Children's books by African authors

[ProfessorLayton1]

This is my first post in this section, I am an Indian, grew up in India reading children's books by British authors and it has taken me years to realise that they are not true reflection of Indians and what I was exposed as a child was the British view of India and its people.
I have been trying to expose my daughter (Dd12) to books from other cultures. We don't have many Indian children's author when compared to adult authors. I would really value any recommendations of good African authors ( she has read a lot of African American authors and they are mainly about slavery and civil rights ) from Africa. Any suggestions?
Chinua Azheme( ?sp), Nguzi are names I picked up from a TV programme - are they adult or children's authors?

Hopefully someone will be able to help us @ProfessorLayton1. I've only been able to get a couple of books which are too young in age for your DD.
There's one for ten years and over, which I'm trying to get. It is called.

Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (Nigeria) The description says," Although this book is for older children (ages ten and above), its powerful imagery and magical storyline make it a must have on this list. Zahrah was born with vines in her hair and is therefore considered to have magical powers, despite the fact that she does not agree. Soon, however, strange things start to happen and she must be brave in order to save her best friend’s life"

Blackwell's Bookshop Oxford source it, but I get the impression they buy in from the USA.

So I'm stuck as well. So sorry that I don't know the authors you mention. I'm in a one horse town up North with a small Waterstones and that's it. Looking forward to hearing from others who might help.

I'm looking for new books for a seven year old grand child who loves reading, so any recommendations you have, I'd appreciate.

I think the author you reference is Chinua Achebe? He was a Nigerian writer. I travel for work, so try and bring books back from the countries I visit (Middle East, Africa) but my children are much younger (under 5s) so not sure those titles would be helpful.

In terms of those I read to them to stop me getting too bored, we have books from William Kamkwamba, Dina Elabd, Amin Amir, MO Hadji, Mary Williams (From the US, but fascinating and important as a voice in Sudan), Wanuri Kahiu, Véronique Tadjo (in French), Adwoa Badoe, Cristina Kessler (not African, but spent decades there), and Wayetu Moore . We have others, but they're Jewish folktales from North Africa - happy to dig out the titles if that's helpful/relevant.

We also bought some books in Amharic for Israeli-Ethiopian friends from this site, if that is useful - I think they do a couple in English too.

Thanks both. Zahrah the wind keeper looks promising and she likes fantasy books. She is 12 and a fairly advanced reader. I will check the other authors as well but at a glance the books seem to be for a younger audience.

Thanks so much sergeilavrov, I get books for some under fives also, so your suggestions are really helpful to me, I'll do some research today on them.

I'd be very interested in the Jewish folk tales from North Africa if you find time to post them. Thrilled to hear of them

Mpumi and Jabu’s Magical Day - Lebogang Masango
Mpumi’s Magic Beads - Lebogang Masango
Wanda - Sihle Nontshokweni and Mathabo Tlali
Our story magic - Gcina Mhlophe
Stories of Africa - Gcina Mhlophe

Had a happy morning digging through our bookshelves. So, Jewish folktales from Africa include:

Day of Delight (Ethiopia)
King Solomon and the Bee (Egypt)
The Sabbath Lion (Algeria)
Lily’s Cavern (Tunisia)
Bachelor and a Bean (Morocco)
The Butter Man (Morocco, for some reason I thought this was Jewish but I think it just draws parallels about famine)
The Creditor and the Judge’s Wise Daughter (Morocco)

Sulwe - Lupita Nyong'o
Coconut - Kopano Matlwa

Lebogang's books are more suitable for younger children

Thank you so much Dearload and sergeilavarov, fantastic. Appreciate the folk tales also.
I've tried and tried to find a UK/bookshop but no luck so far. I did find this S,A bookshop sergei They do send overseas and take Paypal payments.
I'm going tobuy a few books that Dearload recommended.
newafricabooks.com/products/mpumi-and-sibus-magical-day-1?variant=32244174553124

We really enjoyed the No 1 Car Spotter series by Atinuke.
Set in rural Nigeria.

Just found them on Amazon @Livingthecovidaloca thanks, they look great.

Most books recommended here looks great but they are all for younger children. My Dd read No1 ladies detective agency and enjoyed it, was reminded of that as No 1 car series recommendation.

There is a real shortage of books for older children isn't there?
Someone needs to start writing....

I’d say a him Amanda Ngozi Adiche is probably a slightly older read, though We Should All Be Feminists is probably an easier read.
If she was mid-teens I’d have said maybe something like My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, as it has some very funny parts, about the relationship between two sisters, one of whom keeps bumping off her boyfriends. Definitely no more inappropriate than a lot of the books I see my students reading at school. But maybe read it first, and make a desicion.

Sorry... that should be Chimamanda

Go to Goodreads and explore the lists, there are loads of books.

Examples

www.goodreads.com/list/show/12430.Top_Children_s_Y_A_Books_Set_in_Africa

www.goodreads.com/list/show/3403.Black_Is_Beautiful_for_Girls

www.goodreads.com/list/show/10744.African_American_Picture_Books

www.goodreads.com/list/show/76543.Black_Children_s_Books

www.goodreads.com/list/show/96059._1000BlackGirlBooks_Suggestions_for_Marley_Dias_s_Amazing_Book_Drive

Alexander McCall Smith has some for younger readers too (but he's not African)
Some of the Heinemann African Writers series may be OK for a 12 year old who is a good reader. Some are very short and were popular with my African secondary school pupils. Some are quite dated though.

Period Pain and Split Milk by Kopano Matlwa

I’d recommend The Infinite by Patience Agbabi. It’s a gripping read about a time travelling teen who is of African descent and lives in London.

Some great recommendations. We have children of varying ages so we use the "woke babies" subscription family box which comes with books for each age specified and some activities for the month. It's really helping our bookshelve look more representative and diverse. The kids also really love recieiving books with characters that look like themselves.

Woke babies looks great, did an engine search and found it.
As does The Infinite.
Thank you.

The African child by Camara Laye.
The Gods are not to Blame by Wole Soyinka
Jaguar Nana’s daughter by Cyprian Ekwesi
So long a letter by Mariam ma
Efuru by Flora Nwapa
The secret lives of Baba Segi’s wives - by Lola Shoneyin. A must read! Hilarious.

All fantastic reads and most of which are recommended texts for schools. All enjoyable reads for teenagers and even young adolescents, giving an insight into life from an African person’s point of view of the struggle between the traditional cultures & traditions and the new western culture. The issues & conflict that brings, usually with a very strong protagonist at the centre of it all. Others just give a good incite into what day to family life is like in an African home. Though one must remember ‘Africa’, is extremely diverse, so best read with that in mind.