In the last couple of months, a number of African books have dominated the literary scene, generating important conversations among readers. Our editor, Uchenna Emelife, has now put together twenty of these books as recommendations for your summer reads.

And so in no particular order, here are some of the best reviewed African Books of 2023 so far:

1. When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Masobe Books)

“When We Were Fireflies triumphs in subtle designs. Deeply moving; with moments of plentiful little beauties, and moments of catharsis. It is an immensely careful novel in exploration of human truth, however relative, surmounting the sum of our ordinary existence. A stellar performance. This is the Great Nigerian Novel, and Ibrahim has written it.” — Carl Terver (Afapinen)

2. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe (Canongate Books)

“Unigwe’s writing is urgent, commanding, and attentive. Despite the shifting voices and the complicated individual arcs that are woven around Nani’s chapters, and how viscerally the writer illustrated the insidiousness of trauma, she remains in control, disciplining this story into a pulsing, powerful thing. Her language, the authority of the voices she’s populated the book with, run through you clean as an arrow…The Middle Daughter will be here forever, passed from our generation to the ones that are coming in the front because it is ‘life bookended by joy and light,’ as Nani tells us. ‘It is full. It is overflowing.’ ” — Ukamaka Olisakwe (Isele Magazine)

3. Small by Small by Ike Anya (‎Sandstone Press Ltd)

“It is a personal story of a boy becoming a man and a doctor in a country caught in a dictator’s stranglehold…As you read the book which pulses with hilarious and sometimes disturbing anecdotes and vignettes of life as a young doctor, one is reminded of Adam Kay’s This is Going To Hurt, another memoir from a doctor who had to give it all up following his disenchantment with a broken NHS…Ike Anya’s book has been a long time coming but it is heartening to see that small by small, the book is staking its literary claim and drawing readers in.” — Toni Kan (The Lagos Review)

4. I Am Still With You by Emmanuel Iduma (Algonquin Books)

“… A lawyer and art critic, Iduma’s curiosity and brilliance shine when he writes on the intersection of images and texts. His interventions show a knowledge of semiotics, and he brings emotional maturity to bear… I Am Still with You is filled with such echo of loss, of longing, so much that before you are halfway in, the mood envelopes you. It takes skill to deploy this in a way that is not easily seen on-page but is instead felt.” — Echezonachukwu Nduka ( Open Country Mag)

5. Daughter in Exile by Bisi Adjapon (HarperVia)

“The novel narrates the story of Olivia Akura Lola Oduro as she leaves Ghana to work as a professional in Senegal, falls in love with a Haitian American soldier, has a son, marries a white American, has a daughter, achieves American citizenship, and ultimately returns home to Ghana… contrary to the myth of the gold-lined streets of American, the immigration experience for Africans is often lined with coal. The myth, Lola learns, is the result of the exportation of so-called American excellence…This novel is definitely worth reading.” — Newson-Horst, Adele (World Literature Today)

6. A Spell of Good Things by Ayobami Adebayo (Knopf)

“Set in Osun state, Ayòbámi Adébáyò’s compelling second novel explores the country’s inequalities and contradictions… A Spell of Good Things interweaves the fates of two families and describes how political failings affect their lives and lead to personal tragedy…This immensely readable novel is a blistering indictment of the abuse of power (political and domestic) and the ubiquitous violence that can destroy lives overnight.” — Lucy Popescu (The Guardian)

7. Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Viking)

“Hang this book up in a gallery. Give it an Oscar…a brit…an academy award… The heart of this novel was literally about Small Worlds, creating small spaces where you can exist free without restrictions. It’s about discovering these different worlds and how each can co-exist without limiting who you are. It’s about being comfortable in yourself…in life because this life is the only one we have. So at the very least…we deserve to be ourselves in all forms… Don’t wait in vain for it.” — The Black Book Blog

8. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro (Bloomsbury)

“This ticks all the boxes of a literary blockbuster… You wouldn’t be wrong to read the book as satire of a certain kind of Black aspiration, or as an allegory of Africa and the western imperialist project. Or you could read it as itself, without abstracting its particularities: the story of a boy doing his best under the assault of powerful western influences and illusions. Buoro doesn’t preach or judge. He leaves us suspended between interpretative options…” — Ian Williams (The Guardian)

9. Dazzling by Chikodili Emelumadu (Wildfire)

“Dazzling is a novel that is as kaleidoscopically beautiful as its cover and as magical as the story it weaves. Its rich language and original voices set it apart and make it a pleasure to read… The book reveals fascinating insights into Nigerian society, with its rules and conventions. It pitches religion against traditional beliefs and magic; the values that the families live by are tested and the whole story is set against the ever-present background threat of war.”— Tripfiction

