Books provide an opportunity to learn, grow, heal and navigate the challenges of life.
For women, books by authors who prioritise women’s issues are necessary in building confidence and letting go of the fear women are very often raised to have.
In our latest article, Urban Woman Magazine asked some African women to share their favourite African female authors and why they love them.
Read their responses below.
MOI
Chimamanda Adichie – she’s always been the OG contemporary poster girl for feminism and female empowement. I love how she lives and breathes it as a person, and in her writing. Also she has such a distinctive visual writing style that draws you into the lives of all her characters. I’d recommend Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists.
Ayobami Adebayo – she knows how to write Nigerian social realities into intimate personal stories without sounding preachy. Things like marriage, class, family expectations, faith, and even politics all show up naturally in her work. Also her characters feel like real people you might actually know; they’re flawed, stubborn, tender, and honestly just trying their best.
Lovedddd Stay With Me 🥹.
ES
Sefi Atta’s “Everything Good Will Come” remains ingrained in my memory because it introduced me to women who challenged traditional expectations. It was honest and relatable.
Yaa Gyasi’s characters are always so rich and layered making their stories unforgettable. It’s hard to pick one of her two novels as my favourite. “Homegoing” and “Transcendent Kingdom” are such good books.
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.