Mother Mary Comes to Me, 2025, Arundhati Roy *****

There are writers you admire from a distance, and then there are writers who walk into a room and make you feel as though you've been slightly asleep your whole life. Arundhati Roy is the second kind. I first encountered her in person when she came to my city to promote The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, a book I confess I never got around to reading, despite being entirely captivated by the woman behind it. She spoke about India as a country that lives in several centuries simultaneously. She said the feminist movement there had been NGO-ised. She was sharp, certain, and utterly herself. I left that evening a little in love.

When I heard she was returning to promote a new book, I bought my ticket and my copy immediately. The event was eventually cancelled, a strike, of all things,  but I read the book anyway. And I am so glad I did. Mother Mary Comes to Me is beautiful, unrelenting non-fiction built around the life of Roy's mother, Mrs. Roy, now deceased. She was a woman who, by any conventional measure, was dealt the worst possible hand. And yet she played it with the kind of defiant grace that leaves you breathless. She was determined, it seems, that nothing, not circumstance, not society, not the grinding weight of expectation placed on women in India, would ever bring her all the way down. It never did.

Reading this book, I kept thinking:

Becoming, 2018, Michelle Obama *****

Michelle Obama’s Becoming is not just a memoir, it’s a journey of resilience, hope, and unwavering grace. From the very first page, Michelle invites us into the heart of her world, painting vivid portraits of her childhood in the South Side of Chicago. She writes with raw honesty about her father, who, despite battling multiple sclerosis, never missed a day of work. His quiet strength, paired with the warmth of a close-knit family and the fierce protection of her brother Craig, gave Michelle the foundation to dream bigger than her circumstances.

What strikes you immediately is her determination. A young girl with ambition that soared far beyond her neighborhood, Michelle thrived in school, eventually making her way to Princeton University. There, she found inspiration in mentors, peers, and a sense of belonging that fueled her path forward. Her brilliance carried her to a prestigious law firm in Chicago, where fate, in the form of a summer intern named Barack Obama, walked through the door.

Reading Michelle’s account of meeting Barack is as refreshing as it is moving. Their early days together, their trip to

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child, 2017, Sandra Uwiringiyimana , Abigail Pesta *****

How Dare the Sun Rise is much more than a memoir, it’s a powerful coming-of-age story that follows the journey of Sandra Uwiringiyimana, a Congolese girl from the Banyamulenge tribe, as she navigates unthinkable tragedy, survival, and transformation.

The book opens with warm recollections of Sandra’s early childhood in Congo. Despite growing up in a region marked by deep-rooted conflict, her memories are filled with joy, family, and a sense of belonging. But everything changes when war breaks out. Forced to flee their home, Sandra and her family seek refuge in Gatumba, a camp in neighboring Burundi. What they hoped would be a safe haven becomes the site of a horrific massacre that claims the life of her beloved younger sister, Deborah.

This traumatic event sets off a chain of circumstances that eventually brings Sandra and her family to the United States. She was only 11 or 12 at the time, and what follows is a deeply personal account of a refugee family trying to adjust to a completely new world, one filled with

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, 2016, by Trevor Noah *****

This is not your typical Apartheid story. This is a tale of defiance, resilience, and survival, told with humor so sharp it cuts through the darkest of times. Born a Crime is Trevor Noah’s unfiltered, deeply personal account of his childhood in South Africa, growing up in the shadow of Apartheid and its chaotic aftermath.

At the heart of this story is Trevor’s mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, a warrior in her own right. Born and raised under the brutal oppression of Apartheid, she refused to let the system define her destiny. Against all odds, she carved out a life for herself, defying laws, norms, and expectations. She chose to have a child, a mixed-race child, with a white man at a time when such a union was not just taboo, but illegal. Yet, she was determined that her son would not inherit the burden of Apartheid.

Trevor takes us through his childhood, raised by a mother whose love was fierce and unwavering. She gave him everything she could, shielding him with her wit, wisdom, and unwavering belief that he was meant for something greater. But just when you think the book is solely about Patricia’s fight, Trevor shifts the focus to himself, his experiences as a biracial child navigating

Known and Strange Things: Essays, 2016, Teju Cole ***

Teju Cole writes so well, Known and Strange Things is a collection of essays neatly written, divided into four sections; Reading Things, Seeing Things, Being There and Epilogue (which consists of only one essay). In total, over 50 essays.

