FEBRUARY '25 LIBRARY REVIEWS

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (ZAMBIA)

The Lions’ Den by Iris Mwanza, 2024
R415 from The Book Lounge 

This legal thriller is particularly satisfying because of the heroine – the feisty, spirited Grace Zulu. And the reference to the lions’ den is just that – she battles deeply held prejudice, violent police, a corrupt system, a boss who wants her to stay in her lane, and frustrations with the Church. I absolutely loved her dogged resolve, her deep humanity and her internal struggles to find more skilful ways to channel her moral outrage. The detailed backdrop of the book: the dust, the goats, the envelope of kwacha, the Fantas, all add to the feeling of immersion in Grace’s world. I hope there will be a series of books inviting us back into it. Shivani Ranchod

CRAFT / INTERIOR DESIGN (CONTINENT-WIDE / DIASPORA)

The African Decor Edit: Collecting and Decorating with Heritage Objects by Nasozi Kakembo, 2024
R1200 from Jonathan Ball

In the context of ever-increasing international interest in African crafts, Nasozi Kakembo cogently addresses issues of cultural appropriation, the need to be mindful of descriptive terminology, and the ethical sourcing of craft pieces in The African Decor Edit: she even provides a useful set of guidelines for buyers. This is followed by a carefully researched set of chapters – traversing nine different countries, mostly in West Africa – in which various forms of craft, and some of the individual artisans who create these, are profiled and explored in detail. From carved Senufo stools in Côte d’Ivoire to Congolese Kuba cloth and Ghanaian Bolga baskets, the wide range of skills and traditions covered make this a fascinating and instructive reference. And there’s more! In the second half of the book, Kakembo visits 10 beautiful homes around the world that showcase African decor items. Robyn Alexander

CRAFT / INTERIOR DESIGN (CONTINENT-WIDE / DIASPORA)

The African Decor Edit: Collecting and Decorating with Heritage Objects by Nasozi Kakembo, 2024
R1200 from Jonathan Ball

In the context of ever-increasing international interest in African crafts, Nasozi Kakembo cogently addresses issues of cultural appropriation, the need to be mindful of descriptive terminology, and the ethical sourcing of craft pieces in The African Decor Edit: she even provides a useful list of guidelines for buyers. This is followed by a carefully researched set of chapters – traversing nine different countries, mostly in West Africa – in which various forms of craft, and some of the individual artisans who create these, are profiled and explored in detail. From carved Senufo stools in Côte d’Ivoire to Congolese Kuba cloth and Ghanaian Bolga baskets, the wide range of skills and traditions covered make this a fascinating and instructive reference. And there’s more! In the second half of the book, Kakembo visits 10 beautiful homes around the world that showcase African decor items. Robyn Alexander

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (NIGERIA)

And So I Roar by Abi Daré, 2024
R415 from The Book Lounge

Abi Daré’s And So I Roar is the captivating sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice. Continuing 14-year-old Adunni’s journey toward her dream of becoming a teacher, the novel offers a heartfelt exploration of resilience, survival, and hope in the face of adversity. It follows Adunni as she finds herself having to put her dreams on hold to return to her home village of Ikati to fight against accusations of murder and the weight of deeply ingrained traditions that threaten her future. Through masterful storytelling, Daré blends suspense, cultural critique and raw emotion to address themes such as women’s rights, modern slavery and harmful traditional beliefs. The novel illuminates the unseen challenges many young girls and women face and showcases their strength, offering an inspiring and thought-provoking narrative. Nokwanda Mnxgitama

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (SOUTH AFRICA)

The Near North by Ivan Vladislavić, 2024
R360 from The Book Lounge

The Near North is about the struggle of living in a decaying Johannesburg, and of the rituals that Vladislavić adopts to try and make sense of it. It’s also a beautiful and moving memorialising of a city that is always changing, often for the worse, but that for all its many faults, can still call itself one of the great cities of Africa. Walking around the city streets forces the author to encounter the physical scars of Joburg’s entropic descent into dysfunctionality, but also, in some measure, to understand it. Chris Roper

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (SOUTH AFRICA)

The Near North by Ivan Vladislavić, 2024
R360 from The Book Lounge

The Near North is about the struggle of living in a decaying Johannesburg, and of the rituals that Vladislavić adopts to try and make sense of it. It’s also a beautiful and moving memorialising of a city that is always changing, often for the worse, but that for all its many faults, can still call itself one of the great cities of Africa. Walking around the city streets forces the author to encounter the physical scars of Joburg’s entropic descent into dysfunctionality, but also, in some measure, to understand it. Chris Roper

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