It's summer - at least it is for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere - and the season brings with it plenty of opportunities to lounge outside or by the pool with a book in hand. For an exciting summer read, we’ve compiled a list of novels and short story collections by African authors released within the last decade and forthcoming, that are sure to stimulate, surprise, and entertain you.
Take a look at the 12 books by African writers you need to read this summer below.
'Ghostroots' by Pemi Aguda
Pemi Aguda’s highly anticipated short story collection, Ghostroots, places a central focus on ancestry, heritage, and supernatural elements rooted in African traditions. In Masquerade Season, 10-year-old Pauly brings home three masquerades, leading to life-changing, though devastating, consequences for him and his mother. In Manifest, a young woman struggles with the intrusive spirit of her maternal grandmother, which disrupts her life with dark, sinister patterns. Aguda is known for her skillful blend of culture and symbolism, combining supernatural elements with everyday experiences to offer a nuanced portrayal of African spirituality. Ghostroots was released in May 2024, and is the perfect summer read for fans of fantasy and well-told, well-rounded stories.
Get your copy here.
'Manchester Happened' by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s ‘Manchester Happened’ was released in 2019.
Photo from Amazon website.
A collection of short stories about a group of Ugandan immigrants living in the U.K., Manchester Happened is split into two parts, departing and returning. The works of Makumbi, a Ugandan novelist and short story writer, have been shortlisted for the Jalada Prize for Literature, longlisted for the 2018 Etisalat Prize for Literature, won the Kofi Awoonor Prize for African Literature and in 2020, was awarded the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Manchester Happened was released in 2019 and is a brilliant book to have in your corner for the summer.
Get a copy here.
'Transcendent Kingdom' by Yaa Gyasi
Yaa Gyasi’s works often center around identity, history, and the African diaspora.
Photo from Amazon website.
Transcendent Kingdom follows the story of Gifty, a neuroscientist dealing with her family’s struggles, history, addiction and depression and her own quest for understanding, and explores the intersection of family, faith, and mental health. Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian American writer whose works often center around identity, history and the African diaspora. Transcendent Kingdom was released in July 2020.
You can get your copy here.
'The Sex Lives of African Women' by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, named on the BBC’s 100 Women list of 2020, is a Ghanaian writer and cofounder of the award-winning blog, Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women. She has written widely on women’s sexuality and feminist subjects. Her anthology, The Sex Lives of African Women was released in July 2021 to wide acclaim.
You can get a copy here.
'House of Stone' by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
In ‘House of Stone,’ Novuyo Tshuma rediscovers national histories.
Photo from Amazon website.
Do you need an epic story if you’re Zimbabwean? Your novel is called House of Stone. Novuyo Tshuma gives just that in the 2018 book that spans 50 years, shifting how we read, invent, and rediscover national histories. The book follows Zamani, a lodger in the Mlambo house, who helps the Mlambos search for their missing son Bukhosi, and in the process ends up inhabiting the home and their family history.
You can order your copy here.
'Honey and Spice' by Bolu Babalola
Honey and Spice, a novel by Nigerian British writer Bolu Babalola, is a Booktok Book of the Year Award winner and a Reese’s Book Club pick. Set at a London university, it follows Kiki, an outspoken and ambitious student. The 2022 novel explores themes of culture and romance, providing an insightful look into the experiences of Black British students.
Get your copy of Honey and Spicehere.
'Small Worlds' by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Small Worlds focuses on love, identity, and belonging through the life of a young Black man in London. The novel portrays his relationships, personal struggles and search for a sense of home in a diverse city. Acclaimed for its lyrical prose and poignance, it builds on the acclaimed style of Azuma Nelson’s debut novel, Open Water. In May 2024, Nelson was awarded the prestigious Dylan Thomas prize for Small Worlds.
Get a copy here.
'And So I Roar' by Abi Dare
'And So I Roar' tells the story of a young girl's family secret.
Screenshot from @abidare_author on Instagram.
Abi Dare first entered the literary scene with her Bath-winning novel, The Girl With the Louding Voice, a compelling account of an ambitious and resilient young Nigerian girl. Four years later, she returns with And So I Roar, a novel exploring themes of family secrets, identity, and self-discovery. The story follows Tia, a young woman who overhears a conversation between her mother and aunt that reveals a long-hidden family secret. This discovery sets Tia on a journey to uncover the truth about her family’s past and her own identity. And So I Roar releases in August. Get a copy here.
'Someone Like Us' by Dinaw Mengestu
Ethiopian American writer Dinaw Mengestu’s works explore themes of immigration, identity, and the African diaspora. His forthcoming novel, Someone Like Us, set to be released on July 30, follows Mamush, the son of Ethiopian immigrants, on a quest to uncover a hidden family history. Mengestu has received several awards and honors for his writing, including being named one of the New Yorker’s 20 Under 40 fiction writers.
You can get Someone Like Ushere.
'Half Portraits Under Water' by Dennis Mugaa
Half Portraits Under Water is a debut collection of ten loosely interlinked short stories about love and the interconnected nature of human experiences. Mugaa, a Kenyan writer, has won the 2022 Black Warrior Review Fiction contest, was shortlisted for Isele Magazine’s Inaugural Short Story Prize, and longlisted for the 2021 Afritondo Prize. His works often explore the theme of human connection. He is also a 2021/2022 Miles Morland Scholarship recipient. Half Portraits Under Water releases in August.
You can pre-order the book here.
'My Parents’ Marriage' by Nana Ekua Brew Hammond
Cultural identities, intimate relationships, and family complexities intertwine in Nana Ekua Brew Hammond’s sophomore novel, My Parents’ Marriage. The novel tells the story of love and understanding through three generations of a Ghanaian family. Hammond, a Ghanaian American writer, is known for Powder Necklace, and Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and Wide as the Sky. Her works have appeared in the Village Voice, Metro, and elsewhere.
You can get a copy of My Parents’ Marriagehere.'Lagos Noir' edited by Chris Abani
'Lagos Noir' is an anthology series by 13 authors.
Photo from Amazon website.
Many stories have been written about the continent’s largest megacity, but let’s be honest, you can never have enough stories about Lagos. Released in 2018, Lagos Noir is an anthology edited by acclaimed poet and novelist Chris Abani and features 13 stories by writers including E.C. Osondu, Nnedi Okorafor, Jude Dibia, Chika Unigwe, A. Igoni Barrett, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and Leye Adenle.
Get a copy here.
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