I decided to get stuck into the challenge this year anyway.
I’m excited about it – so many new books to check out, plus an opportunity to reread old favourites and see if they’ve stood the test of time. I’m looking forward to reading what other people have read along with their reviews.
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Hi Kinna – I finished the challenge but I’d like to go further. And I’ve been really remiss in posting progress – sorry.
I’ve read 9 so far covering 3 major areas of Africa – Southern Africa, Western Africa and Central Africa – East Africa is coming up (I hope). I’d also like to get something from North Africa this year without doing rereads. The book titles are linked to my reviews on the same site:
http://beckylindroos.wordpress.com/upcoming/yearly-challenges/
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[…] post is part of the African Reading Challenge hosted by Kinna Reads. […]
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http://debrabooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/how-to-create-a-terrorist-part-ii-2/
Here’s my second posting for this challenge. It’s on Aswany’s “The Yacoubian Building”
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Book 3 of 5 for me: Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor. Fantastic!
http://wp.me/p3dB1g-jW
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[…] 2014 Africa Reading Challenge. Was quite excited to see this – okay, I caught on a bit late but it’s not yet November 😊. At uni in Germany I took a class on African Literature as part of my English studies and we read some of what I (if I may) refer to as the [new] classics: Bessie Head (Maru), Tsitsi Dangarembga (Nervous Conditions), Ben Okri (Astonishing the Gods). Ngugi wa Thiongo, Chinua Achebe and Tsitsi Vera were also discussed. We also had the option to write our term paper on any other authors we knew so I oPete for Stanlake Samkange’s “On Trial For That UDI”. His works are based mainly on historical facts. […]
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Hi Kinna, I just started blogging two days ago and came across your challenge yesterday whilst navigating my way through WordPress. I’ve linked your challenge to my page and shared a list of books I’ve read. I’m Zimbabwean and was quite happy to see your challenge! Sign me up 😊
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I’ve only just recently discovered this challenge, but having read both Purple Hibiscus and Americanah – and really enjoyed both of them – in the last couple of months, I thought it would be good to discover some more books by African writers. I’ve got four or five more in mind but am not sure I’ll manage them all by the end of 2014, but it can continue into the new year as my own personal challenge if I don’t. I’ve tried to choose a balance of countries, original languages, male and female authors, and a mix of old and new, novels, short stories and non-fiction. Looking forward to it.
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http://debrabooks.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/how-to-be-black-in-america-americanah-by-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/
I just posted my first African Book Challenge post at the above address. Thanks again for hosting this challenge!
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[…] This post is part of the Africa Reading Challenge hosted by Kinna Reads. […]
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I know its late in the year but I would like to join this challenge.
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Hi, I just found this challenge and coincidentally I have already read one book by an African author this year: Things Fall Apart. I will do some more research as to books to read. Post will be going up within the week!
Kimmieinwonderland.blogspot.com
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I’m in!
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I’m currently reading Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, and I absolutely love it! I’m so glad it was recommended here because I don’t think I would have thought to pick it up otherwise.
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Posted my review of A GRAIN OF WHEAT, by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. An amazing book shifting how we think about war.
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So it taught about it a couple of times. should I participate or not? Until I realize I have already read more than 5 books since january 2014. I sign up for this challenge.
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im up for ths challenge….African authors are thee BEST!
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This is great. Thanks for the inspiration, Kinna 🙂
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Posted my review of Zenzele by J. Nozipo Maraire. Loved it. Excellent statement of how traditions matter.
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i just finished reading Death and the Kings Horseman and am very impressed. See my review.
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I’m another one joining in half way through the year but am really looking forward to this challenge.
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I just found out about this but I’d still like to participate. I’m starting with Touch my Blood, an autobiography by Fred Khumalo. My one will be Wole Soyinkas ‘You must set forth at dawn’
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[…] school librarian, offers these suggested blog sites: Diversity on the Shelf, Latin@s in KidLit, or Africa Reading Challenge.4. In addition, the CCBC compiled an extended list of blogs and reading […]
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I know the year is half over, but I’d still like to participate! I just picked up a copy of “Things Fall Apart.” Can’t wait to get started!
