The 100 African Notable Books of 2023 were announced by literary publisher Brittle Paper on Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Brittle Paper was started by Nigeria-born USA-based academic Ainehi Edoro-Glines as a new voice in an African literary space that was then starting to show itself on the world stage in 2010. The publication has since become the leading voice both shining a light on what is happening in African literature and also as a publisher of some of the most exciting writing coming from the continent.
In 2018, the publication announced its 100 African Notable Books allowing readers to see some of the most exciting publications from this rock that we live on. For the fifth consecutive year, they have announced the noticeable books with work from African 26 countries, featuring Western Sahara, Mauritius, and the Benin Republic for the first time. The authors range from celebrated figures like Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s Teju Cole, South Africa’s Nthikeng Mohlele, Sudan’s Leila Aboulela, Ghana’s Kwei Quartey, and others to new talents such as Somalia’s Momtaza Mehri, Nigeria’s Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, Botswana’s Gothataone Moeng, and Zimbabwe’s Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, among others.
Genres on the list are diverse, spanning speculative fiction, Young Adult, poetry, queer literature, memoirs, psychological thrillers, middle-grade books, crime novels, graphic novels, romance, the absurd, historical fiction, children’s literature, and more. Notably, 40 percent of the authors are debuting, indicating a significant influx of fresh perspectives. African independent publishers are also well-represented, with Masobe, Jacana, Cassava, Blackbird Books, Farafina, Hoopoe Press, Down River Road, Carnelian Heart, Kwela, Modjaji, and Bookcraft Press, among others, featured.
Please check out the full list by clicking here.
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