Posted: 11/6/17 | November 6th, 2017
Welcome to the latest post in our Africa column by Natasha and Cameron from The World Pursuit. This month they are sharing their favorite books about the continent that will inspire you to visit!
When we first decided to travel around Africa, I called a family friend from Swaziland. She gave me an hour-long rundown of travel on the continent and threw in a nice list of books to read.
The first one I picked up was The Elephant Whisperer. In some ways, Lawrence Anthony’s story about the bond he forms with a wild elephant herd captures the magic you can only find in Africa. The feeling is almost palpable and the air at times feels electric.
The diverse continent has no shortage of inspiration for stories. It’s supplied us with an endless stream of books to consume during our travels. Here are my 10 favorite books to read about Africa:
1. Disgrace, by J. M. Coetzee
South African author J. M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and this beautiful but tragic novel left me traumatized. It’s a dark and disturbing tale of disgrace. A university professor is dismissed from his job after an affair. He escapes to his daughter’s farm in the Eastern Cape and is forced to come to terms with the reality of life after an attack in which his daughter is raped and impregnated and he is brutally beaten. The book is heavy, but it does a great job of depicting the violence of post-apartheid South Africa. This book will elicit a lot of heavy emotions.
2. Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen
I had for a long time put off reading the book, scoffing at the idea of a foreigner writing an evocative novel on Africa. However, when I read an excerpt in the Masai Mara, I changed my mind. What I love about this book is the language. Karen was a true poet, and her deep affection for the bush and Africa’s people — and writing — make you fall in love, too. The book draws you in and makes you want to be transported back to yesteryear and experience the romance of exploration and nature. In many ways it portrays what we love about traveling Africa, which in many places is still untamed. I also found it to be quite spiritual.
3. Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith
This long-running series tells the story of a women’s detective agency based in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. The first book follows Mma Precious Ramotswe as she works to found her own detective agency. I love the spunk of her character! It’s all about bringing girl power to the African continent, where many women are still considered second-class citizens. To see a woman tackling gender stereotypes in Botswana is exciting.
Humor, adventure, and life fill the pages and make these novels special. Africa can be a dark place in literature at times, so when a fun and light book comes along, it should be celebrated. Every book in the series is fairly short, making them perfect to take to the beach or pool, on safari, or into your lodge.
4. The State of Africa, by Martin Meredith
The book is a bit heavy and factual. However, if you want to understand modern-day Africa and the challenges that the continent faces, there is no better book. Martin Meredith effectively gives a crash course in African politics, starting with the birth of African nations. He offers perspective on the poverty and challenges facing Africa. Despite the book’s density, Meredith’s writing keeps the reader’s attention with his wit and insights. It’s thought-provoking and will likely shatter any preconceived notions. I found the book enlightening and informational, and I believe that having a deep knowledge of the political workings and history of Africa will also lead to more in-depth conversations with educated locals.
5. Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This disturbing but engrossing novel takes readers through the Biafran War (Nigerian Civil War) through perspectives of various characters. The book provides a haunting glimpse into the brutality of Nigeria’s civil war, portraying the hardships that both sides endured. (Sadly it’s a story we find all across the African continent: lines are drawn in the sand and tribalism often lead to the clash of neighbors, friends, and even family.) I felt the pain of each side pitted against the other, and at times it was hard to distinguish right and wrong. The book will tear at your heart.
6. The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, by Lawrence Anthony
Leave it to a book about elephants to be the happiest on this list. In order to save a rogue herd from being culled, Lawrence Anthony introduces them to his private game reserve, Thula Thula, in South Africa. What ensues is a heartwarming story that connects the audience with the beauty of these amazing creatures. The connection that Lawrence forms with the matriarch of the herd will transform the way you perceive animal intelligence and emotion. (His next book, The Last Rhinos, is also worth reading).
7. Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds, by Joy Adamson
I had to pick this book up after finishing The Elephant Whisperer. Elsa is the famous Kenyan lioness who was raised by George and Joy Adamson. The two conservationists took on the daring task of raising the cub in captivity after George orphaned her by killing the mother, teaching her to fend for herself in the wild. It’s an amazing story about companionship and love in the African bush. I’m a firm believer in conservation and that we simply need more people to care about these animals. So books like this, which bring to light the beauty of the animals we share our planet with, are important.