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Lovely project. I thought it required one to read 53 books in a year, one per country, and I never manage to read more than 30 (usually more likely 24) books per year. I already completed your challenge this year, I guess, since 6 of my 12 books I’ve read so far were by African writers. Great blog.
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FINALLY I’ve posted one! Ryszard Kapuscinski’s The Shadow of the Sun
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[…] few years ago, Kinna hosted the Africa Reading Challenge. As one would probably guess, its purpose was to inspire people to read books about Africa, set in […]
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What a great blog and challenge! Sign me up, please! I’ve already read quite a few books by African writers (and have posted on a few in my blog), but there’s plenty more out there to read. I’m not sure yet which ones I’ll do.
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I would like to enter the challenge.
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[…] Kinna Reads offers a host of resources to get you up to date on African literature (including women writers) with several reading lists and well-done reviews. […]
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Coming to the dance late… but I would definitely like to join the challenge. Will get a blog up soon with my choices.
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I live in South Africa, what a great idea. I am in. I have read 2 excellent non-fiction books by SA writers this year. “To catch a cop, the Paul O’Sullivan Story” by Marianne Thamm; “Dances with the Devils” Jaques Pauw and 1 fiction by Deon Meyer “Devils Peak”. I would encourage readers to give Zakes Mda a try, awesome.
Katy
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Reblogged this on glasgowmango and commented:
I am a little late to the party but really up for the challenge. I am really interested in revisiting ‘Second Class Citizen’ by Buchi Emecheta a book I read as a teenager; finally reading ‘Americanh’ by Chimamanda Adichie, ‘Ghana Must Go’ by Taiye Selasi and ‘We need new names’ by NoViolet Bulawayo amongst others.
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[…] 2014 Africa Reading Challenge. […]
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I am already reading African Literature. I’ll participate 🙂
Thanks for doing this challenge; it’s definitely a way to keep me accountable!
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I’m doing this.
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I’m in. Thank you for hosting this challenge. I will be looking at picture books from Africa as well as some biographies. I will check with my local library.
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I joined in 2012 and enjoyed it. I’m keeping out this time but I’m doing a month of Portuguese-language African literature at my blog, so I figured it could be of interest to some of the participants here:
http://storberose.blogspot.pt/2014/05/portuguese-language-african-literature.html
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[…] Full Event Details […]
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i wonder why African books are produced outside Africa not to talk about how expensive they are. I must say however that if one has got the dough, buying and reading African writings is the most classic thing ever. Any one has African books to lend, i will be grateful!!!
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I just reviewed The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh. It’s set in South Africa in the 1880s and has inspired me to join your challenge as there are some African books I’ve been wanting to read for a while:
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives
Americanah
The Good Doctor or The Imposter (can’t decide)
Band Aid for a Broken Leg
Tiny Songbrids Far Away
Chasing the Devil
The list goes on… I really like the look of Season of Migration too and may start with that to get into the swing of things. All suggestions welcome!
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And I read Scenes From a Provincial Life by J.M. Coetzee – -a trilogy of three novellas, actually, a fictionalized biography. Also, I read We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo and am now into The Fear by Peter Goodwin – also Zimbabwe – nonfiction. I’m looking seriously at the older book, Agaat by Marlene van Niekirk (South Africa) as well as some other newer ones – perhaps a couple from the northern areas.
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Just finished Zebra Crossing by Meg Vandermerwe about a young woman with albinism from Zimbabwe who flees to Cape Town with her brother on the eve of the World Cup. Generally I liked it–an interesting portrayal of challenges illegal immigrants face in South Africa, especially someone with albinism–although I kind of felt the ending was rushed…although that may be because I was being interrupted a lot for the last several pages.
