Books Set in Africa
Whether you found this list searching for the best books set in Africa or you are participating in the Book Voyage reading challenge, you’ll find great titles on our list of books set on this vast continent.
The African Continent: Its Geography, People, and Biodiversity
Africa is the second-largest continent by geographic area and also the second-largest population (1.2 billion people) after Asia in both cases. All too often in the Western world, we hear Africa described as if it is one homogenous place and the “African people” described as if they are all part of a common group. It’s important to remember that Africa is, in fact, a huge, heterogeneous continent. There are 55 member countries of the African Union, more than 3,000 different ethnic groups, and more than 2000 languages spoken.
In addition to the diversity of its people and cultures, Africa is also rich in biodiversity. This continent is home to at least one-fifth of all known species of mammals, birds, and plants, as well as a wide variety of ecosystems, including deserts, drylands, savannahs, tropical forests, and mangrove forests. As a result of many factors, including population growth, agricultural practices, rapid urbanization, and illegal wildlife trafficking, Africa’s biodiversity is at serious risk, and it has been estimated that by 2100, as many as 50% of its mammal and bird species could disappear. This makes conservation-friendly development an important priority.
Does This Book List Include a Book for Every African Country?
Due to the very large number of African countries and our desire to keep our list of recommended books to a manageable length, we have not included a book on the list for every African country. Instead, we have broken our reading into the five geographic regions as recognized by the African Union, and have curated a diverse list of books representing each region.
The Regions of Africa
The following is a list of the African regions, and the countries that make up each region, as currently recognized by the African Union.
- Northern Africa: Algeria*, Egypt*, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Tunisia
- Western Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo
- Central Africa: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe
- Eastern Africa: Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda
- Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
*Note that we include the Northern African countries of Algeria and Egypt on the reading list for the Middle Eastern geopolitical region, and therefore have not included books from these two countries on the reading list below.
What Kind of Books are Included On This List?
While no one book can possibly capture the diversity of an entire continent, we hope that our recommendations below will serve as a good starting point as you begin to explore the various regions and countries of Africa, and will pique your interest to learn more.
Our list of books set in Africa includes historical fiction, contemporary fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs that will illustrate the vast diversity and beauty of this continent.
The Best Books Set in Africa
Books Set in Northern Africa
We previously included the Northern African countries of Algeria and Egypt on the reading list for the Middle Eastern geopolitical region, and therefore have not included books from these two countries on the reading list below.
The Storyteller of Casablanca
Book Summary
In 1941, after France fell to Nazi occupation, a 12-year-old girl named Josie fled to Casablanca, Morocco, with her family while awaiting safe passage to the US. The sights, sounds, and smells of Casablanca are completely different from everything Josie has ever known, but she loves it.
Seventy years later, Zoe arrives in Morocco to start an expat life with her husband and baby daughter. Below the floorboards of her daughter’s bedroom, she discovers a wooden box and a diary that once belonged to Josie. As Zoe reads about the Casablanca of the past through Josie’s diary, it changes both her perspective and her attitude.
The Book Girls Say…
Nineteenth-century historical fiction fans will also want to consider The Lioness of Morocco, which is available free with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/17/22. Set in the 1800s, this novel includes elements of mystery/suspense as well as romance. The descriptions of Morocco are particularly strong in this book!
If you’d rather read a non-fiction book set in Morocco and you enjoy memoir-style works like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, then we recommend The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca. Tahir Shah spent summer vacations in Morocco as a child and dreamed of escaping dreary London and moving his family to the sunny city of Casablanca. To put his plan into action, he purchases a crumbling mansion called Dar Khalifa, which was once home to the city’s spiritual leader, the Caliph.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Ardent Swarm
Book Summary
This modern parable was written by an award-winning Tunisian author. He weaves the story of a beekeeper, Sidi, into a tale about the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Sidi is heartbroken when he wakes up one morning to find that his beloved bees have been attacked by a swarm of hornets. The killer hornets aren’t native to the area, and Sidi must figure out where they came from and how they can be stopped.
His journey takes him out of his village and into the city, where he encounters those impacted by the Arab Spring, uprisings that took place between 2010-2011 in Tunisia (and spread to other nations).
Books Set in Western Africa
Nightbloom
Book Summary
This Ghanaian novel illustrates the power of female friendship and vividly portrays class and family life in Ghana.
Cousins Selasi and Akorfa grew up together as young girls. Though inseparable, they had vastly different personalities – Selasi is exuberant and funny, while Akorfa is quiet and studious. They shared everything, including their hopes and dreams, secrets, and private jokes.
But then Salasi becomes hostile and quiet, her grades suffer, and shuts Akorfa out. Meanwhile, Akorfa continues to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. She is accepted into an American university but encounters racism in ways she never expected. It takes a crisis to finally bring the two back together, revealing secrets and reckoning with their estrangement.
