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half_book_and_co's review
5.0
I wrote this review on Instagram back when I read the book in 2016 but it still holds true and I thought I might share it here too: I really enjoyed reading different approaches, different styles and different genres: Somehow there seems to be anything from travel writing, memoir, true crime stories, reportage etc.
The genius of the collection lies also in the way the essays are arranged so that some of them kind of “speak” to each other, for examples: Kofi Akpabli’s text “Made in Nima” portraying the particularities of the place he calls home and where all different kind of people live(d) together is followed by Kevin Eze’s observation of the Chinese community in Dakar, their dreams and aims and the violence against the community. Isaac Otidi Amuke’s “Safe House”, detailing in diary form his experiences as someone who was persecuted in Kenya for political reasons and flew to Uganda, is followed by Mark Gevisser’s reportage about LGBTI refugees from Uganda, who lives in limbo in Kenya (“Walking Girly in Nairobi”).
Other great texts include Hawa Jande Golakai’s Ebola diary, Sarita Ranchod’s memoir on growing up in the Indian community in the Cape, Barbara Wanjala’s reportage about Senegal’s only NGO lobbying for the rights of lesbians and Neema Komba’s travel writing which led her to a mountain which is said to be magical.
If Cassava Republic ever thinks about publishing a second collection of non-fiction I’d be first in line to buy it.
The genius of the collection lies also in the way the essays are arranged so that some of them kind of “speak” to each other, for examples: Kofi Akpabli’s text “Made in Nima” portraying the particularities of the place he calls home and where all different kind of people live(d) together is followed by Kevin Eze’s observation of the Chinese community in Dakar, their dreams and aims and the violence against the community. Isaac Otidi Amuke’s “Safe House”, detailing in diary form his experiences as someone who was persecuted in Kenya for political reasons and flew to Uganda, is followed by Mark Gevisser’s reportage about LGBTI refugees from Uganda, who lives in limbo in Kenya (“Walking Girly in Nairobi”).
Other great texts include Hawa Jande Golakai’s Ebola diary, Sarita Ranchod’s memoir on growing up in the Indian community in the Cape, Barbara Wanjala’s reportage about Senegal’s only NGO lobbying for the rights of lesbians and Neema Komba’s travel writing which led her to a mountain which is said to be magical.
If Cassava Republic ever thinks about publishing a second collection of non-fiction I’d be first in line to buy it.
thebookguru's review
3.0
This is a great collection of stories from across Africa.
my fave stories are:
Fugee by Hawa Jande Golakai
Border Crossings by Sarita Ranchod
The Mission at Verona by Beatrice Lamwaka
This book covers a range of topics and issues in Africa today from ebola to the LGBTQI communities in various countries to Chinese Migrants and growing up in a war torn country.
If you want to learn more about Africa and read some personal experiences and accounts then try this book as it is pretty eye opening especially about how horrific some things still are.
this is NON-FICTION so it's all TRUE so the one about the people who were murdered was pretty interesting because of how different people view different cases (if the victim is black/white etc)
i just found all the stuff about the LGBTQI community heartbreaking because they have to hide their true identities or fake being happy or just not be their true selves for fear of the consequences. But there are some stories which give you hope.
Hope you enjoy this collection of stories from across the African continent.
Happy Reading (although most of the stories are dark, disturbing and pretty depressing)
my fave stories are:
Fugee by Hawa Jande Golakai
Border Crossings by Sarita Ranchod
The Mission at Verona by Beatrice Lamwaka
This book covers a range of topics and issues in Africa today from ebola to the LGBTQI communities in various countries to Chinese Migrants and growing up in a war torn country.
If you want to learn more about Africa and read some personal experiences and accounts then try this book as it is pretty eye opening especially about how horrific some things still are.
this is NON-FICTION so it's all TRUE so the one about the people who were murdered was pretty interesting because of how different people view different cases (if the victim is black/white etc)
i just found all the stuff about the LGBTQI community heartbreaking because they have to hide their true identities or fake being happy or just not be their true selves for fear of the consequences. But there are some stories which give you hope.
Hope you enjoy this collection of stories from across the African continent.
Happy Reading (although most of the stories are dark, disturbing and pretty depressing)
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