Here goes some of my favourites:

Aciman's Alibi: What we missed was not just Egypt. What we missed was dreaming Europe in Egypt" - what we missed was the Egypt where we'd dreamt of Europe"

Guergui Pimkhassov: ...Behind this dispiriting stream of empty images is what Russians call poshlost: fake emotion, unearned nostalgia. According to Nabokov, poshlost "is not only the obviously trashy but mainly the falsely important, the falsely beautiful, the falsely clever, the falsely attractive."

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness, 2011, Alexandra Fuller

I read Alexandra Fuller's "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" and fell in love with her writing, therefore, I decided to read Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. A non-fiction dedicated to her mother. Her birth, how she met her husband, how she came to settle in Africa. The children she gave birth to, the ones she buried, the friends she lost and the ones she gained. Her continuous moving. How she strove to remain in the African

Gratitude in Low Voices: A Memoir, 2017, Dawit Gebremichael Habte ****

Gratitude in Low Voices is the inspiring story of Dawit, who had to flee his home country Eritrea in the throes of war to join his elder brother in the USA. Dawit narrates the flow of life coupled with some historical event . I found out Eritrea was Ethiopian colony.

The story started as usual, life was not perfect, but they were happy to be home, his father lived in exile as he was one of those who opposed the Ethiopian government, however, he never stopped caring for his family. In one of the ways he cared for his children was asking them to move from the village to the city where

Tierra de Brujas, 2016, María Ferreira **

Leí sobre el libro por primera vez en el blog Literafrica, me llamó la atención el título "la vida en un psiquíatrico de Kenia" dí por entendido que posiblemente sería un relato sobre el trabajo de  un psiquiatra en un centro psiquiátrico o incluso el relato de un enfermo psiquiátrico ya recuperado. Pues, no acerté, no se trata ni de lo uno ni de lo otro.

Tierra de brujas, es la experiencia de una jovencita española de unos veintitantos años en un pueblo cerca de Nairobi, la historia se podría leer como un diario. Parece ser, que acabó la carrera de psicología en España, al no saber que rumbo darle a su vida decidió

An Image of Africa, 2002, Chinua Achebe ****

An Image of Africa is a collection of essays by the legendary Chinua Achebe. I have his other collection of (extensive) essay called The Education of a British-Protected Child first published in 2009, which I highly enjoyed. Both books were purchased in Spain, Barcelona and San Sebastian respectively.

This collection of essay is divided into two parts: one is "An Image of Africa"; Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness  and the other is "The Trouble with Nigeria".

The first part gives a historical perspective of the relationship of Europeans with Africans.

Africa as setting and back drop which eliminates the African as

The Wretched Africans, 2016, Joe Khamisi ****

First of all I'd like to thank Joe Khamisi for reaching out to me and sending me his book for review, I really did not know anything about the South-East African slave trade, or the Arab slave trade neither did I know about the Rabai and Freretown slave settlement.

This book narrates on the history of slavery in East Africa. The Arabs ravaged the land, instigate war to make it easier to capture African citizens in order to force them into slavery through the main slave market in Zanzibar.

The British banned slavery,  though that

Whiteman, 2006, Tony D'Souza ***

I fell into the trap of reading this non-fiction novel by Tony D'Souza because I bought it unknowingly. Generally, before purchasing my novels I try to research a bit about the writer, book review and etc. However, some other times the book cover can simply incite me to buy without wondering about the content, that is the case of  "Whiteman". 

The narrator is a member of Peace Corps who is assigned to a small village in Côte d'Ivoire where he is accepted without reserve by the villagers. He was supposedly to help in the "supply of clean water" however

The Prisoner's Wife: A Memoir, 1999, Asha Bandele ***

The Prisoner's Wife; A Memoir is a non-fiction narrative of how the writer (Asha Bandele) fell in love with a man condemned twenty to life imprisonment for murder.

Asha's writing is poetical, lyrical, descriptive and graphical, there is no way you wouldn't grasp her narrative. Sometimes I just have to reread some paragraph, not because I do not understand but simply for the pleasure of it. She is a recognised poet by the way, a skilled she applied in the making of this book. She met Rashid, the prisoner, during

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, 2001, Alexandra Fuller *****

This book was about to be discarded before I rescued it from the rubbish bin. I kept it on my shelf for years, gathering dust, not sure if to read or not to read. That was the question. I finally read it and regretted why I did not do so for so long.