The Book Girls Say…
Peace Adzo Medie is a Ghanaian author, a former research fellow at the University of Ghana, and a current lecturer in gender and international politics at the University of Bristol in England. Born in Liberia, Peace holds a BA in geography from the University of Ghana and a PhD in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.
She is also the author of the 2020 Reese’s Book Club pick, His Only Wife, which is also set in Ghana.
Homegoing
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This multi-generation epic follows the divergent paths of two half-sisters born in 18th century Ghana and their descendants over 300 years. Effia marries a wealthy Englishman and lives in a castle, but she doesn’t know Esi is imprisoned in the dungeon below. Esi is sold in the slave trade and shipped to America, where she, her children, and her grandchildren are raised in slavery.
The book continues to follow each generation of both Effia and Esi all the way to the present day and includes a range of historical time periods, including the American Civil War and the Jazz Age.
The Book Girls Say…
Despite this long history, the book is only 305 pages, so not a traditional epic with extensive storylines for each generation. Instead, each chapter introduces a new character, and reads more like a series of short stories. Some readers are disappointed that not every chapter/character has a full arc and conclusion.
Author Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana and raised in Huntsville, Alabama.
WARNING: This book contains graphic scenes of sexual and physical abuse, along with adult language.
We also found a second book that spans both Ghana and Alabama called The Scent of Burnt Flowers. The description sounds fascinating, but the reviews are a bit lower than we hoped.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Missing American
Book Summary
Emma Djan dreamed of working her way up in the police department, just like her late father did. But when, at age 26, that dream crashes down around her, a former colleague gets her an interview with a private detective agency.
Gordon, a middle-aged widower from Washington D.C., found solace in an internet support group. There he also befriended a young Ghanaian widow. When her sister is in a car accident, he’s eager to help and sends thousands of dollars to help cover the hospital bills. Gordon then travels to Ghana to surprise the new love of his life. When he goes missing, his son Derek chases after him, fearing for his father’s life.
Emma’s first case – tracking down Gordon – will lead her into the depths of the email scams of Ghana, the world’s Internet capital.
The Book Girls Say…
This mystery thriller is the first in the Emma Djan Investigations series. The books each read as a standalone, but some of our readers are already anticipating the release of the fourth book in the series. The author has written another series called Darko Dawson, which also comes highly recommended by our readers – especially the third in the series, Murder at Cape Three Points.
Author Kwei Quartey was born in Ghana to a Ghanaian father and an African-American mother, both of whom were college professors. He began writing crime novellas at age 8 or 9 before his interest shifted to medicine. He began medical school in Ghana and then transferred to the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington D.C. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine, he returned to his love of writing by attending a weekly creative writing group. He now lives and writes in California but sets each of his crime novels in his home country of Ghana.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Author Ismael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. In 1991, when he was just 11, a violent civil war began. By the time he was 13, his parents and two brothers were killed, leaving him to be forcefully recruited as one of the child soldiers many of us were devastated to see in news reports about the war.
Two years later, he was successfully rescued by UNICEF. In 1996, at only 16 years old, he spoke to the UN about the war and its impact on children. At 27, he released this memoir to share his journey with the world. Since the release and acclaim of his memoir, Ismael Beah has published two fiction titles and continues to advocate for children in conflict zones around the world.
The Book Girls Say…
Be sure to also check out Ishmael Beah’s 2020 fiction, Little Family (set in an unnamed African nation), and 2014 Radiance of Tomorrow (set in Sierra Leone).
No Heaven for Good Boys
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
When 6-year-old Ibrahimah is sent from his rural village to the busy city of Dakar, his parents are told he’ll be studying the Koran under a highly respected teacher, along with his cousin, Etienne. Instead of learning, Ibrahimah and Etienne are forced to beg in the streets, turning the funds over to their teacher.
To survive, the cousins must work together and navigate endless dangers as they try to escape back to their homes. The story is fiction but based on real incidents from Senegal.
The Book Girls Say…
This book includes themes of child abuse and human trafficking that, while based on true experiences, some find difficult to read.
Author Keisha Bush was born in Boston, but worked in Senegal before changing careers from finance to writing.
The Bitter Side of Sweet
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
In this compelling YA novel, fifteen-year-old Amadou and his eight-year-old brother live as modern-day slaves on a chocolate plantation in Ivory Coast, which produces 40% of the world’s chocolate. They left home two years earlier for a seasonal job, and have been held captive ever since, forced to meet quotas or go without food.
Everything changes when the first girl arrives at the plantation, Khadija is different. Instead of trying to just survive, she’s determined to fight back and escape. While her bravery causes complications for the brothers, it also re-inspires their will to make it back home to Mali.
The Book Girls Say…
Although this is a fictional story, it mirrors the horrific realities of many present-day chocolate plantations. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book as she shares more information on this vital issue. The Bitter Side of Sweet contains some harrowing scenes, but they aren’t overly graphic because the intended audience is 12+.
