After the long stretch of May, June arrives with a breath of fresh air. African literature continues to thrive, even as it mourns the loss of Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who passed away on May 28, 2025. Still, one imagines the revered author would want us to keep turning the pages of African stories. From grief and girlhood to desire, displacement, and difficult truths, June’s book picks are deeply felt stories that meet you where you are.
Here are five reads that capture the messiness of being human, with all the beauty, heartbreak, and healing that comes with it. Whether you’re in Nigeria or part of the diaspora, these stories are bound to linger with you.
Sanya, Oyin Olugbile (2022)
Set in an empire steeped in Yoruba myth and tradition, Sanya is a bold new Nigerian fantasy. The heroine, Sanya, is born under a prophecy, she “could either be the savior of her people or the destroyer of their world.” As Sanya grows up, an unspeakable family tragedy forces her to leave home. Alone and marked by destiny, she finds that every step she takes triggers events far beyond her control.
Olugbile’s novel is a fresh take on fantasy from a Nigerian perspective. The story mixes thrilling action with deep cultural roots: the prose is rich with Yoruba proverbs and mythic imagery, reminiscent of Tomi Adeyemi’s epic fantasies. But what really makes Sanya special is its heroine. She despises the idea of marriage and rejects the wrapper, preferring the powers and tasks that men claim as their own. Through Sanya’s eyes, the novel flips gender expectations. It’s a perfect choice if you love spirited, culturally rich fantasy and young heroines who defy expectations.
Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2025)
Dream Count is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s latest novel, and it’s been billed as a major literary event. The book weaves together the lives of four women who, at first glance, seem very different but whose stories echo each other. Each woman has her own tale of love, loss, and longing, told in turn.
Why should you read Dream Count? First, it’s Adichie, a literary icon whose novels always spark conversation. But more than that, Dream Count has been praised as “an astute and moving exploration of female experience.” The Guardian calls it that, and it’s true; through these women, Adichie examines what it means to dream and to want love, identity, and purpose. Each character’s story touches on themes of identity (especially as Nigerians abroad), feminism, and resilience. Adichie’s skill is evident in her clear, “feather-light” sentences that carry a lot of weight, and many readers note that every page is suffused with empathy.
The Brevity of Beautiful Things, Nnamdi Ehirim (2024)
This novel is a literary fiction gem from Lagos author Nnamdi Ehirim. The Brevity of Beautiful Things is actually a collection of interconnected stories about six young Nigerians who went to boarding school together. Years later, these former classmates reunite in different cities (mostly Lagos) and confront the “ghosts of their shared past”. The main characters—Kamara, Julius, Iman, Ufedo, Murtala, and Faramade—each carry secrets and scars from their youth. Over ten stories, we follow as their boarding school bonds fray and reform under the pressures of adulthood.
The Brevity of Beautiful Things is warm and relatable. It shows the ugliness and beauty of friendship and love intertwined. The characters are far from perfect, often selfish or flawed, but that imperfection makes them feel human and relatable. You might see yourself or your friends in their struggles: the fear of disappointing parents, the hang-ups about sexual freedom, the pull of old crushes, and the challenge of “living your own way” in a society with expectations.
Season of Crimson Blossoms, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2015)
This is a powerful, award-winning novel set in Northern Nigeria. It follows Hajiya Binta Zubairu, a 55-year-old Muslim widow living in a conservative community. Her life has been marked by tragedy: in the years before the novel begins, her husband was murdered and her eldest son died. Then she meets Reza, a younger man who has gone through similar circumstances. The novel explores how Binta struggles with her long-suppressed desires and how their affair shocks the community, touching on themes of passion, grief, and defiance.
The novel also portrays a gritty picture of Northern Nigeria: political thugs, religious tensions, and personal tragedies. Yet at its heart is a love story about two broken souls finding comfort in each other. Binta’s journey is ultimately about identity and resilience, even at 55, she fights for her happiness against all odds. It resonates with any reader who’s seen how culture can silence women, and it sparks conversation about breaking out of those limits. Season of Crimson Blossoms won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2016: one of Africa’s most prestigious literary awards.
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (2018)
This is a gripping young-adult novel based on true events. It tells the story of Ya Ta, a Nigerian high school student who is kidnapped by extremists. The plot follows Ya Ta’s day-to-day life before and during her abduction by Boko Haram, underscoring the 2014 Chibok girls’ tragedy. When the girls are captured, they are told they must convert to Islam or face death. Ya Ta refuses to abandon her Christian faith, while her best friend, Sarah, chooses to convert in order to survive. The narrative follows Ya Ta (renamed Salamatu) as she endures captivity.
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree gives a human perspective to events we saw in the news. Through Ya Ta’s voice, readers feel the fear, confusion, and small hopes of a teenager in crisis. It covers heavy themes like terrorism, faith, friendship, and survival, in a way that’s accessible. Importantly, it highlights resilience: despite everything, Ya Ta keeps her faith and spirit. The book received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. In fact, it was named among the Best Fiction for Young Adults by Booklist (2018) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (2019). These honors reflect how moving and well-crafted the novel is.
