Last month, the Accra branch of Noname Book Club convened at the LOATAD Library to discuss Yaa Gyasi’s acclaimed novel, Homegoing. Founded in 2019, No Name Book Club is a Black-owned organization dedicated to connecting community members—both inside and outside carceral facilities—with radical books through political education. With 20 chapters across the United States and four international branches in London, Lagos, Accra, and Nairobi, the club uplifts one book by a Black author each month, providing free access to educational materials as a foundation for collective liberation. The Accra meeting brought together readers for what organizers described as a “heavy, necessary” conversation about the multigenerational impacts of slavery, colonialism, and imperialism. Rather than treating Gyasi’s narrative as a historical artifact, participants engaged with the novel as what they called “a mirror to our present,” exploring how the legacies chronicled in the book continue to shape contemporary realities. The discussion centered on urgent questions of healing, collective care, and reconstruction in the wake of historical trauma.

The gathering concluded with participants acknowledging that they left with more questions than answers, a testament to the complexity of grappling with inherited legacies and ongoing crises. Far from viewing this uncertainty as discouraging, the group embraced it as “the right place to start.” Organizers emphasized the need for continued engagement, noting that “there’s so much more we can do, and there’s so much that is required from us.” The Accra chapter’s commitment to sustaining this work through reading, discussion, study, and concrete action exemplifies No Name Book Club’s broader mission of building community through political education.

Here’s the Instagram caption and accompanying photos below:

Our November meet at @loatad_org , dived into Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.” This book isn’t just history; it’s a mirror to our present. The discussion was heavy, necessary, and ultimately focused on how we heal, help each other, and rebuild from the legacies we’ve inherited. Our discussion was also a mix of reactions on how to address the crises left by slavery, colonialism, and imperialism. We left with more questions than answers, and that feels like the right place to start. ✨ We equally acknowledged that there’s so much more we can do, and there’s so much that is required from us. So we will keep reading, discussing, studying, and taking the necessary steps forward!

See images from the book club below: photos: @barrist