Author Tara Sullivan was born in India, then spent her childhood in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. She received a BA in Spanish literature and cognitive science from the University of Virginia and a MA/MPA in nonprofit management and international studies from Indiana University. She is also the author of Golden Boy, about a 13-year-old boy living with albinism in Tanzania.
The Girl With the Louding Voice
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Adunni is a 14-year-old girl living in poverty in a Nigerian village. She loves school and knows that learning all she can is the key to achieving a better life. But, despite promising to allow Adunni’s schooling to continue after her mother’s death, Adunni’s father makes a decision that ends her education in the village and changes the trajectory of her life.
You’ll be moved to both tears and cheers as Adunni endures and overcomes heartbreaking challenges while remaining focused on her dream of an education.
The Book Girls Say…
PICK THIS ONE! We would both give this one more than 5 stars if we could, and really hope that Abi Daré writes a sequel so we can see the next phase in Adunni’s life. Update: Abi Daré’s new book, And So I Roar, is scheduled for release in August of 2024. While it’s not listed as a sequel, the book description indicates that we will see more of Adunni!
While we didn’t experience this ourselves, some readers struggle with the dialect in either audio or written form, but find that the other form works well for them (ie: if the audio isn’t working for you, try reading and vice versa). The main character, Adunni, tells the story using her limited English, and one of the beautiful parts of the writing is that you can see her improvements over time.
Author Abi Daré grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and now lives in the UK. She studied law, international project management (M.Sc.), and creative writing (MA).
The Middle Daughter
Book Summary
This novel is a modern reimagining of the myth of Hades and Persophone set within a Nigerian family.
Nani is just 17 years old when she loses her older sister, followed soon after by her father. She doesn’t feel understood by her mother or her remaining sister, but she finds comfort in a handsome, itinerant preacher who offers her a new place to belong. It’s not long before she finds herself in an abusive marriage and estranged from her family. Will she be able to find the courage to break free without losing her children?
The Book Girls Say…
Nigerian-born author Chika Unigwe writes in both English and Dutch. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an MA from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and a PhD from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands. She currently lives in Belgium with her husband and children.
Dazzling
Book Summary
This novel tells of the otherworldly experiences of Ozoemena and Treasure, two friends who meet at a boarding school in upcountry Nigeria after experiencing tragedies in their families.
The book, which draws heavily from West African folklore, alternates between the stories of these two girls. Treasure’s father died, and her uncles took everything. She meets a man whose feet over above the ground and who promises to bring her father back in exchange for a terrible promise. Ozoemena’s uncle, Odiogo, was murdered. Odiogo was a vessel for a leopard spirit which has now transferred to Ozoemena. This makes it especially difficult for a young girl just trying to fit in at a new boarding school.
The Book Girls Say…
Author Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ was born in Nottinghamshire, England and raised in Nigeria. She attended two different Nigerian boarding schools before going on to attend Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England. She currently lives in East Sussex, England.
Half of a Yellow Sun
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
In 1967, a portion of southern Nigeria declared independence as the Republic of Biafra. However, peaceful talks soon turned into violence as the leader of Nigeria refused to recognize their status. This fictional book tells the story of three characters, spanning a decade around the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War.
The first character is Ugwa, a 13-year-old houseboy to a professor. The professor’s mistress, Olanna, and Richard, who is in love with Olanna’s twin sister, round out the core character who must run for their lives together as Nigerian troops advance. Will these characters with different ideals and social rankings stick together or abandon their loyalties to save themselves?
The Book Girls Say…
With books translated into over 30 languages, we knew Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would have a spot on our Africa list. Her novel, Purple Hibiscus, is also set in Nigeria. If you finish Half of a Yellow Sun and are interested in learning more about the year after the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War, the book Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta is set in 1971, the year after the war.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Additional Titles Set in Nigeria
There are so many excellent titles set in Nigeria that we had difficulty narrowing it down for this list. A few others that are worth your consideration are:
- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi (Nigerian author); Warning: there are some graphic adult scenes, including sexual assault.
- Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku (Nigerian author); collection of short stories
- Dele Weds Destiny by Tomi Obaro (Nigerian heritage; grew up in Gambia); three college friends reunite in Lagos after thirty years for an opulent wedding
- There Was a Country by Chinua Achebe (Nigerian author)
- The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoenyin (Nigerian-born author); also available as a play (orange cover version)
Books Set in Central Africa
Small Country
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Set in 1992, this short, semi-autobiographical novel is the coming-of-age story of Gabriel, aka Gabby. He is a ten-year-old living in Burundi with a French father and a Rwandan mother. Life is comfortable in their expatriate neighborhood. They even have household help.
Then, genocide in neighboring Rwanda begins. His mother is forever changed after seeing the devastation firsthand while checking on her family. Soon, the violence spills into Burundi, and Gabby is confronted by cruelness he couldn’t imagine in his earlier idyllic life.