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight is too real to be true, a larger than life non-fiction that narrates on the childhood and growing up of Alexandra Fuller in the southern part of Africa. Her parents participated in the Rhodesian war, a fail attempt to establish the white supremacy. Having lost the war, they moved to Malawi and then to Zambia where they finally "settled". Her parents were reckless and racists who wallow in their ignorance. I am not surprised that her mother at some point ended up with a nervous breakdown, stark raving mad.

Nevertheless, this is a memoir that I highly enjoyed, Alexandra Fuller was blunt and true to her self and her readers in narrating her memoir. I might not like some of the stories narrated therein, but it is her story not mine. It was an amazing read, extraordinary and striking. I had this desire to read on and non stop. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Incredibly moving. I highly recommend, 5 star read. I would also strongly recommend Zenzele: A Letter For My Daughter right after reading this non-fiction. Both were set in Zimbabwe.

Don't Let's go to the Dogs Tonight was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award 2002, won Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize and the Book Sense Book of the Year  for Adult non-fiction 2003  (previously known as American Booksellers Book Of The Year Award and now know as Indies Choice Book Award), A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini also won Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction (2008). 

My copy of this book was published by Random House Paperbacks New York, 315 pages.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, 2009, WIlliam Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer ****

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is one fine book that I strongly recommend. It is the story of William Kamkwamba, born into a rural family that depends absolutely on farming to remain alive. They survived the most devastating Malawian food crisis ever. However, he had to drop out from school, primarily due to lack of food and lack of resources too. In the throes of dearth, William, at the very tender age of fourteen longing to be educated, frequented the village library. From a photograph and a text book he built an electricity producing windmill with recyclable materials and spare parts, most of which he collected from the pile of garbage in his village. Few years later, as luck would have it, through the Malawian Newspaper he was featured in the blogosphere through which he caught the attention of TEDGlobal. And, hence, he gained international fame.

This is one book everyone should read, it is encouraging and inspiring, it should be in the library of very school and should be translated into as many languages as possible. Nothing is impossible, you just have to try. Kudos to Bryan Mealer for doing a wonderful job in reference to the writing of the book. 

I have to admit that I am late in the reading of this non-fiction since its publishing in 2009. It was a phenomenon of a book. A lot has been published about William Kamkwamba, below are some official links.

• The blog where he was first published Hactivate by Mike McKay
• He was featured on the Daily Times: School dropout with a streak genius
• His first appearance on TED: How I built a windmill
• A documentary was made: William and the Windmill
• William's blog: William Kamkwamba

This book won the German Corine Literature Prize. As I have already said, I highly recommend. Thank you to the MS/HS Library for lending me this book, now I can kindly take it back after having it for so long.

Another inspirational non-fiction from Malawi is I Will Try by Legson Kariya

To My Children's Children, 1990, Sindiwe Magona ***

To My Children's Children is Sindiwe Magona's autobiography that narrates on her growing up and coming of age in South Africa during apartheid. Written as if she is, precisely, narrating her life story to her children's children. Hence, the title. The book started with:

I was born in the Union of South Africa before Great Britain handed over our land to the Afrikaner;..... Then, we were called Natives by polite white people, and kaffirs by the not polite ones, basking in the impunity they enjoyed before the law

Born in rural South Africa life flowed easily, until death interrupted the rhythm. Curiously, at the same time, the Afrikaners came into power bringing along with them their apartheid government that lasted from 1948 to 1994. In the township, where she

A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary, 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa ****

A Month and a Day is a non-fiction that narrates on Ken Saro-Wiwa's illegal detention in 1994. Though, he was released, however, he was detained again in 1995 and was executed by the Nigerian military dictatorship.
Ken Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian writer and television producer, however, he was famously known as the founder of the MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People). A social non-violent movement created to give voice to the Ogoni people whose environment has been completely devastated by the oil companies (notably Shell and Chevron) mining in their land.

And all this happening to a people whose home is one of the richest in Africa. Over the past thirty-two years Ogoni has offered Nigeria an estimated US thirty billion dollars and received NOTHING in return, except a blighted countryside, and atmosphere full of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons; a land in which wildlife is unknown; a land of polluted streams and creeks, of rivers without fish, a land which is, in every sense of the term, an ecological disaster. High-pressure oil pipelines crisscross the surface of Ogoni farmlands and villages dangerously. This is not acceptable.

Oil pollution is a great menace to the Nigerian environment. I wish to warn that the harm being done to the environment of the Niger River delta must be ameliorated by the oil companies which prospect for oil there; the degradation of the ecosystem must end and the dehumanisation of the inhabitants of the areas must cease and restitution be made for past wrong.

