Top 6 Books Every Nigerian Must Read.

Books have the power to make you a time traveller taking you into the past to learn things you never witnessed, and can also take you places around the world . In our society where history is not as widely known as it should be, we have books as other sources of knowledge a lot of times more interesting than textbooks!

 These books to me are foundational to the Nigerian. They tell of the cores of Nigeria- our past, our people and our spirit, Although mostly fictional. This is just to mention a few of many.

 Here are some list of books every Nigerian must read.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart is a post-colonial novel written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English. It is the most widely read book in modern African Literature. The novel set in Pre-colonial Nigeria in the 1890s highlights the fight between Colonialism and Traditional societies. It's a story on a man called Okonkwo clinging unto his cultural /traditonal beliefs even in the face of change.
The work is split into three parts, the first describes okonkwo's personal history, the customs and society of the Ibos, And the second and third sections introduce the influence of British Colonialism and Christian missionaries on the Ibo community.


Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi- Adichie

Half of a Yellow Sun was published in 2006, It tells the story of the Biafran war through the perspective of the characters Olanna, Ugwu, Odenigbo, Kainene and Richard . The Biafran war is a major part of Nigerian history that is oftentimes overlooked. The title of the book came from the description of the Biafran flag. the book jumps between events that took place during the early 1960s and the late 1960s, when  the war took place, and extends until the end of the war. Learn some Nigeria history with this one.


Efuru by Flora Nwapa

Efuru is a novel which was published in 1966 as number 26 Heinemann's African Writes series, making it the First book written by a Nigerian woman to be published. Its theme is feminism, the difference in males and females in society. Female genital mutilation, marriage and pregnancy are also issues touched upon. the book is about an Ibo woman who lives in a small village in colonial West Africa. Efuru wishes to be a mother, though she is an independent -minded woman and respected for her trading ability.

Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again by Ola Rotimi

The novel was written in 1965, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again is a drawing-room comedy of sorts. The play protagonist, a former military major, Rahman Taslim Lejoka Brown, takes to politics not out of feelings of patriotism but rather out of vanity. His political naivete is matched by his marital ineptitude. 

Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

 The novel was first published in 1979 and was reprinted in Heinemann's African writers series in 2008. The basis of the novel is the necessity for a woman to be fertile, it tells a tragic story of Nnu-Ego. The novel  reveals and celebrates the pleasures derived from fulfilling responsibilities related to family matters in child bearing, mothering, and nurturing activities among women. However the author additionally highlights the 'joy of motherhood' also include anxiety and obligation.

No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe 

No Longer At Ease is a 1960 novel by Chinua Achebe. It tells the story of a man, Obi Okonkwo, who leaves his village for a British education and a job in  the Nigerian Colonial Civil service, but struggles to adapt to a western lifestyle and ends up taking a bribe. The  book does lead you to question how corruption creeps into ANY society after all corruption is not copyrighted to Africa, but other countries face it as well.