Great African Reads discussion

How would you like to feature this country? For Nigeria we generated a list of authors and featured one per month (most months!)...do you want to follow the same plan or tweak it a bit?

Generally speaking, I find it easier when specific books are chosen, since that way people are more likely to be on the same page...but I look forward to the feature regardless of the shape it takes.

I liked the way it worked for Nigeria. I like the flexibility of choosing authors rather than books!

I like authors and would also like to attempt to have representation from groups other than the Kikuyu, since they make up only 22% ethnically. If we read Unbowed that will take up some of the Kikuyu (but I liked that book, memoir and political history.)

I think I am torn between specific books and specific authors as the way to go.

But that is probably because I have a favorite book about Kenya.

The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji.

Of course I want to know/read about Kenyan authors that I do not know about.
But I guess I also want to know which books about Kenya should be must reads (though I know this is subject to individual tastes).

But I am not looking to make more work or confusion.

I am sure I will be participating more with the Kenyan authors/books as I have read some but not a lot.

With Nigeria I had read most of the authors and/or the books chosen.

GAH! i can't believe how soon 2016 is. I'm still not sure what to do or how to choose our first book, but in the meantime let's generate a list of authors: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I created a thread explaining the project and listing the one rule:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Any thoughts on good history-type books by a Kenyan that we could read to start the year?

Hi All,

as I am not familiar with Kenyan writers, I decided to do a little research to see what is available - via the Nook e-reader. I came up with two authors and four books in total, which I will share below. The summaries for the first three books are taken directly and verbatim from the Nook website, so I credit Barnes & Noble / Nook with the writing - and not my own words! All of the books chosen are $12.99 or less on Nook.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, according to Wikipedia, is one of the best known Kenyan writers. His works include:

Weep Not, Child - This is a simple and powerful tale of the effects of the Mau Mau war on individuals and families in Kenya.

A Grain of Wheat - This is a compelling account of the turbulence that inflamed Kenya in the 1950s and its impact on people's lives.

The River Between - Christian missionaries attempt to outlaw the female circumcision ritual and in the process create a terrible rift between the two Kikuyu communities on either side of the river.

By the author Binyavaya Wainaina, we have the book, "One Day I Will Write About This Place," which is the author's memoir of his days of growing up in Kenya, traveling through his country, and eventually, becoming a journalist. Please note that if you attempt to find this book via the Nook e-reader, type in "Wainaina" rather than "Binyavaya," as the search engine may try to auto correct spelling and will not yield the book search!

I have enjoyed reading the posts for this group and learning about Africa, its authors, and its culture. I wish everyone here a safe, happy, healthy and blessed New Year, with much enjoyable reading ahead!

I found a list but not sure how many are translated into English:
https://literatureafrica.wordpress.co...

I'm still trying to find an author with Turkana background, on my goal to not just read the leading tribe.

Personally I think focusing on tribes is the wrong way to go. Sure - tribes play a role in the local politics and society, but amongst the Kenyan youth its pretty much irrelevant. I think - again this is my personal opinion - that focusing specifically on the Turkana people is backwards. I think the focus should be on finding a good book. Finding a Turkana author shouldn't be our primary goal. After all, a book written by a kikuyu could tell more about Kenya than a Turkana author.

Personally I think focusing on tribes is the wrong way to go. Sure - tribes play a role in the local politics and society, but amongst the Kenyan youth its pretty much irrelevant. I think - again this is my personal opinion - that focusing specifically on the Turkana people is backwards. I think the focus should be on finding a good book. Finding a Turkana author shouldn't be our primary goal. After all, a book written by a kikuyu could tell more about Kenya than a Turkana author.

Adam wrote: "Personally I think focusing on tribes is the wrong way to go. Sure - tribes play a role in the local politics and society, but amongst the Kenyan youth its pretty much irrelevant. I think - again t..."

More than tribes I'm just looking for a diversity of backgrounds. I was not successful in looking that way anyway! Not to mention that Turkana in particular is not a name that comes from that group, but placed upon the, by outsiders. I grew up around missionaries that talked this way so I didn't know it was wrong....

I'm thinking of opening a non-fiction free read thread to get us started and make a poll to choose a featured author for February...how does that sound?

Marieke, I had a quick list at our nominated authors. There are 14 distinct authors nominated in total and three of them have only one published book. How about putting up a thread for the authors with one book published and then sticking the other 11 through a random number generator. We then read one per month up to December in the order generated? That would save you the hassle of polls every month and allow us to find the books well in advance.

Carolien, yes, thank you! That is a great idea! I hadn't taken a moment to look very closely yet. This also gives me the structure to create a "challenge" for anyone who wants to do a challenge. I will set it up today. :D

Here are our authors for February through December:


February: M.G. Vassanji
March: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
April: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
May: Lily Mabura
June: Wangari Maathai
July: Grace Ogot
August: Mukoma Wa Ngugi
September: Meja Mwangi
October: Cynthia Salvadori
November: Warsan Shire
December: Binyavanga Wainaina

Bonus books for the challenge are Wanjira, The Zanzibar Chest, and The Fall of Saints

I'm interested in the non-fiction thread, and thank you for posting our monthly author lust for the year!

Rflutist wrote: "I'm interested in the non-fiction thread, and thank you for posting our monthly author lust for the year!"

i will set it up now! i think i'll make it a year-long space.

Rflutist wrote: "I'm interested in the non-fiction thread, and thank you for posting our monthly author lust for the year!"

You may have meant "list" by i love that it posted as "lust"!! Unless you meant it to be "lust"?

Ha! I didn't even notice that. Seems appropriate though!

Obviously, that was a typo...

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I found a list but not sure how many are translated into English:
https://literatureafrica.wordpress.co...

I'm still trying to find an author with Turkana backgro..."

Hi Jenny,

I was looking around and I came across of book of folklore that is divided by different groups in Kenya. This may or may not be something you are looking for, but I remembered this comment and wanted to pass it along. The title is Hyena and the Moon: Stories to Tell from Kenya.

Susan wrote: "I was looking around and I came across of book of folklore that is divided by different groups in Kenya. This may or may not be something you are looking for, but I remembered this comment and wanted to pass it along. The title is Hyena and the Moon: Stories to Tell from Kenya. "

Thank you that looks great!