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[…] 2014 Africa Reading Challenge […]
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[…] averla inaugurata nel 2012, il blog ghanese Kinna Reads ha rilanciato quest’anno l’“Africa Reading Challenge”, una sfida di lettura che consiste nel leggere e recensire cinque libri africani nel corso di un […]
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Sounds like a challenge that I “need”, as I’m trying to read a book from each country in the world (in the extent that it is possible).
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I will be participating. I just started reading Akata Witch and am looking forward to jumping into some of the other titles you mentioned above. Thanks for organizing this! I blog at Rich in Color and Reading Through Life so reviews may show up at one or the other or in Goodreads.
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I didn’t know you’ve launched this. I am in. Which is to say in the next few months I will rush in here to tell people I have completed the challenge, which in itself will be no challenge. *weeping*.
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[…] The Lightning Dreamer by Margarita Engle. Join the Latina@s In Kidlit 2014 Reading Challenge or the 2014 Africa Reading Challenge. If you prefer something more adult, MochaGirlReads blog will be discussing Wrapped in Rainbows: […]
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Just finished “We Need New Names” by NoViolet Bulawayo (2013 / Zimbabwe) and highly recommend it. Want to read Peter Godwin’s “Fear,” a nonfiction about that country and Robert Mugabe.
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Very excited about this challenge. I just finished Foreign Gods, Inc. by Okey Ndib and am looking forward to meeting him at a local bookstore in April. Will come back later with My List but a couple of others I enjoyed recently are Tomorrow I’ll Be Twenty by Alain Mabanckou and I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
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[…] to those who consider it feminist. I plan to read the books that I haven’t read for her Africa Reads 2014 Challenge if I can get copies of […]
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Challenge accepted ! I will soon pingback a list of books.
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Feel challenged by the challenge. I hardly step beyond West African works…….Maybe you could give me tips on where else to start from. Great work, Kinna
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Oppong, please don’t feel challenged by the Challenge, at least not too much. I will compile a special book list for you, to answer your question, and will post it here. Stay tuned and thanks for participating!
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[…] are in. Full Moon Africa is embracing the 2014 Africa Reading Challenge, hosted by Kinna Reads. This is an amazing way to learn about the complexities and scope of the issues within the […]
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[…] taken a pretty good first step in signing up to the Kinna Reads Africa Reading Challenge and I’ve already read Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih, which was amazing. […]
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This year, I resolved to read more. So this is coming a good time. Please sign me up. I will share my reading list on my blog as soon as decided. I must really educate myself about fiction writers from my continent.
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I’m glad. Looking forward to you sharing what you learnt. Happy reading and thanks for joining the challenge.
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[…] a comment here to sign-up. You can list the books you intend to read if you’ve already […]
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[…] Africa Reading Challenge 2014 (hosted here) You can join here and link reviews […]
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No idea what else I’m reading yet, but I’m definitely doing this. Maybe I’ll begin with Taiye Selasi’s ‘Ghana Must Go’. Thanks for hosting this Kinna!
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I read and loved Ghana Must Go but I’m yet to post a review. A good place to start. Thanks for joining the challenge!
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I’m in. I will report on my blog “Transsahara”. http://www66.jimdo.com/app/s7f75aceb79b85a35/p98d575117cbb7342/ . My favourites are
Chinua Achebe: Things fall apart
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Half of a yellow sun
Chika Unigwe: On Black Sisters’ Street
Mungo Beti: Le pauvre christ de Bomba (The poor christ of Bomba)
Francis Bebey: Le fils de Agatha Moudio (Agatha Moudio’s Son)
Claud Njike Bergeret: Ma passion africaine
My special tip (just read) is Chuma Nwokolo: Diaries of a death African
On my to-read-list are
Taiye Selasi: Ghana must go
Binyavanga Wainaina: One day I will wrie about this place
Patrice Nganang: Temps de chien
Doris Lessing: The grass is singing
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You have here a number of new-to-me Francophone writers so I eagerly await your reviews. Thanks for participating in the challenge.