10. River Spirit by Leila Aboulela (Grove Press)

“Dazzling… One of the great pleasures of River Spirit is listening as the novel tells us how to read it.  The pace is swift, galloping over momentous events, stating profound changes with unsettling directness… Aboulela has written a novel of war, love, faith, womanhood and—crucially—the tussle over truthful public narratives.” — Megha Majumdar (The New York Times)

11. Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices edited by Nana Ekua and Brew-Hammond (HarperVia)

“A cross-genre anthology with a wide breadth of writing by African and African diaspora authors… This is an anthology that sings, a wonderful look at the relationships and connections that sustain us, give us life, make us who we are. This smart, generous collection is a true gift.”— Kirkus Reviews

12. Expert In All Styles by I. O. Echeruo (Farafina Books)

“If I were to describe this book in one word, I would say phenomenal. This is a collection of twelve beautifully written stories that are filled with simple, but flawed characters… The author allows the characters tell their stories themselves, however they deem fit… Expert In All Styles is an excellent short story collection with important stories that everyone must read.” — Ezioma Kalu (Bookish Pixie)

13. Call and Response by Gothatone Moeng (Viking)

“Gothataone Moeng’s stories delve into the divide between rural and urban life, the constraints of marriage, the role of education in shaping how people think about the world and so much more… Quiet but powerful, Call and Response illuminates the complexities of a place and the characters who live there. Most of all, it’s about the messy striving and seeking we all do as we move from childhood into adulthood.”— Laura Sackton (Book Page)

14. Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah (Ballantine)

“Rootless opens up difficult conversations that need to be had… It Is a heartbreaking story of love, and the societal expectations/ unnecessary pressure put on women, motherhood, and family… a stunning debut – very well written.”— BooksxNaps

15. there’s more by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike (The University of Alberta Press)

“Umezurike’s lyricism shines, especially in poems like ‘The Park in July’… In there’s more, home is constantly in a state of flux. It exists in a difficult relationship to physical place; the disconnect between generations makes it equally difficult for home to exist in metaphorical spaces. Through his lyricism and beautiful poetics, Umezurike draws readers into his world – and keeps us there.” — Manahil Bandukwala (Quill & Quire)

16. The Language of Languages by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (Seagull Books)

“The Language of Languages is a book that gathers Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s lectures, delivered between 2000 and 2019. Across the nine chapters, he empathetically reiterates the power and potential of translation… Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o himself admits that his ideas in this book are not anything groundbreaking. Nevertheless, there is a reason why his words are still relevant… The Language of Languages reminds us of the power of being hopeful—for that is what helps us create new ideas and evince important changes.” — Phương Anh (Poetry in Translation)

17. The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil (Christy Ottaviano Books)

“The Night Before Eid is a heartwarming tale of tradition, family, and sharing cultures. It traces the history of ka’ak back to the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs and highlights the importance of passing down recipes through the generations… There is no doubt in my mind that this book is deeply personal for both author and illustrator. What better way to connect with classmates, friends, family, and even strangers than by sharing a piece of your culture?”— Kara Cybanski (DC Canada)

18. House Woman by Adorah Nworah (Unnamed Press)

This is a novel about crime, crimes committed in the name of male supremacy. It is even more so, though, a novel that interrogates the American dream and the idea that leaving home truly allows one greater opportunity to thrive. It’s about how the sins of the past cannot be outrun and how everyone has a breaking point.A modern successor to Gaslight. —Kirkus Reviews

19. The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters (Atria)

“The Nigerwife provides atmospheric detail that encompasses a kaleidoscope of colors and textures along with the intense climate, transporting readers to the intoxicating landscape of Lagos. Walters juxtaposes the extravagant lifestyle of the wealthy and their complex social system with the disparity of poverty, while providing an introspective commentary on motherhood, classism, intergenerational trauma, and belonging.” — The Gloss

20. For The Love of Country and Memory by Michael Imossan (Poetry Column-NND)

“Another notable thing with Imossan’s collection is his dexterity in weaving words. When a collection is published, the readers, overwhelmed by the beauty of language and aesthetics may not be able to fathom the rigorous stages of its writing process. Of which sometimes the poet forgets themselves in the body of the poems therein. But I applaud Imossan for this beauty. For this gift. For his philanthropic gesture of not denying us a taste of his writing..” —Iliya Kambai Dennis (Book O’ Clock Review)