Understanding Africa: A Syllabus

A Collections of Books, Films, Articles, Music, Things

Whether you are a native of the continent, an immigrant to another place, a member of the diaspora, or simply just an interested person, we can all benefit by thinking more deeply about what I like to call Our Modern Continent. Where does Africa fit in the modern global paradigm? What are the differences and similarities between our 55 (+/- a few disputed) countries? Is it even useful to think about Africa in general, or should we study its countries and regions individually?

This is not meant to be the be-all and end-all of what to read or how to be informed, however, it does serve as a collection of African things we have read/watched/listened to, or have been dying to try. If you are trying to understand a diverse and interesting continent, and especially if you’re trying to get away from the traditional Western narrative, this might be a good place to start. We try to include many perspectives — sometimes even conflicting ones — so you get the best, broadest picture. All recommendations are sourced from our very own MIT Africans ✊

Books

Deep dives and thought-provoking stories.

Fiction

• The Thing Around Your Neck Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
• Purple Hibiscus Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Nervous Conditions Tsitsi Dangarembga
• Happiness, Like Water Chinelo Okparanta
• Ambiguous Adventure Cheikh Hamidou Kane
• Houseboy Ferdinand Oyono
• Allah is Not Obliged Ahmadou Kourouma

Nonfiction

• Dead Aid Dambisa Moyo
• The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa Calestous Juma
• Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela
• Dear Ijeawele Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Films

Showing you our own stories

• Difret (2014) — Ethiopia
• Catching Feelings (2017) — South Africa
• Real Story of Nigeria by Jide Olanrewaju
• Neria (1994) — Zimbabwe
• Tsotsi (2005) — South Africa
• Félicité (2017) — Congo
• Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998)
• Yewendoch Guday (2015) — Ethiopia
• Alain Gomis (Director, multiple films) — Senegal

Articles

If you have no time for books, try these.

• “How to Write about Africa” Binyavanga Wainaina
• “The Headstrong Historian” (short story) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• “Africa’s Bioeconomy” Calestous Juma
• “When it comes to trade, Africa really should be a country” Calestous Juma
• “Reinvent and Diversify Africa’s Universitites” Calesetous Juma
• “Sara Menker: Data Entrepreneur, Gro Intelligence”

Music

Artists in Afrobeats, Ethiorock, and traditional classics.

• Jano Band — Ethiopia
• Teddy Afro — Ethiopia
• Wizkid— Nigeria
• Casper Nyovest — South Africa
• Jah Prayzah — Zimbabwe
• Charma Girl — Botswana
• Diamond Platnumz — Tanzania
• Papa Wemba — Congo
• Mrisho Mpoto—Tanzania
• Fally Ipupa — Congo
• Maleek Berry — Nigeria
• Rayvanny—Tanzania
• Maître Gims — Congo
• Harmonize—Tanzania
• Salif Keita — Mali

Publications

Anything constantly updated.

• Quartz Africa
• Al Jazeera Africa
• Here’s a collection of articles in the Quora sections about Africa.

Misc.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• Sara Menker’s TED talk
• @everydayafrica on instagram
• Mytruspot.com (A streaming site for African music)
• NotJustOk (popular news and music)
• MusekeMuseke (A DJ team on Soundcloud that makes some great mixes)
• “The Danger of a Single Story” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (TED talk)