We cannot sit idly by while we are, as a people, dehumanised and slowly exterminated and driven to extinction even as our rich resourced are syphoned off to the exclusive comfort and improvement of other Nigerian communities, and the shareholders of multinational oil companies namely Shell (Dutch/British) and Chevron (American).

Needless to say that the Nigerian military dictatorship under Babangida wanted his head on a plate. Unfortunately, they succeeded.

So today, I re-dedicate myself to what has always been my primary concern as a man and a writer: the development of a stable, modern Nigerian which embraces civilised values; a Nigeria where no ethnic group or individual is oppressed, a democratic nation where minority rights are protected, education is a right, freedom of speech and association are guaranteed, and where merit and competence are held as beacons. Convinced that most Nigerians share this concern, I will stand for it at all times and in all places.

This book provides an interesting insight into the creation and development of MOSOP, along with a good understanding of the structure of the Nigerian government of that time. It mentioned the names of some people I already know, for instance Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and even Late Festus Iyayi whose death I announced some weeks ago. Click here. He was also a threat to the system and they wanted his head too. Sadly, they ended up getting it by accident.

Festus Iyayi, an award-winning Nigerian novelist, had lived in it (detention room) in 1987 or thereabouts and had written about it in a Nigerian magazine. The journalist said he had been held in custody for a month. He had not been told what crime he had committed. Neither did his colleagues and employers know that he been held. He was also involved in labour unions and recently in the campaign for Democracy organisation.

I really liked this book, it was enlightening,  insightful and educational indeed. I highly recommend especially if you are interested in social movements, conflict in the Niger Delta and would like to know more about the MOSOP. Another novel that narrates on the consequences of the environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta is Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson

Head Above Water, 1986, Buchi Emecheta ****

With this review it goes without saying that Buchi Emecheta is one of my favourite writers. As you might have observed, you would guess I have taken on a mission to peruse all of her works. Before you read Head Above Water, I sincerely recommend that you read her first novels in the following order, if possible, at a go "In The Ditch", Second-Class Citizen, The Bride Price and the Joys Of Motherhood.

Head Above Water is a non-fiction autobiography, most of her stories are, anyway. If you are used to her novels, you'll remember her father died when she was really young. As a teenager she spent most of her time (even her holidays) in boarding school. Following that, she married a man who immediately moved to the UK after leaving her pregnant twice.  She had her first two children in Nigeria before she decided to relocate to the UK to join her husband who is forever a student. Her husband did not welcome her with open arms (as she has expected) instead he abused her, left her pregnant three more times before abandoning her with a total of five children. Buchi Emecheta was only 22 years old then, if not less. She lived on social welfare, brought up her children alone, went to university and became a professional writer. All at the same time, with little or no help. In fact, she succeeded in moving herself and her children up from the bottom of the ladder.

Head Above Water is an enjoyable read, however, since it was an autobiography I felt she should have gone into details about her personal life. For instance, her relationship with her late daughter, Chiedu, and her subsequent death. She dedicated this book to her. However, she never mentioned what or how she died of. First of all, I am fully aware that "the death or loss of a child" will always be a difficult topic to expound on. In my opinion, however, I believe it is so significant it shouldn't be left out in an autobiography. Also, she stated that "The Joys of Motherhood", my favourite novel by the way, (and her best seller which earned her her fame) was written straight away after a tumultuous quarrel with her late daughter. Now, you may understand why I might be interested in circumstances surrounding her death.

Buchi Emecheta is what I would call an emotional writer. Writing to her is therapeutic especially during those difficult days. I know she has always wanted to be a writer even before she got married and started having children. However, her "In The Ditch" days (as she calls it in Head Above Water) somewhat evoked the desire and emotion to write in a kind of way that she would not have done in different circumstances. She is a survivor and my inspirational figure. An enjoyable read that I recommend.
Another writer who I consider to be my inspirational figure is Ishmael Beah author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

With this I end my reviews for the year 2014.

Woman at Point Zero, 1975, Nawal El Saadawi ****

Firdaus was born into a poverty- stricken family in Egypt, to an ignorant selfish father and a mother with a dubious identity. When both of them died, her uncle to whom she considered her only living relative, sexually took advantage of her while he enrolled her to secondary school. Sadly, after which, she was decided to be married out to an old widow, who also took his turn to abuse her. The situation became unbearable, she fled.

