4 African Historical Fiction Novels to Help You Learn About African History
How much African history were you taught in school? As a Nigerian that went to an American high school in Beijing, China, African history was not a part of the curriculum. Even my World History class was heavily centred on European history with a little African and Asian history here and there. As a result, my understanding of the continent as a whole and the country I call home is highly limited.
To educate myself on African history, I turned to historical fiction novels written by African authors about African countries. There are many more African Historical Fiction novels I hope to read, but these are some I have read recently and hope you read too. Let’s continue to amplify Black voices.
Ethiopia: Beneath the Lion’s Gaze by Maaza Mengiste
Set in 1974, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, tells the story of the Ethiopian socialist revolution through the point of view of Hailu, a prominent doctor, and his family.
The novel begins with the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie by the socialist Derg, thereby leading to the end of the Ethiopian monarchy that dates back to the time of King Solomon (yes the one in the Bible).
Hailu’s family was used as a microcosm of Ethiopian life under the Derg regimen (1974–1991). A life filled with violence and fear. The fear of being killed for being suspected as an enemy. The fear that one of the dead bodies that lie on the streets as a “warning” to the living would be a loved one.
It took me a while to get into this book. Possibly because the short chapters, each following a different character, made it slightly difficult to keep track of the narrative. And sometimes a chapter ends on a cliff hanger and you have to read through several other characters’ perspectives before finding out how that previous situation resolves. But aside from that, the book was incredible but so upsetting to read.
There were horrifying scenes of violence and torture and death. So much death. But since the chapters are short, they aren’t dragged out. Despite the violence, I found the book to be a compassionate depiction of this part of Ethiopian history. Mengiste’s writing was incredible. The descriptions of the world were vivid and engaging. I am so glad I read this because prior to reading this book I knew almost nothing about this part of Ethiopian history.
Favourite quote:
“His whole life had prepared him to accept the fact that in nearly everything, there would always be someone better.”
Ghana: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing is a trans-generational story that centres around two half-sisters in 18th century Ghana that never knew about each other’s existence.
Effia marries a white slave trader and lives in Cape Coast Castle, while Esi is captured and kept in a dungeon at the castle before being sent to America to become a slave.
Each chapter of the book follows one of their descendant and alternates between those that stayed in Ghana and those that ended up in America finally drawing to a close back in Ghana 250 years later.
Through the portrait of each character the author explores life in 18th century Ghana, the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, the effects of British colonisation and the slave trade on Ghanian society, life as a slave in the American South in the 19th century, the barbarism of the Fugitive Slave Act and Jim Crow segregation, racism in supposedly-liberal New York in the 20th century and the innate desire to have a place where you call home.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. I’m incredibly impressed by the author’s ability to tell such a captivating, yet painful story filled with so much history and richly developed characters in only 300 pages. The structure of the book made it read almost like a collection of short stories, but one where each story is connected and I really enjoyed that. The writing was just phenomenal. I particularly enjoyed the early chapters. They were so vivid and immersive so can really imagine life in pre-colonial Ghana. They were also longer than later chapters, so you really get to connect to the characters and their story.
Favourite quote:
“She was only five then. She did not understand that things could die, despite one’s best efforts to keep them alive.”
Nigeria: Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Half of a Yellow Sun is a character-driven war novel set before and during the Nigerian-Biafra War of 1967 to 1970. It provides an account of the Biafran War wrapped up in a story of love, loyalty, betrayal and hope while forcing readers to confront horrific scenes of massacres, constant air raids, rape, starvation, disease and grief. Starvation was a Nigerian weapon of war. Starvation broke Biafra.
The civil war was caused because the Igbo tribe who are mainly in the Southeastern part of Nigeria wanted to become an independent nation called, The Republic of Biafra. This secession from Nigeria occurred following a massacre of Igbo people in the predominantly Hausa North. However, due to the oil-rich nature of the Southeastern part of Nigeria, with the support of the British and other western countries, were determined to keep this region even if it was by war.
A recurring mantra in the novel — “the world was silent when we died” — refers to the lack of support and recognition Biafra received from other countries during the war. The novel clearly criticises western media’s coverage of the war since journalists and photographers were only interested in Biafra to reassert the image of Africa as a continent riddled with disease, poverty, and violence.
This was a heart-wrenching, but relevant read, especially since the issue of tribalism is still prevalent in Nigerian politics. In fact, some Igbos still refer to themselves as Biafrans. Unfortunately, this war remains absent from the Nigerian curriculum, so one is left with books such as Half of A Yellow Sun as a gateway to learning about this part of Nigerian history.
Favourite quote:
“Grief was the celebration of love, those who could feel real grief were lucky to have loved.”
Uganda: Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
In 1750, Kintu Kidda sets out on a journey to the capital to pledge allegiance to the new leader of the Buganda Kingdom. Along the way, a rash action in a moment of anger unleashes a curse that will plague his family for generations.
The book is divided into 6 parts with each part detailing the life of one of Kintu’s descendants, the manifestations of the generational curse in their life and what it means to live in the shadow of the curse while trying to create their own futures.
I was so impressed by this book. The plot was intense. The writing was phenomenal. There are some books that you enjoy so much that you want to finish it in one sitting. This was not one of them for me. Instead, I loved this book so much that I took my time to savour all 410 pages of it. I was not in a hurry for the book to end.
I enjoyed the reimagination of life in pre-colonial Buganda Kingdom. I enjoyed the oral traditions, folktales, and history that were seamlessly woven into the story. I enjoyed the blending together of and conflict between tradition and modernity, especially traditional spirituality, Christianity and atheism.
I also liked that through some of the topics discussed in the book I was inspired to read further into some of the historical events that happened in Uganda such as the presidency of Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979, The Ugandan-Tanzanian War in 1978–1979 which led to the overthrow of Idi Amin and the Ugandan Bush War of 1981–1986.
The book was just amazing. I can’t recommend it enough.
Favourite quote:
“Kintu felt for Gitta. He knew the snare of being a man. Society heaped such expectations on manhood that in a bid to live up to them some men snapped.”
I hope these recommendations inspire you to learn more about African history.
