Africa's best books and more...
Set in Uganda and Rwanda, Of Saints and Scarecrows is a love story only that it doesn’t have a fairy tale ending. We are introduced to Beelzebub, a prophet whose parents were murdered most tragically through the machinations of a fierce tug of war between the church and mosque. The real story, however, is not about Beelzebub, but rather about his parents – Sempa and Julia.
First published in 2003, Okorut’s The Official Wife provides an insight into how the marriage institution has evolved in many parts of modern day Africa. The book, which won the National Book Trust of Uganda Literary Award for Best Novel of the Year is written in a candid style and with sharp humor.
Okot P’ Bitek’s Song of Lawino was first published in the Acholi language, before being translated into English in 1966. Winning recognition on two grounds, style and theme, it is also arguably one of the longest and most substantive works of fiction from Africa.
First published in 2005, the book “Do I have to kneel” is about a woman, who goes against all odds to achieve whatever she aims at. It is based on a true story and is a portrayal of what it was like to live in Uganda from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
Ayeta’s Memoirs of a Mother is a good book that highlights the challenges most African women go through to be accepted in society- in many cases forfeiting their own happiness to fit in
This month, Africa Book Club interviews Julius Ocwinyo, a Ugandan author and poet, whose novels include Fate of the Banished (1997), The Unfulfilled Dream (2002), and Footprints of the Outsider (2003). He is also currently an editor for Fountain Publishers, one of the leading indigenous publishing houses in East Africa.
Born in 1961 in Teboke village in Apac District, Ocwinyo studied at Aboke Junior Seminary and Lango College, before joining the Institute of Teacher Education at Kyambogo.
Aili Mari Tripp draws parallels between Museveni’s Uganda and similar regimes elsewhere in Africa and reflects on the implications for institution building. In particular, she raises concern about the impact that hybrid regimes have on the judiciary, opposition and civil society. How can donors keep from entrenching such systems?
Footprints of the Outsider was first published in 2002. The book revolves around Teboke, a village in Apac district in Northern Uganda, where people live in superstition and utter ignorance.
Set against the backdrop of a civil war, this book tells the story of Cassandra, a young, beautiful, independent and ambitious girl who is out to conquer the world, without a man’s hand. She believes that women have more going for them than the subservient role designed for them by society. She therefore wants to be different and she has carefully laid out her plans up the ladder of success. That is until she meets Raymond………….and falls in love!
Published in 2009, Bury me in a Simple Grave is a heartbreaking tale that manages to provide some good teachings on Christianity and life in general.
Set in Uganda, the story revolves around three main characters: Rev. Thomas Matsiko, a retired priest, his good friend Nathan and his grandson Robert. Nathan is also Robert’s godparent. Rev. Thomas is portrayed as a man so at peace with the world despite the fact that he has suffered immensely.
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