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I’m in, please! My sign-up post (including a list of possible books) is here: http://returningreader.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/2014-africa-reading-challenge/. Thanks for the challenge!
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Thanks for joining the challenge. Looking forward to reading your reviews.
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[…] The Africa Reading Challenge is hosted by Kinna at KinnaReads; signup post is here. […]
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Okay. I dug around and found or downloaded my books for the challenge:
The Palm-Wine Drinkard — Amos Tutuola
We Need New Names — NoViolet Bulawayo
Nervous Conditions – Tsiti Dangarembga
Akhenaten — Naguib Mahfouz
The Famished Road – Ben Okri
Arrow of God — Chinua Achebe
A Grain of Wheat — Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Half of a Yellow Sun — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
But you know how lists are … always subject to change.
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I do know how lists are. But I hope you get to read Mahfouz’s Akhenaten since I’ve never heard of it.
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LOVED We Need New Names 🙂
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I just posted my first book for the Africa Reads Challenge on my blog. Distant View of a Minaret, by Alifa Rifaat. http://wp.me/p24OK2-10y I loved the short stories from inside Egyptian Muslim women’s worlds.
Do I need to do anything else?
I said I wasn’t going to list my proposed list of reads, but without trying I have made one.
The five books on Kinna’s “African Women Writers Syllabus that I haven’t read.
Tropical Fish: Tales from Entebbe by Doreen Baingana
No Sweetness Here and Other Stories by Ama Ata Aidoo
On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami
July’s People by Nadine Gordimer
and others I happened to find on Paperbackswap
Love in the Kingdom of Oil, Nawal El Saadawi
Mother to Mother, Sindiwe Magona
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I love love love Distant View of the Minaret, one of my favorite all-time books from the Continent. Of course, I appreciate your focus on the women writers. Very nice reading list!
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Challenge accepted. I read a good amount of African literature, but mostly from west Africa (I live in Burkina Faso) and stick mostly to the “classics.” So my plan is to expand outside of that, starting with “Petals of Blood” by Ngugi wa Thiongo’o. Thanks for hosting this!
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I don’t think I’ve ready anything by a Burkinabe writer. Do share if you know of any. Ngugi is a good place to start. Thanks for joining the challenge.
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I’m in. i’ve read a fair amount of African literature, but not those on your list, so I think that would likely be a good place for me to start.
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I will posting more lists soon so you could find something new on those as well. Thanks for joining the challenge.
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Reblogged this on A Celebration of Reading and commented:
Everyone should add this important reading site to their Browser. Furthermore, this reading challenge is a good way to further expand your reading experience. Go for it! I intend to make certain there are at least five books on my 2014 Reading List.
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You’ve come up with some great ideas to challenge us, Kinna. Thanks for hosting this again.
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Trying my best, thanks!
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I am joining up. I’ve been thinking for some time that I want to read more Africa-based books. I googled for a reading challenge and here I am 🙂
My sign-up post is up here at : http://nishitak.com/2014/01/16/first-reading-challenge-of-the-year-africa-reading-challenge/
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How timely. Eager to learn about what you read. Thanks for participating.
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I’m in!! I took part last time around and had a blast! Can’t wait to get started!!
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I hope you enjoy this year’s challenge. Looking forward to hearing about what you read. Thanks!
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[…] And if someone wants more details about this great challenge, the best place to go is https://kinnareads.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/2014-africa-reading-challenge/ […]
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[…] author. For more information about this challenge and what to do to join please go on over to Kinna Reads’ blog. To follow me through this challenge watch my blog for my book reviews categorised as Africa […]
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I just ordered 4 books, all from your recommendations, for $12.18 (USD) from abebooks.com
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Such a good bargain. Enjoy!
