“The world opened to me when I learned to read” – Mary Mcleod Bethune
Hey J Fam,
You know how it is. Growing up in Nigeria, we learn to associate things like eating Jollof rice, getting flogged by our parents, travelling to the village for Christmas and owning at least one Ankara outfit, as being authentically Nigerian. Most Nigerians who live in Nigeria can associate with these. Everyone would start laughing or become interested once a conversation like this is initiated.
But if asked which book you must read to be qualified as being genuinely Nigerian, people immediately become quiet and even uncomfortable. This is not to say that the entire population of Nigerians doesn’t read. As a matter of fact, if you attend book readings or visit bookshops quite often, you will find a good number of people there. However, this is just one quarter or less of the population.
We’ve heard it several times that if you want to hide something from a black man, put it in a book. I am not here to chastise or judge you. I’m here to add one more thing to your list of compulsory things to do to be called an “Authentic Nigerian”. As a true Nigerian, here are the top 5 books you have to read before you die:
P.S – This list comes in no particular order and is subject to addition only, not subtraction.
1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
2. Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie
3. Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
4. Ake by Wole Soyinka
5. Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
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African Night’s Entertainment, by Cyprian Ekwensi, should be here.
Hi Okeke, you can always add to the list.