The Book Girls Say…
Like Gabriel, Gaël Frye is also the son of a French father and Rwandan mother, who escaped to France in the 1990s after the outbreak of civil war in Burundi. The author is also a hip-hop artist, which leads to a poetic writing style.
If you’re looking for another book set in Burundi, consider The Flight of Augusta Hope by Glen Joanna. As a young girl, Augusta spins the globe and settles on her favorite country (based only on its name): Burundi. As an adult, she’s determined to finally figure out where she belongs – even if that place is half a world away. While only part of this book is set in Burundi, and the location jumps back and forth, it does a good job of explaining the political unrest in this country.
How Beautiful We Were
Book Summary
Told through the eyes of a generation of children, this novel explores the impact of when the drive for profit, coupled with the ghost of colonialism, collides with a community’s determination to hold onto its ancestral lands.
When an American oil company moves into the African village of Kosawa, the ramifications are long-lasting. Pipeline spills render farmlands infertile, and children die from toxic drinking water. Empty promises are made to clean up and pay the villagers’ reparations, but the country’s dictatorial government is only concerned with serving its own interests. The struggle went on for decades, but ultimately, this novel shows what is possible when a few people stand up for what is right.
The Book Girls Say…
We initially hesitated to include a book set in a fictional village (since we typically prefer to focus these lists on real locations). However, the author is from Limbe, Cameroon, and, based on reviews, we believe this book paints an accurate picture of experience in Cameroon and the surrounding region.
The author’s first book, Behold the Dreamers, (about a Cameroonian immigrant living in NYC), has been enjoyed by our readers for the Decades Challenge.
Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa
Book Summary
Since 1996, Congo has been a place of war, where millions have died. Yet, despite Congo being as large as Western Europe, most of the world is unaware of the complex issues that have led to and continued this multi-decade conflict.
The author spent ten years working and living in Congo, conducting endless interviews to try and unravel the issues, starting with the history long before the battles and genocide began. It’s a challenging read but a good choice if you’re looking for a non-fiction book that sheds light on a topic most of us know very little about.
The Book Girls Say…
If you are looking for a fiction title set in the Congo, consider The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. While this book has long been considered a staple of literature about this region of the world, it was originally published in 1998, and some readers say it hasn’t aged well.
Books Set in Eastern Africa
Lucky Girl
Book Summary
Solia was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, by her wealthy and conservative mother. Despite her mother’s stern parenting style, Solia is headstrong and outspoken. Eager to escape her mother’s strict rules, she wants to attend college in New York City.
When she arrives, New York in the 1990s is very different than she imagined. She’s equally shocked by the entitlement of her wealthy classmates and the poverty she sees elsewhere in the city. Her sheltered upbringing in Kenya shielded her from many of the harsh realities of racism, so it comes as a shock when she experiences it for the first time in America – the place she envisioned to be the golden land of opportunity.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Chasing Lemurs: My Journey into the Heart of Madagascar
Book Summary
This memoir shares the author’s unique experiences traveling to Madagascar as part of her biological anthropology studies. She went to set up a research site in a remote region to learn more about lemurs. However, everything seemed to go wrong along the way despite careful planning. Although the trip was more of an adventure than expected, she was still able to experience some of the rare lemurs only present in this remote forest region.
The book is part adventure, part self-discovery, and a full experience of this beautiful and ecologically diverse island country.
The Book Girls Say…
While this book is available in Kindle form, you probably won’t find this one at the library. However, if you are interested in learning about Madagascar’s wildlife, landscape, and people, this is a great option.
One of our readers said: “The author includes various bits about the history, culture, language, and ecology of the island nation throughout, which is just enough and written well enough not to slow the flow of reading.”
Book Summary
This memoir – from Nobel Peace Prize-winning Wangari Maathai – recounts her life story, from her childhood in a rural village in the 1940s to her role as an activist and a single mother of three.
Throughout her life, Wangari Maathai fought for environmental responsibility, equality for women, and democracy in her home nation of Kenya. These efforts have led to many run-ins with the brutal Moi government and have even landed her in jail.
Her drive and determination also allowed her to become the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a Ph.D. and the first woman in Kenya to head a university department. In 2002, she was appointed to Parliament.
One of Them: My Life Among the Maasai of Kenya
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
While the author of this book is Israeli, she divides her time between Israel and Kenya and has formed a deep bond with the Massai ethnic group after living with them beginning in 2001. This memoir tells her story and how she became so engaged with the community that they gave her a Massai name, Nayolang, which means “One of Us.”
Throughout the book, you’ll be introduced to daily life, special ceremonies, and many Massai traditions. It’s a rare, thought-provoking glimpse into the similarities and differences between Western and Massai culture.