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I’m in. Nuruddin Farah, Wole Soyinka, Seffi Atta, Binyavanga Wainaina, Paul Muyburgh are on my list. Can I add my own book, A Quiet Kind of Courage?
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An excellent list of authors you have here. And thanks for the introduction to your book. Thanks for participating in the challenge.
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[…] a personal goal to read more African literature, and when I saw that Kinna was going to host the Africa Reading Challenge again this year I knew I had to join in. The challenge is very low-key in that there is only one […]
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I’m in. Laurie in North Carolina, U. S. of A. But you probably already knew where NC is because geographical literacy is so high outside the U.S.
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Yes, we do know where NC is. Thanks for participating and enjoy reading your selected books!
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Definitely I am in, though I am fairly sure I will end up with more than five “African” books – at least given my reading over the last few years! Will also post something about the challenge as well.
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Thanks for the support, Nina. I look forward to what you read.
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I’m in! Now to find a good bookstore in Accra, any suggestions?
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Try both the EPP and Campus Bookstores at Legon.
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Also try Vidya Bookstore, which is on 18th Lane in Osu. There are some African and Ghanaian books there.
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Challenge accepted! Starting with Ngugi wa Thiong’o
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Which Ngugi book? I want to read Matigari this year, so you’re in good company. Plus, I’m mulling over a read-a-long of Wizard of the Crow. Thanks for participating.
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I’m actually just finishing Wizard of the Crow. It’s a behemoth but has been a great experience. I love the way Ngugi weaves magical realism with psychology, anthropology and politics. I want to tea more of his work this year
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I’m definitely in! No list for me, there are too many books I want to read and I can’t choose.
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Haha, I do hope you make a selection soon. Given your reading global efforts, I have no doubts that you’ll find something wonderful. Thanks for participating.
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I dare not join the challenge but will be watching with great interest. Its so true that its hard to find some of these authors – many of the books are not available in English or if they are, it’s really expensive.
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Hi! Sounds like a fun challenge. I’ve read quite a few books by African authors but was looking to explore further. As it happens I bought ‘Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria’ by Noo Saro-Wiwa yesterday, so I’ll start with that one and go from there. I’ll link to a review on Goodreads if that’s ok.
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A link to a review on Goodreads will be fine. Thanks for participating and enjoy your reading!
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Count me in Kinna last year probably read least amount of African fiction since I started the blog
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Thanks Stu! I look forward to reviews of what you read.
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Global Women of Color has a list of 34 books by African women read and reviewed last year.
http://gwcbooks.wordpress.com/ And lots more by women of African descent.
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Been meaning to check out the Global Women of Color. Thanks for the rec.
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Great! I am very glad you are doing this again. You got me started reading African books in 2012. I will continue to focus my reading on fiction by African women for this year’s challenge. I don’t have a firm list. What I will read depends on which of the relevant books on my wishlist become available. Thanks.
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And thank you for participating again! I’ll be posting a list on contemporary African lit written by women soon. Maybe you’ll discover something new on the list? Nothing like adding to the wishlists!
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Great challenge, I’m definitely in! I’ll give it some thought and post my list in my blog post.
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Thanks for participating and enjoy your reading!
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I’m excited about this challenge! I’ve read lots of books from Nigerian authors but not many from elsewhere so this will be a lot of fun to complete. I’m going to read all the ones on the “beginners” list, but So Long a Letter isn’t available at my local library so I’ll do some research and find a good replacement. Any recommendations would be more than welcome.
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Thanks! Entirely different but also written by a woman writer and listed as a classic is Sindiwe Magona’s Living, Loving and Lying Awake At Night. Do see if your library has it. Enjoy your reading and thanks for participating in the challenge!
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I think Living, Loving and Lying Awake At Night needs some kind of warning label! “Warning: This book will devastate you. Not recommended for pregnant women or people who cry in Kleenex commercials. Do not consume within 24 hours of any movie where a main character dies at the end.”
100% beautiful, 100% heartbreaking.
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