There is a myth that says Africans do not read and if you want to hide something from them put it in a book. A Lagos-based start-up company, Bambooks, is out to prove that these statements are indeed false and that Africans especially Nigerians love reading books. On Thursday 22nd November, Bambooks held a Press […]
The Magic of Things Fall Apart
Sometime in April, I received an email from the BBC Culture’s editor to nominate five stories that I believed had “the most impact on shaping ideas and changing minds through history.” The same invitation had been sent to other writers, critics, and academic the world over. 108 people from 35 countries responded, including myself. On […]
Introducing The Village Square Journal of Literary and Political Criticism
A new magazine described as a journal of literary and political criticism has just been founded by a few enthusiasts who believe strongly that there is obviously need to have more platforms promoting works of arts from diverse voices the world over. The Village Square Journal was founded by three Nigerians: Obinna Udenwe, the author […]
Zaynab Quadri on Why You Should Attend Ake Arts and Book Festival
Zaynab Quadri is Nigeria’s leading bookstagrammer, and she says that everyone who can should make it a point of duty to attend this year’s edition of Ake Arts and Book Festival running from November 14 to the 18th. Ake Festival is an annual literary and cultural extravaganza featuring film screenings, art exhibitions, panel discussion, poetry […]
Teju Cole’s Blind Spot Features an Unusual Blend of Text and Images
Teju Cole, that master of all intellectual trades, has a new book out. An unusual book. Even though Cole has had a successful career as a photographer, he is most widely known for his literary works. But with this new book, these two somewhat warring vocations unite in a visual art project that The Guardian is […]
Imbolo Mbue: Brittle Paper Interview | The Ask Series: No 1
Imbolo Mbue can still remember where she was when she picked up a call and heard a voice say to her, “Hi Imbolo, It’s Oprah.” Oprah had called to tell her that her debut novel, Behold the Dreamers (2016), had been chosen as the 2017 Oprah’s Book Club selection. In an interview with Oprah’s friend and colleague Gayle […]
EVENT: Brittle Paper Editor Ainehi Edoro Presents Lecture on African Literature in Oslo | May 24
What if African writers are read independent of their origin? What if they are read as though with a different identity? What if Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is read not as the story of an Igbo man in a society succumbing to colonialism but as that of a Frenchman adjusting to German occupation in […]