A Girl is a Body of Water
Book Summary
For the twelve years of her life, Kirabo has been raised by the women in her small Ugandan village. She is surrounded by love from her grandmother, many aunts, and her best friend, but she’s never known her mother.
Seeking answers about her mom’s identity, Kirabo spends afternoons with a local witch. She senses that in addition to her sweet, obedient nature, she has a second self inside of her – one that is headstrong and that confuses her.
This novel is rich in the folklore of Uganda and explores what it means to be a modern girl in a society that tries to silence women.
The Book Girls Say…
Note that this book is on the long side at more than 500 pages.
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a Ugandan novelist and short story writer whose work is largely based on oral traditions.
Orange for the Sunsets
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Told through the eyes of two 12-year-olds, this book captures Uganda’s political unrest during three months in 1972, following President Idi Amin’s rapid expulsion of those of Indian descent from the country.
Asha and her best friend, Yesofu, never cared about the differences between them: Indian. African. Girl. Boy. But when Ugandan President Idi Amin announces that Indians have ninety days to leave the country, suddenly those differences are the only things that people in Entebbe can see — not the shared after-school samosas or Asha cheering for Yesofu at every cricket game.
Determined for her life to stay the same, Asha clings to her world tighter than ever before. But Yesofu is torn, pulled between his friends, his family, and a promise of a better future. Now, as neighbors leave and soldiers line the streets, the two friends find that nothing seems sure…not even their friendship.
The Book Girls Say…
This is a middle-grade novel, but we’ve included it on this list because it is beautifully written and provides an eye-opening look at an important time in Uganda’s history that few are aware of.
Author Tina Athaide was born in Uganda and emigrated to London and then Canada. She loved to read as a child, but rarely saw herself reflected on the pages. As a children’s book author, she writes stories to capture the texture and richness of a wide scope of cultural experiences, recent or distant, in hopes of opening readers’ hearts.
What is the What
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This epic novel is based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, one of thousands of Sudanese children — the so-called Lost Boys — who were forced to leave their villages in Sudan. At the age of seven, Valentino was separated from his family and trekked hundreds of miles by foot, pursued by militias, government bombers, and wild animals, crossing the deserts of three countries to find freedom. When Valentino ultimately immigrated to the United States under the Lost Boys of Sudan program, he found a life full of promise but also heartache and myriad new challenges.
Dave Eggers is an American author with many non-fiction and biographical successes. For this work, Eggers and Valentino spent many years collaborating to tell the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Valentino shared everything that he could remember, and from that material, Eggers initially set out to write a conventional biography. Ultimately, however, he determined he could best tell the story by blending non-fictional and fictional elements. By classifying the book a novel, Eggers tells the Washington Post, it allowed him to “re-create conversations, streamline complex relationships, add relevant detail and manipulate time and space in helpful ways — all while maintaining the essential truthfulness of the storytelling.”
The Book Girls Say…
If you are interested in a shorter and easier read about the Lost Boys of Sudan, consider Linda Sue Park’s middle-grade novel, A Long Walk to Water. This dual-timeline novel follows the stories of two eleven-year-olds in Sudan – one in 1985 and one in 2008 – whose stories ultimately intersect astonishingly and movingly.
Black Dove White Raven
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
From the author of Code Name Verity, this YA historical fiction is told in diary format from the point of view of two teenagers – Emilia and Teo. When a bird strike brings down the plane that their stunt pilot mothers were flying, Teo’s mom is killed, but Emilia’s mom survives. Em’s mom, a white woman, takes Teo in, but she is concerned about the racism he will face in the American south because of the color of his skin.
She decides to raise Em and Teo in Ethiopia, the birthplace of Teo’s father, and soon all three of them fall in love with the beautiful and peaceful country. But WWII shatters that peace when, in 1935, Italy invades Ethiopia, and Em and Teo are drawn into the conflict.
Book Summary
This is the moving memoir of Dr. Hawa Abdi, who has been called “the Mother Teresa of Somalia.” When the Somali government collapsed in 1991, as famine struck and aid groups fled, Dr. Abdi turned her 1300 acres of farmland near war-torn Mogadishu into a camp for displaced people. She was Somalia’s first female obstetrician, as well as a lawyer and humanitarian.
She also inspired her daughters to become doctors. Together, they kept 90,000 of their fellow citizens safe, healthy, and educated for over 20 years at the Dr. Hawa Abdi Hope Village – a community for displaced Somalis with a 400-bed hospital, primary and secondary schools, and an innovative community justice system.
In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure, convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology. Her work garnered her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2012. Her memoir was published in 2013, and Dr. Abdi died in 2020.
The Book Girls Say…
If you prefer to read a fiction book set in Somalia, consider The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed. Set in the late 1980s, this novel tells the story of three different women’s experiences in Somalia. The three women meet briefly at the start of the book, and then, as the country is unraveled by a civil war, the fates of these three become twisted together. This book deals with difficult topics, including the fear, abuse, and poverty that Somalians face daily, but throughout it all, the three main characters continue to hold on to hope.