On the run, she met the owner of a coffee shop, who seems to be nice at first, until she asked to be self-sufficient. He found it outrageous; hence, started the physical, mental and sexual abuse towards Firdaus. Fortunately, once again, she managed to take to the hills.  Freedom regained, she met a woman who "out of kindness" employed her as a high class prostitute. Life turned out unpleasant, expectedly. She escaped.
From experience, she learnt that she could as well exploit her own body to her heart desire. Which, she did and made fortunes. One thing led to another, and in self-defence she killed a man. Eventually, she found herself locked up in women's prison waiting to be executed.

I could not believe that this story was a non-fiction, how can one woman be so misfortuned and brutalized by every single individual she ran into. In fact, it happened in Egypt, some time around the early 70s. It is a creative non-fiction narrated to Nawal El Saadawi during her research on neurosis in Egyptian women. This novel is a result of her encounter with a woman, Firdaus, in Qanatir Prison Egypt. There is no any other title that could have suited better than "Woman at Point Zero".

I am sure that this is no more the fate of the Egyptian women today, or so do I believe. Considering the fact that this was a reading experience that tore my heart out. This novel was originally written in Arabic and translated into English eight years later. The writing style is quite easy, perhaps sometimes repetitious. All the same, I recommend to adults only. Firdaus' story deserves to be read and known

Click here to buy.

The Sabi, 2013, Diane Brown ****

"The Sabi" is a true story of the life of a young woman. Who was born in South Africa, into a family of  both African and European heritage when apartheid was in high gear.

Her father, a generous hard working man; nonetheless was harsh and ruled his household with an iron hand. Time without numbers, he pushed the envelope by hitting his wife and daughter violently. Though, she attributed her father's attitude to the violent circumstances of that time.

"I was born into a violent world. I grew up in violence. I live in a violent world. I experienced and witnessed violence in my home, in my school, on the playgrounds, in the streets, among siblings, in relationships, on the television, among parents and everywhere else. In South Africa violence is pandemic, and it is as common a phenomenon and part of our culture and psyche as boerewors, biltong and sunny skies."

Even though, she was born into a family of both African and European descendant, her looks was more like that of an African woman. For that reason, she suffered from more violence and racism. Perhaps, more than her other siblings whose skin were not as dark or whose hairs were not as coarse as hers. Incidents that later on  depressed her adulthood.

"You are beaten for just being black?......But I couldn’t do anything about being black. All I had to do was get up in the morning and I was guilty".

Moreover, as a result of the violence and racism towards her persona, she suffered from a crisis of

Born In The Big Rains, 2004, Fadumo Korn *****

Fadumo Korn, born in Somalia, went through genital mutilation at the age of seven.

"My heart was racing. My mouth was dry and not a word came out....My mother squatted behind me and held me tight...Hands touched my body everywhere, a horde of hands, pressing, tearing, pulling....The first cut was ice cold. A deep blue pain. A lightening bolt to the head".

Unfortunately, after the trauma Fadumo did not fully recover. She developed symptoms typical of rheumatoid arthritis (Inflammation and swelling of joints, muscle weakness and fatigue). Though, the medical diagnosis was not mentioned at first. Hence, she was sent to her rich Uncle's house in Mogadishu to receive medical treatment. Which marked the beginning of her transition from nomadic to city life. Since her family was related to Siad Barre a military dictator and Somalian president from 1969 - 1991, she was introduced to a luxurious life-style that many people would envy. Inspite of  all that, she was not making any recovery and it was decided that she went to Germany to receive proper treatment. In Germany, she fell in love with a German and eventually got married. However, her sexual life, with respect to her genital mutilation was a frightening topic, considering the fact that she was all cut and sewn up.

"Excisors remove the clitoris and labia minora. Sometimes they scrape the inside of the labia majora and remove tissue from the vagina. They use razor blades, silver of glass, knives, scissors, and sometimes even their sharp fingernails. Then they sew the outer lips with thorns and thread so they adhere. Only a minuscule opening remains for urine and menstrual blood to exit drop by drop"

"Born in the Big Rains" is a first hand account of a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation. A non-fiction that narrates on the psychological and physical damage of such an insensitive and barbaric practice. As luck would have it, Fadumo sought help and was able to speak out. She later on became the vice president of an organisation in Germany dedicated to promoting action to stop "FGM".

Like most non-fictions, the narrative style is clear and simple with an engaging and interesting storyline that narrated on the Female Genital Mutilation experience with no restrictions whatsoever. I highly recommend if you want an insight into the loss and damages of this primitive, brutal and inhuman custom.

For more novels on FGM please click here.