8. The End of the Game, by Peter Beard
While The Elephant Whisperer is heartwarming and beautiful, The End of the Game is gut-wrenching. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Peter Beard spent much of his time working and photographing Tsavo National Park. A drought swept through the park, and the large population of elephants were confined with little food and water. The result was a mass killing. Beard’s diaries turned coffee table books are a work of art and at times a glimpse into the mind of a mad genius. He famously used his own blood and animal remains in his journals. He’s also one of those legendary artists whose life is hard to believe sometimes. He was married to Cheryl Tiegs and hung out with the likes of Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Truman Capote, and Karen Blixen. Despite being nearly 40 years old, the book accurately portrays the problems facing conservationism in Africa to this day.
9. Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela
“As I finally walked through those gates to enter a car on the other side, I felt — even at the age of seventy-one — that my life was beginning anew. My ten thousand days of imprisonment were over.” What more can be said about Nelson Mandela? He is possibly one of the most influential and inspirational Africans to have lived. When he passed away in 2013, it was a loss to the world. His autobiography — almost mandatory on any list of books about Africa — covers the span of his life up until he becomes president of South Africa. His humility, morality, and spirit were never broken. I find his words moving and evocative, and we can all find power in his writings.
10. Palace Walk, by Naguib Mahfouz
This first novel in Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo Trilogy charts Egypt as it moves into the modern age. Set just after the end of World War I, this epic follows a Cairo merchant whose family follows strict social and religious rules. The book’s omniscient narrator does an excellent job of never passing judgment on the characters’ flaws, instead of allowing their actions to speak for themselves. The book gave me a revealing glimpse into North African and Arabic culture. If you are heading to North Africa I highly recommend giving this beautiful novel a read.
There are so many great books about Africa that can offer a better sense of the continent. I believe exploring literature is just as important as exploring the world. Every piece of literature on Africa you read shines a bit more light on a place that can still be referred to as the “Dark Continent.”
Natasha and Cameron run the blog The World Pursuit, focusing on adventure and cultural travel. The two of them met in the film industry before they decided to abandon the American lifestyle and travel the world. Follow their adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I created on Amazon that lists them all!
Book Your Trip to Africa: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Nancy
I clicked on this expecting to find coffee table books… what an interesting concept and way to promote travel. I know that Cutting for Stone by Verghese really set off a burning desire for me to visit Ethiopia, so there is something to this notion!
Cameron
We’ve never been Ethiopia but it’s at the top of our travel list! We’ve heard that it is like no other country in the world!
Taste of France
Some more:
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
The Village of Waiting by George Packer
Facing Mount Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta
Out in the Midday Sun by Elspeth Huxley
Cameron
Tasha is reading The Poisonwood Bible now. Thanks for the other suggestions!
Lisa Kay
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
Adventurous Kate
Ten books about Africa…and only two of the authors are black?
Yikes.
I hope you realize that there is a wealth of African literature written by black African authors. If you’re primarily drawing from 1) white authors and 2) visitors to Africa, not locals, you’re showing a very limited perspective of what Africa is. If you want to learn about Africa, read books by Africans first — not Karen Blixen, who herself is a problematic author.
I’d personally recommend Homegoing by Ghana-born Yaa Gyasi, Born a Crime by South Africa-born Trevor Noah, Infidel by Somali-born Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Knots by Somali-born Nuruddin Farah. Things Fall Apart by Nigerian Chinua Achebe is often cited as one of the greatest works of African literature of all time.
Here are some more suggestions of books by contemporary African authors: http://lithub.com/25-new-books-by-african-writers-you-should-read/
I know you meant well with this list, but I’m just encouraging you to dig a bit beyond what is easy and familiar to you as white American readers. Going out of your comfort zone is what travel is all about and you should do the same in the literature you consume.
PS — Disgrace is a fantastic book, but that is pretty much the LAST book that will inspire anyone to actually travel to Africa! I don’t know why you would put it on an inspirational travel list for any reason other than it happens to be written by a South African.
Nomadic Matt
Thanks for the suggestions. I won’t comment on their list (I wanted to add a few of my own but figured it’s their list that inspired their trip so I wasn’t going to co-opt that) but I’ll say that Karen Blixen’s book, for good or ill, gives an insight into colonial Africa pre-WW2 and is still a well written book. However, I do take issue with your point and implication that Natasha and Cameron somehow went out of their way to find white authors because they didn’t want to “get out of their comfort zone.” That’s a crazy thing to imply and I think takes away from your first point about the need to always seek added perspectives.