The same author also wrote Black Mamba Boy, a novel set in 1930s Somalia and tells of a decade of war and upheaval as seen through the eyes of a small boy.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This memoir, told in alternating timelines, is an incredible tale of resilience.
Clemantine was only six years old in 1994 when, in a span of just 100 days, more than 800,000 people would be murdered in Rwanda and millions more displaced. Clemantine and her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire, were forced to run. Together, they spent the next six years making their way through refugee camps in seven African countries in search of safety. Throughout the entire time, they did not know whether their parents were alive. They witnessed unimaginable cruelty, but they also found unexpected kindness.
Six years later, at age twelve, Clemantine and her sister were both granted asylum in the United States. But this chance to build a new life in Chicago was not an easy road. She spoke five languages, but English was not one of them, and she had almost no previous experience attending school.
Books Set in Southern Africa
I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This middle-grade memoir all began with a school assignment. Caitlin and her classmates wrote to students in Zimbabwe, and Martin – the recipient of Caitlin’s pen-pal letter – wrote back. And thus began a correspondence that spanned the next six years and changed both of their lives.
In this dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became friends and how their long-distance exchange made them both better people.
The Book Girls Say…
This memoir is written for a middle-grade audience but also makes excellent reading for adults. If you are looking for more African books to read to or with the kids in your life, check out our complete list of Children’s Books Set in Africa, which includes a wide range of picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade titles.
If you’re interested in reading an adult novel that also paints a vivid picture of daily life in Zimbabwe, check out The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu. Unlike many books on this list that deal with major issues like war and disease, this book focuses more on the struggles of everyday life. It has a lighter storytelling style – complete with all the gossip you’d expect in a hair salon – while still addressing complex topics. Be aware, however, that some readers find the characters a bit hard to connect with.
Diamond Boy
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
When diamonds were discovered in Marange, Zimbabwe in 2006, the region changed, often not for the better. In this novel, fifteen-year-old Patson has a normal teenage life, running track for his high school and experience having his first girlfriend. Then, at his stepmother’s prompting, the family moves as part of The Great Marange Diamond Rush. His family goes to work hoping to find their “girazi,” a priceless stone that could change the future.
However, the governor’s soldiers soon arrive at the diamond field. Their action will help you understand the term “blood diamonds,” and Patson will soon be on a new adventure as he first succumbs to greed and then finds himself on a transformative journey to find his sister in South Africa.
The Book Girls Say…
This YA novel is a rare look into President Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe after he transitioned from a revolutionary hero to a tyrant who established a one-party system to stay in power for 37 years. While it is considered YA, don’t mistake that for being a light or easy read. It’s a realistic look at a brutal regime that will help educate you on modern history you may have missed while also providing a twisting and page-turning plot.
In addition to being the author of several books, Michael Williams writes plays, musicals, and operas, and is the Managing Director of Cape Town Opera in South Africa. He began writing “radio plays” while studying at the University of Cape Town and had his first novel published when he was twenty-five years old.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This is the first of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Meet Precious Ramotswe, who has set up shop as Botswana’s No.1 (and only) lady detective. In her first case, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. However, the case that tugs at her heart and lands her in danger is a missing eleven-year-old boy, whom witch doctors may have snatched.
The Book Girls Say…
While this first book in the series is extremely popular and the perfect introduction to the series, the subsequent books in the series (including Tears of the Giraffe) receive even better reviews. This is a cozy mystery series with Precious solving multiple cases in each book. It’s a great pick if you want quick, bite-sized mysteries, but it might not be for you if you’re hoping for a more complex, in-depth mystery.
Born and raised in what is now known as Zimbabwe, Alexander McCall Smith was a law professor at the University of Botswana before becoming a prolific author. Having written and contributed to more than 100 books, his titles also include some wonderful middle-grade novels that you’ll find on our list of Children’s Books Set in Africa.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Peter Allison’s safaris have been featured in National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler, Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, and other television shows. In this book, he gives us a guide’s-eye-view of what it’s like to live and work in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, confronting wild animals and managing herds of tourists daily (the latter often proves to be the more dangerous).
Written in the humorous style of Bill Bryson, Allison’s wry wit is exceeded only by his love and respect for the animals. His highly entertaining stories will keep you laughing, but you’ll also have a much better appreciation for the wildlife of Africa at the end of the book.
The Book Girls Say…
We always look forward to reading Bill Bryson’s travelogues and hoped to find that he’d written one about his experiences in Africa. He does have a book titled African Diary, but it’s a very short (55ish pages) report of his brief visit to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International. We selected Peter Allison’s book for this list because it brings the dry wit and humor that we usually seek from Bryson in a more in-depth format. But loyal fans of Bill Bryson, or those looking to pick up a quick read, may also want to pick up African Diary.
