The Noname Book Club has announced its June selection: Blessings, the acclaimed debut novel by Nigerian author Chukwuebuka Ibeh. They have also shared the dates for their international meet ups — including in 9 cities across Africa!

Known for its commitment to radical literature by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, the book club continues its mission this month with a powerful coming-of-age story that explores queerness, repression, and self-discovery in post-military Nigeria.

Blessings follows Obiefuna, a teenager navigating family tensions, institutional violence, and his own sexual identity in a society on the cusp of legally criminalizing same-sex relationships. After a private moment with another boy is witnessed by his father, Obiefuna is sent away to boarding school—forcing him and his family to confront truths long buried. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013, the novel “asks how to live freely in a country that forbids one’s truest self, and what it takes for love to flourish despite it all,” per the publisher’s description.

“Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s writing has a certain delicacy to it, so wonderfully observant, and so beautiful,” writes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Americanah.

Since launching in 2019, Noname Book Club has evolved into a global community centered around political education and liberation through literature. The club’s monthly picks span radical theory, postcolonial literature, and contemporary fiction—past selections include How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney, Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis, and The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi.

Founded by artist and activist Noname, the club now operates in over 20 cities, with a growing presence in African countries and a focus on incarcerated readers.

Join one of the meet-ups below to read and grow community together!:

  • Accra, Ghana: June 29, 2pm, Freedom Bookshop
  • Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: June 28, 4pm, Marie McLeod Activity Center
  • Abuja, Nigeria: June 29, 1pm, Rovingheights Bookstore
  • Dakar, Sudan: June 28, 3pm, La Bibliothèque
  • Nairobi, Kenya: June 22, 3pm, Cheche Bookshop and Cafe
  • Kampala, Uganda: June 24, 5pm, 32 Degrees
  • Lagos, Nigeria: June 28, 2pm, The Coffee Society NG
  • Johannesburg, South Africa: June 28, 12pm, The Commune
  • Lilongwe, Malawi: June 28, 2pm, Wona Collective

The meet up dates for the U.S. chapters are not yet posted, but you can sign up to receive information about your local chapter here. Visit nonamebooks.com and follow @nonamereads on Instagram to stay updated!