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  africa reading challenge

  Is anyone interested in doing some kind of Africa Reading Challenge for 2008? I've been looking on-line and people have all kinds of reading challenges. The Russian Reading Challenge (http://exlibris.typepad.com/russian_reading_challenge/): 4 books by Russian writers or written in Russia. The Unread Authors Challenge (http://unreadauthors.blogspot.com/2007/08/unread-authors-challenge-rules.html). And so on.
  
  I thought, it some other people are interested, it could lead to some interesting discussion to do an Africa Reading Challenge. It could go something like this (for example):
  
  Read six books by African writers or about Africa. Read at least one from each of the following categories:
  1. Literature (novel, short story, poetry, drama)
  2. Memoir / autobiography / biography
  3. History / current affairs
  
  I could host the challenge on my blog or we could host it here, either way. i think it would be really fun. any takers? i'm also open on the "rules"; we could change them if someone has ideas.

  David E started this discussion 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  David E 

  We could add in that the books should be from at least three different countries, for example. [Or all six from / about different countries, if we're ambitious.]

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    Phyllis 

    I like this idea - it'll provide insight from different perspectives, tribes, religions, etc.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Phyllis 

  I'm up for the challenge! Count me in!

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    rukia  

    I think its a great idea but living in Ireland I've not come across many books by African writers ....but I ll keep looking so count me in!

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    EXCELLENT! I've set up a site to host the reading challenge at http://tukopamoja DOT wordpress DOT com/africa-reading-challenge/.
    
    Here is my preliminary list of books:
    1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah (memoir, Sierra Leone)
    2. You Must Set Forth at Dawn, by Wole Soyinka (memoir, Nigeria)
    3. A Krio Engagement and Other Stories, by Nana Grey-Johnson (short stories, The Gambia)
    4. Jaime Bunda, Secret Agent, by Pepetela (mystery, Angola)
    5. I Will Marry When I Want, by Thiong’o (play, Kenya)
    6. States and Power in Africa, by Herbst (political analysis, continent-wide)

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  beachlover20855 

  Hi
  Count me in.
  I will go to your site.
  

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  jboogie19 

  I love this idea. It will inspire me to branch out and force me to put a dent in my TBR pile. Count me in! I'll be reading the following books:
  
  Novels
  1) Measuring Time by Helon Habila (Nigeria)
  2) Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
  3) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
  4) Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)
  5) The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi (Nigeria)
  6) Links by Nuruddin Farah (Somalia)
  
  *Ok, I have quite a few novels about Nigeria. lol.
  
  Memoirs
  7) To My Children's Children by Sindiwe Magona (South Africa)
  
  Current Affairs
  8) Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur anf Beyond by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast (Sudan)
  9) We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch (Rwanda) - I never finished this one, so I'll re-read it.
  

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    Awesome list. I'll be excited to hear what you think! I loved Half of a Yellow Sun. If you post your list on your blog, then I will link to it from the Master Africa-Reading-Challenge page: http://tukopamoja.wordpress.com/africa-reading-challenge/.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    beachlover20855 

    You have a great fiction list. I have read them all except for "Links". I look forward to your comments on them.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    FKnabe 

    I read Measuring Time (as well as Yellow Sun and Things Fall Apart) and liked it a lot. Hope you get to it soon.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  beachlover20855 

  Ok - I have made my list. Here goes:
  
  Novels
  1. Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta (Yoruba - Nigeria)
  2. Ancestor Stones by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
  3. Secrets by Nuruddin Farah (Somalia)
  
  Memoirs
  4. Unbowed: A Memoir by Wangari Mantha (Kenya)
  5. Lose Your Mother- A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route by Saidiya Hartman (Ghana)
  6. The Devil That Danced on the Water by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
  7. When A Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin (Zimbabwe)
  
  History
  8. The Fate of Africa - A History of Fifty Years of Independence by Martin Meredith (African continent)
  
  Since I am a fiction reader I am sure that I will be adding more fiction books. But the non-fiction books have been sitting on my shelf so this is a good way to actually get them read.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    This looks great. I will be excited to see how you enjoy them. I hope to read some Forna this eyar as well (you've got 2! that's awesome)

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    FKnabe 

    great selection.
    
    I read a few from your list and others remind me that I intended to read them too. Unbowed is awesome for sure. I have started Meredith but got sidetracked and have to get back to it. I was reading in parallel with Guy Arnold's Africa - A Modern History. It is interesting to compare one chapter (country or time period) at a time.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    beachlover20855 

    FKnabe -
    I understand about the Meredith book as I have been reading it over a long time - I read one chapter at a time every couple of days. Phyllis, who is also part of this reading challenge, is also picking up this book. I will look into getting the Arnold book.
    

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Phyllis 

  Here's what I've come up with so far -- all subject to change as I make new discoveries of what's out there (smile):
  
  Literature (novel, short story, poetry, drama)
  •Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
  •No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe
  •Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi Wa'Thiong'O
  
  Memoir / autobiography / biography
  •What Is The What by David Eggers (Sudan) – In Progress
  •The Devil That Danced on the Water by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
  •TBD
  
  History / current affairs
  •The Arab Invasion of Egypt and the Last 30 years of the Roman Dominion by Alfred J. Butler
  •TBD
  •TBD
  

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    i loved what is the what, and i've been afraid to start wizard of the crow (i really like th'iong'o - petals of blood - but wizard of the crow has been long enough to daunt me). i look forward to hearing your experiences.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  lioness7 

  I think that this is a wonderful challenge! I read books by African authors all the time! I am taking part in a 50 book challenge on Shelfari and Nappturality so this will allow me to keep track of the African authors that I am reading for the challenge. I will return with my list of books and authors!
  
  Peace & Blessings!

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Fitsame T 

  Sounds fantastic , I am definately in .
  Here are my lists
  1. Waiting for the Barbarian(J.Cotezee)
  2. The Beautful ones are not yet born( Ayi Kwei Armah)
  3. The Socialist witch doctor and other stories (Huma Tuma)
  4. Nervous Conditon (Tsitsi Dangarembga)
  5. when rain cloud gathers (Bessie Head)
  

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    This looks liks an awesome list. i'm very interested to hear as you go on!

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  iamnasra 

  I have only few books about africa but not african author but the theme is Africa is that okay..Im also Afro Arab who just published a book in my country Oman about women in Tanzania with cancer and working to set the launch in Tanzania ...which a true stories on Tanzanian women overcoming cancer and poetry in english and swahili ...I could submit that to anyone would like to read it...

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    David E 

    African authorship is not a requirement. Your book sounds very interesting; where can I find a copy?

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  FKnabe 

  great idea David, and good selection by you and others.
  
  here is my preliminary list
  
  Novels:
  
  Adichie - Purple Hibiscus
  Forna - Ancestor's Stone
  Wa Thiong'o - Wizzard of the Crow
  Cyprian Ekwensi – People of the City (and probably one other)
  Onyekachi Wambu - Under the Talking Tree
  Helen Oyeyemi – Icarus Girl
  Uzodinma Iweala – Beast of Nations
  Jose Eduardo Agualusa – The Book of Chameleons (if I can find it)
  
  History/Current Affairs/etc.
  Michela Wrong I didn't do it for you
  Nicholas Saxson Poisoned Wells – The Dirty Politics of African Oil
  William Powers Blue Clay People
  And probably a few more…
  

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Bohemianvegan 

  I should take the challenge. I know very little about African writing. I should look at the examples listed here. All I have read is Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart".
  I do own Paul Theroux's "Dark Star Safari". He's originlly from Medford, Massachusetts though.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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