This title also immediately caught our eye because it’s exactly the advice that Angela’s safari guide gave her on her first day in South Africa (that and, “If I say climb a tree, don’t be the slowest to climb the tree.”)
If you are interested in reading about an African safari experience in the form of a light-hearted romantic comedy, pick up Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron. Set in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the author draws upon her own safari experiences in this 2023 rom com. While it’s not the strongest book we’ve read, its unique setting makes it worth consideration for fans of the genre.
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Born a Crime is the true story of Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s childhood and into his early adulthood. His rise to success was unlikely based on his beginning. Trevor was born in South Africa in 1984 to a white father and black mother. His parents could have been imprisoned for five years – or worse – for conceiving him. He spent his early years largely hidden from life outside because his mother feared (with good reason) that he could be removed from her custody because of the apartheid rules of segregation.
In true Trevor Noah fashion, you’ll be entertained while also receiving an education on life in apartheid South Africa. He manages to explain the extremely complex system of apartheid in accessible terms by drawing on examples and comparisons.
When the era of white rule officially ended in the early 1990s, it was far from the end of the family’s troubles. From attempted kidnappings and domestic violence to high school dating drama, you’ll find a mixture of relatable and shocking stories that keep you engaged with every page.
The Book Girls Say…
We highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which Trevor narrates himself. Trevor speaks eight languages and draws upon each of them throughout the book to explain how languages can divide people, but can also be used to build bridges. We found it much more impactful to hear him speak each language with the correct sounds and pronunciations rather than attempting our own phonetic reading.
NOTE: Angela and her husband listened to the audiobook on a road trip with their then 8 and 9-year-old sons. The boys were both fascinated by the stories and learned a lot, but mom and dad did have to sensor crude language and a few other parts here and there (including a Santa spoiler). There is a young reader version available (It’s Trevor Noah) that is appropriate for kids to read on their own, or if you prefer only clean language.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Must-Listen Memoirs
Best Audiobooks for Road Trips
Books Set in the 1990s
20 Books Like It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
A Beautiful Place to Die
Book Summary
Set against the backdrop of 1950s apartheid in South Africa, this darkly romantic crime novel features English detective Emmanuel Cooper. The first mystery in the series takes place in a small town on the border between South Africa and Mozambique. New apartheid laws have created a deeper division between the Afrikaners and the English. Tensions boil over when an Afrikaner police officer is found dead.
Detective Cooper begins investigating, but his efforts are blocked by the powerful police Security Branch. But Cooper has no patience for politics and isn’t interested in making friends. Instead, he strikes out on his own and follows a trail of clues that lead him to complicated and shocking revelations.
The Book Girls Say…
This series was recommended to us by one of our readers who initially heard about it from William Kent Krueger. And a WKK recommendation will always catch our attention.
Author Malla Nunn grew up in the country of Swaziland (now known as Eswatini) in southern Africa before moving to Perth, Australia with her parents in the 1970s. She is both an award-winning screenwriter and novelist.
Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Fifty-something Tannie Maria loves to cook and write – which is why she’s the perfect person to write a recipe column for her local paper, the Klein Karoo Gazette. But when the powers that be insist that the paper must also feature an advice section – Tannie’s column has to meet the requirement by becoming a joint advice and recipe column.
When her column receives a letter from a woman whose husband beats her, Tannie’s best advice appears not to be good enough when a woman matching that description turns up dead. She and her Gazette colleagues decide to help the police find the murderer. But things are not so simple, and soon there’s another murder – a suspected poisoning – as well as a kidnapping or two.
This is the first book in a murder mystery series that’s packed with humor (ranging from slapstick to understated).
The Book Girls Say…
This book includes over 20 pages of recipes and a helpful glossary of the Afrikaans and Dutch references in the book. Some readers found that they understood the context without flipping to the glossary, while others found themselves regularly using the glossary, which slowed down the pace of the reading.
This cozy mystery series transports you to the author’s home region of South Africa, Klein Karoo. When you think of South Africa, you may picture safaris and beautiful coastlines, but the Klein Karoo region (located about 200 miles east of Cape Town) is a semi-desert that is sometimes referred to as South Africa’s outback. Almost completely surrounded by mountains, this 200-mile-long valley is only about 30 miles wide, with the Swartberg Mountains on one side and the Langeberge Mountains on the other. Oudtshoorn, the largest town in the Klein Karoo region, is known as the world’s ostrich capital and draws 100,000 visitors annually to the world’s largest ostrich farm.
Long Walk to Freedom
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Nelson Mandela is one of the great leaders of the 20th century whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him not only the Nobel Peace Prize, but also the presidency of his country. This autobiography is very broad in its scope, covering his upbringing in the traditional tribal culture of his ancestors, his early years as a poor student and a law clerk, his political awakening, his time spent in jail, and finally, his inauguration as South Africa’s first black president.
