African Novelistas on #TeamNatural

Natural hair seems to be the trend among African female writers. Chibundu Onuzo, Taiye Selasie, Chimamanda Adichie, Chinelo Okparanta and others are all rocking natural hair and are all the more stylish for it. To be honest, I would not have noticed if there hadn’t been that whole controversy surrounding Adichie’s hair campaign. Adichie has [...]

Meet the Caine Prize Five

Meet the five most famous people in the African literary scene at the moment — Elnathan John, Tope Folarin, Pede Hollist, Abubakar Ibrahim, and Chinelo Akparanta. They are the five that made it to the shortlist of the Caine Prize for African Fiction. Pede Hollist who is Sierra Leonian is the only non-Nigerian in the [...]

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African Novelistas on #TeamNatural

Natural hair seems to be the trend among African female writers. Chibundu Onuzo, Taiye Selasie, Chimamanda Adichie, Chinelo Okparanta and others are all rocking natural hair and are all the more stylish for it. To be honest, I would not have noticed if there hadn’t been that whole controversy surrounding Adichie’s hair campaign. Adichie has [...]

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In The Company of Tyrants: Julius Caesar and African Dictators

Does Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar really have anything to tell us about African politics? Apparently, it does. The Royal Shakespeare Company recently concluded its New York run of an African adaptation of Julius Caesar. It is set in present-day Africa and tries to capture the dark days of military dictatorship. Beginning in the sixties, African politics lost the visionary [...]

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Meet the Caine Prize Five

Meet the five most famous people in the African literary scene at the moment — Elnathan John, Tope Folarin, Pede Hollist, Abubakar Ibrahim, and Chinelo Akparanta. They are the five that made it to the shortlist of the Caine Prize for African Fiction. Pede Hollist who is Sierra Leonian is the only non-Nigerian in the [...]

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EVENT: Ngugi wa Thiong’o Headlining Royal African Society’s Africa Writes

In anticipation of Kenya’s 50th anniversary of independence, the Royal African Society and the British Library are teeming up to host an East Africa flavored Africa Writes. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is headlining the literary festival alongside a line up of novelists from the East Africa region. There’ll be panel discussions, book launches, poetry and musical performances and [...]

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PHOTOS: Chinua Achebe Memorial Tribute at Duke University

On April 4, a small group of students and faculty gathered together to pay tribute to Chinua Achebe, who passed away on March 21st. The event took place in the stunningly beautiful Gothic Reading Room in Duke University’s main library. After Prof. Nancy Armstrong opened the event with a welcome message, three speakers gave a [...]

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Adichie Versus Cinderella

Chimamanda Adichie is a girlie girl at heart. Like many of us, she grew up on the romance fiction series called Mills & Boon even though she now condemns the inherent misogyny in many of these stories.  In the weeks leading up to the official release of her third novel, Americanah, her feminism has, however, [...]

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Lauren Beukes on the Literary Prize that Got Her the Book Deal

In the increasingly competitive literary market, success depends on knowing how to capitalize on any chance at notoriety.  It is not [...]

Because of Him by Tolulope Popoola

I first saw him in a music video. Something about his face struck me, and I was transfixed. For the [...]

Toni Kan on The Dangers of Living and Blogging in Lagos

  Apparently blogging has become a hazard in Lagos. How do you make sure that your face is not the [...]

Meet The African Writers In The Running For The Commonwealth Book Prize

With barely three weeks left until the winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize is announced, let me get you up [...]

VIDEO | Brown University’s Tribute to Achebe

  Achebe was the Marianna Fisher University professor and professor of Africana studies at Brown University from 2009 until his passing. [...]

Chris Abani: “As a writer I have fought with Achebe”

Achebe tributes are still pouring in. From time to time, I will post excerpts from those I find particularly interesting. [...]