3.5
How to Write About Africa
ByPublisher Description
From one of Africa’s most influential and eloquent essayists, a posthumous collection that highlights his biting satire and subversive wisdom on topics from travel to cultural identity to sexuality
“A fierce literary talent . . . [Wainaina] shines a light on his continent without cliché.”—The Guardian
“Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. . . . Africa is to be pitied, worshipped, or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.”
Binyavanga Wainaina was a pioneering voice in African literature, an award-winning memoirist and essayist remembered as one of the greatest chroniclers of contemporary African life. This groundbreaking collection brings together, for the first time, Wainaina’s pioneering writing on the African continent, including many of his most critically acclaimed pieces, such as the viral satirical sensation “How to Write About Africa.” Working fearlessly across a range of topics—from politics to international aid, cultural heritage, and redefined sexuality—he describes the modern world with sensual, emotional, and psychological detail, giving us a full-color view of his home country and continent. These works present the portrait of a giant in African literature who left a tremendous legacy.
“A fierce literary talent . . . [Wainaina] shines a light on his continent without cliché.”—The Guardian
“Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. . . . Africa is to be pitied, worshipped, or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.”
Binyavanga Wainaina was a pioneering voice in African literature, an award-winning memoirist and essayist remembered as one of the greatest chroniclers of contemporary African life. This groundbreaking collection brings together, for the first time, Wainaina’s pioneering writing on the African continent, including many of his most critically acclaimed pieces, such as the viral satirical sensation “How to Write About Africa.” Working fearlessly across a range of topics—from politics to international aid, cultural heritage, and redefined sexuality—he describes the modern world with sensual, emotional, and psychological detail, giving us a full-color view of his home country and continent. These works present the portrait of a giant in African literature who left a tremendous legacy.
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesHow to Write About Africa Reviews
3.5
feexider
Created about 1 month agoShare
Report
Mwangi Mungai
Created 3 months agoShare
Report
Akinyi Books
Created 6 months agoShare
Report
“If you're seeking a non-fiction book that will change your perspective on Africa, this is it.
Binyavanga employs satire throughout his diverse stories to truly illustrate how to write about Africa authentically. Too often, when non-Africans visit, they focus solely on their "immaculate" safaris. Where are the books that explore our cuisine? Our genuine culture, free from the lens of backwardness and barbarity?
The author delves into various themes while guiding us on how to write about and perceive Africa.
Have you read this yet?”
Theia
Created 7 months agoShare
Report
Frazer
Created 8 months agoShare
Report
“Massively preferred the satirical essays towards the end - these had a really distinctive and acerbic voice. The other essays were also interesting but felt more miscellaneous.
Not quite what I expected, but enjoyable.”
About Binyavanga Wainaina
Binyavanga Wainaina was a Kenyan author, activist, and journalist, and the 2002 winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. His debut book, the memoir One Day I Will Write About This Place, was published in 2011. Time magazine included Wainaina in its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2014. He died in 2019.
Other books by Binyavanga Wainaina
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
Books Similar to How to Write About Africa
Save to a list
0
/30
0
/100
Private List