In addition to providing an in-depth and personal look at the life of this incredible man – Long Walk to Freedom also provides a riveting account of South Africa’s history and change from Apartheid to a Democratic state.
The Book Girls Say…
This memoir is on the longer side at 600+ pages.
If you want to learn more about South Africa’s political history, we also recommend the classic Cry the Beloved Country. Originally published in 1948, this novel sheds light on the racial injustice in South Africa that predated Apartheid. Of course, as with all classics, keep in mind that this book is a product of its time.
The Power of One
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
In 1939, as Hitler’s influence began to cast a shadow across the world, apartheid started to take root in South Africa. During this time, Peekay’s childhood was marked by humiliation and abandonment.
In this coming-of-age novel (inspired by the author’s real-life experiences), we follow Peekay’s life from the age of 5 to 20 – including his years at boarding school, where he endured horrible conditions. Despite all the suffering he endures, Peekay remains open-minded and positive and manages to form some very meaningful relationships with teachers, mentors, and a boxer.
This beautiful novel provides a deep dive not only into the history of South Africa, but also into the world of boxing.
The Book Girls Say…
This book is on the longer side, but readers say it’s well worth the time!
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, author Bryce Courtenay (d.2012) was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist.
The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Set against the backdrop of life on a South African wild animal reserve, this memoir details South African-born conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s experiences taking in a “rogue” herd of elephants (initially against his better judgment). The elephants had already earned a reputation as notorious escape artists (largely due to their past negative encounters with humans), and Anthony was their last hope. As Lawrence battled to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution, he came to realize that they had a lot to teach him about life, loyalty and freedom.
Although the elephants are the focus of this story, readers can also glean much more about life in the wilds of South Africa.
The Book Girls Say…
Angela had the opportunity to visit and interact with a trio of similarly “rogue” elephants at another South African reserve. It was a truly moving and humbling experience, and she immediately started seeking out books to help her understand more about the elephants and the emotional bonds they can form with the humans who protect them. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about elephants or conservation, the late Lawrence Anthony is the one to learn from. Anthony also authored another highly recommended book, The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World’s Greatest Creatures.
For further reading on African elephants and their bonds with humans, we also highly recommend The Memory of an Elephant by Alex Lasker. This 238-page young adult book has phenomenal ratings and is said to be a must-read for animal lovers. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, the book is narrated by an aging African elephant as he goes on a perilous journey to find the humans who rescued him fifty years earlier. The story spans from 1962 to 2015 and spans across eastern Africa, Great Britain, and New York.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
As a young boy growing up in Malawi – a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery – William was fascinated by electricity and dreamed of studying science at a top boarding school. When famine devastated his family’s farm and left them destitute, William’s parents could no longer afford his tuition, and he was forced to drop out of school. Nevertheless, William continued to pursue his passion with the help of books and set out to bring electricity and water to his village by building a crude but operable windmill.
Soon, news of William’s “electric wind” spread across the country and around the world, and the boy who was once called crazy became an inspirational example of human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity.
The Book Girls Say…
Some readers report that the writing style of this memoir makes it a bit difficult to immerse yourself in the story, but most agree that ultimately the important messages of the book make it worth the added effort.
We have linked to the YA version of this book, but there is also a middle-grade version available for younger readers. This is a great pick if you’re doing the challenge with a child. For more books about Africa for kids of all ages, check out our full list.
You are welcome to choose any book that you’d like to read for the challenge, but we hope that this list of books has given you a good starting point.
Printable Version of This Book List
Readers who support The Book Girls’ Guide through our Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) membership site have access to two different printable versions of this book list.
New for 2024, members can print a single page containing all the book titles from each guided challenge list. We will also continue providing the journal page format, which has space to indicate your interest level in each book, jot down notes, and rate the books once you have read them.
Our BMAC members (we call them our BFFs) help cover the cost of running the challenges so we can keep them free for everyone. You can read more about why our members are essential and learn about the perks of membership.
Sign Up for the Book Voyage Challenge
Sign up for our email list below to receive a free printable tracker for the Book Voyage Challenge. Our weekly email newsletter helps you stay on track with friendly reminders while still allowing you the flexibility to read at your own pace. Additionally, challenge participants have an opportunity to discuss the books on this list and to provide ratings and reviews via our book logs.
Book Recommendations for Other Regions
Find more recommendations for other regions of the world using the links below.
- Books Set in the Middle East
- Books Set on a Form of Transportation
- Books Set in Asia: Northern Countries
- Books Set in Asia: Southern Countries
- Rom Com & Romance Books Set in Paris
- Books Set in Australia and New Zealand
- Books Set in Eastern Europe & Russia
- Books That Take Place On an Island
- Books Set in Africa
- Books Set in Western Europe
- Books Set in South America
- Books Set in North America
- Books Set in Antarctica and the Arctic
- Books that Span Multiple Continents