Beck
That’s not what they’re implying though. They’re not accusing the authors of going out of their way to find white authors, they’re accusing the authors of NOT going out of their way to find black authors.
The default to most white readers in white cultures is white authors, even when those books are about non-white people. That bleeds over to travel – lots of these books are about white people traveling to Africa. As opposed to a black African’s story about their home.
It’s easy to get offended at these times of comments because at first blush they can feel like an attack, but that’s where us white folks got to take a deep breath and realize that we are indeed responsible for ensuring we are getting the perspective of other cultures from the people of that culture.
Zoe
I thought something similar – although one was Egyptian too. I want to add So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba from Senegal, The First Wife by Paulina Chiziane from Mozambique, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beach from Sierra Leone, Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih from Sudan and The Fortunes of Wangrin by Amadou Hampate Ba from Mali.
Cameron
Zoe, A Long Way Gone is a fantastic book. It’s actually the first book I ever read set on the continent. As far as the others I suppose I have more reading material! 🙂
Cameron
I understand your comment and concern. I was trying to provide a list of informational, entertaining, thought-provoking, and inspirational into 10 books. I wanted variety, not sad book after sad book. With such a vast continent full of so many tragedies it could have easily been a list of 50+ books.
People born in Africa, like Lawrence Anthony, J. M. Coetzee, Naguib Mahfouz, and Alexander McCall Smith whether they be white, or Arabic – are still African. The other three authors mentioned spent most of their lives in Africa and I think it’s unfair to disregard their work. Asides from Karen Blixen who may be polarizing, but you can’t argue against the beauty of her writing. Of course, there are many more books about Africa by African authors. If you’re interested we have a list solely dedicated to this on our site.
This is list is what I read while traveling across the continent for a year. Perhaps, I didn’t need to ensure “we are getting the perspective of other cultures from the people of that culture” or “dig deeper” since we and most travelers in or going to Africa are already immersed in the culture on a daily basis. What did you connect with while traveling around Africa?
We never titled the list “Africa books by African authors” we titled it “inspire you to visit Africa,” because we also wanted readers to connect with these books.
Renuka
Africa is on my bucket-list! Would definitely like to read about it before I make it there. Interestingly, a book on a country written by a foreigner is often more insightful and thrilling. For example, the content on India that you read on Breathdreamgo is more interesting than something written on India by an Indian.
Cameron
That’s how I felt! Especially after spending so much time there. It really helped frame my perspective and connect the two cultures.
Katie
Thanks- I have a good friend who has just returned from Africa, and am so inspired to go now! It seems thrilling but a bit scary, will definitely check out some of these books.
Cameron
It’s nowhere near as daunting as it may seem. We found most people incredibly welcoming and helpful. I promise you’ll have a fantastic time.
Heather
I love reading books set in the places I am visiting. It adds a whole new dimension to both the book and the trip!
Cameron
YES!
Tazz
I have never been to Africa, but I will love to read one or more of these books to have stronger inspiration to visit Africa. I want to start with Long Walk To Freedom…Thank you for this list 🙂
Cameron
I think everyone should read A Long Walk to Freedom. The perseverance of Nelson Mandela is such an inspiration for all.
Harikrishna Natrajan
This is a fiction novel, but see if ‘Congo’ by Michael Crichton can fit your list.
Leo
Thank you for the share Matt. Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen inspired me to travel. I live in Nairobi where the Karen Blixen Museum is located and the irony is that I read the book even without knowing the Museum existed!
Belinda Mateega
The list is great Matt. I have read two in the list – Long walk to freedom and the state of Africa. State of Africa is very revealing indeed. My boss is a greater reader and recently bought Out of Africa by Karen Blixen and left it in the reception area. I hadn’t created time as a result of increasing workload but will soon create time to read it Karen Blixen’s work. Thank you
Susan Lewallen
Hi- and thanks for publishing this. Reading good stories is a great way to inspire people to learn about other places. I lived for 20 years in different countries of Africa and am always on the hunt for good current literature set on that continent. Besides those you listed (and other books by Chimimande Ngozi Adiche) I suggest:
White Dog Fell from the Sky (Eleanor Morse – Botswana)
Ghana Must Go (Taiye Selasi – Ghana diaspora)
Stay with Me (Ayobama Adebayo – Nigeria)
Small Country (Gael Faye – Burundi)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Wm KamKwamba- Malawi)