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African Short Stories: Twenty Short Stories from Across the Continent
This anthology of 20 stories are from all over Africa, grouped geographically into four different sections - West, East, North and Southern Africa.
176 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1984
53 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
About the author
Chinua Achebe
161 books4,238 followersWorks, including the novel
Things Fall Apart
(1958), of Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe describe traditional African life in conflict with colonial rule and westernization.
This poet and critic served as professor at Brown University. People best know and most widely read his first book in modern African literature.
Christian parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria reared Achebe, who excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. World religions and traditional African cultures fascinated him, who began stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and quickly moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention in the late 1950s; his later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe defended the use of English, a "language of colonizers," in African literature. In 1975, controversy focused on his lecture An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as "a bloody racist."
When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe, a devoted supporter of independence, served as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war ravaged the populace, and as starvation and violence took its toll, he appealed to the people of Europe and the Americas for aid. When the Nigerian government retook the region in 1970, he involved in political parties but witnessed the corruption and elitism that duly frustration him, who quickly resigned. He lived in the United States for several years in the 1970s, and after a car accident left him partially disabled, he returned to the United States in 1990.
Novels of Achebe focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era. His style relied heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. He served as the David and Marianna Fisher university professor of Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
ollowing a brief illness, Achebe died.
This poet and critic served as professor at Brown University. People best know and most widely read his first book in modern African literature.
Christian parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria reared Achebe, who excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. World religions and traditional African cultures fascinated him, who began stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and quickly moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention in the late 1950s; his later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe defended the use of English, a "language of colonizers," in African literature. In 1975, controversy focused on his lecture An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as "a bloody racist."
When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe, a devoted supporter of independence, served as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war ravaged the populace, and as starvation and violence took its toll, he appealed to the people of Europe and the Americas for aid. When the Nigerian government retook the region in 1970, he involved in political parties but witnessed the corruption and elitism that duly frustration him, who quickly resigned. He lived in the United States for several years in the 1970s, and after a car accident left him partially disabled, he returned to the United States in 1990.
Novels of Achebe focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era. His style relied heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. He served as the David and Marianna Fisher university professor of Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
ollowing a brief illness, Achebe died.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 26, 2023
The women carried this. Nadine Gordimer, Bessie Head, Grace Ogot and especially Ama Ata Aidoo had the best stories. Chinua and Ngugi were also good but I expected better. The best thing about this book is it's introduced me to other African writers I didnt know. Overall, a good read.
February 17, 2013
For an African Short stories compilation more diversity should have been included. I enjoyed some of the stories while others like Jomo Kenyatta's felt a little bit out of place even though it tells the colonial story. It definitely assures you of the legendary writers like Ngugi and Chinua and introduces you to more writers who all do a pretty good job of show casing Africa's culture and cultural growth or lack thereof it.
Read
June 29, 2012It is hard for me to rate this book because I found the collection so uneven. Some stories are among the best I've ever read: Odun Balogun's "The Apprentice," and "Minutes of Glory" by Ngugiwa Thiong'o, Other favorites: Jomo Kenyatta's "The Gentlemen of the Jungle," Nadine Gordimer's "The Bridegroom," and Chinua Achebe's "Civil Peace."
August 4, 2018
each short story left me with a nugget of wisdom...very much reminiscent of the stories told in West Indian culture
March 7, 2016
This collection of stories was chosen by instructor for world literature II, it was a great choice. Providing a excellent insight on the literary culture of the African people in more recent years. The stories themselves reflected in to the past as well. We see excellent reflections and allegories to the colonial and sociopolitical situations in the African continent. Up until more recent decades Africa was under direct influence of colonization by several European nations, the initial influence created borders and lines which previously didn't exist, although the cultural identities of the many indigenous groups and tribes transcend the lines. However these lines effect the people in and around them one a government or paramilitary groups argues and fights over control which, revolutionary type action as such that, many coups. Then you have various European settlers and visitors, often entrepreneurs from Europe and South Africa in various regions, real estate, coal diamond, gold mining, farming, etc. These men frequented the many bars, clubs and red light districts throughout Africa. Many young women of the local people became parts of this, sometimes looking for glamour, attention, and money.
We see this reflected in the many stories, in quite a variety of ways from a good variety of perspectives, from various countries; Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and more. From people whose families have inhabited that land for generations, children of colonists (colonist and local in some cases), ones that are nomadic, and ones that put them self in someone else's shoes. In "Gentleman of the Jungle" we catch on to some thoughts and allegories regarding the colonization of African countries and how they were viewed. In the story we see animals in place of the European countries, the main character and his huts as the people and places of Africa, the animals try to force themselves in to his life and to use him and his resources, and before long it is ruined for him, he moves on creates a new hut but then it is over used by the animals, possibly referring to how the Europeans caused downfall and conflict throughout much of Africa when trying to over use it. Ultimately he builds one big enough for all of them and then burns it down on them, this is possibly referencing all of the revolutionary groups and coups that started one European colonizers got complacent in Africa. We see that in many stories they are allegories, fables, with a underlying story or moral, to convey a message a feeling. This is a common method used through many cultures to give a entertaining story while conveying a underlying meaning and moral. It's also common in these to use characteristics like personification. We see many excellent examples of this in the many stories of the book. From many perspectives at that, ones that are locals involved with various local factions, of various social classes, even some that come from the other side, children of colonialists Europeans or even a shared heritage between European and local, there is a excellent of all in this collection of stories, which gives a superb insight in to the literature of Africa which in turns gives insight in to its people, history, traditions, culture, society and beliefs through a great span of time. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to increase their knowledge and understanding of Africa's history and people, there is no way to learn about its people than through its stories.
We see this reflected in the many stories, in quite a variety of ways from a good variety of perspectives, from various countries; Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and more. From people whose families have inhabited that land for generations, children of colonists (colonist and local in some cases), ones that are nomadic, and ones that put them self in someone else's shoes. In "Gentleman of the Jungle" we catch on to some thoughts and allegories regarding the colonization of African countries and how they were viewed. In the story we see animals in place of the European countries, the main character and his huts as the people and places of Africa, the animals try to force themselves in to his life and to use him and his resources, and before long it is ruined for him, he moves on creates a new hut but then it is over used by the animals, possibly referring to how the Europeans caused downfall and conflict throughout much of Africa when trying to over use it. Ultimately he builds one big enough for all of them and then burns it down on them, this is possibly referencing all of the revolutionary groups and coups that started one European colonizers got complacent in Africa. We see that in many stories they are allegories, fables, with a underlying story or moral, to convey a message a feeling. This is a common method used through many cultures to give a entertaining story while conveying a underlying meaning and moral. It's also common in these to use characteristics like personification. We see many excellent examples of this in the many stories of the book. From many perspectives at that, ones that are locals involved with various local factions, of various social classes, even some that come from the other side, children of colonialists Europeans or even a shared heritage between European and local, there is a excellent of all in this collection of stories, which gives a superb insight in to the literature of Africa which in turns gives insight in to its people, history, traditions, culture, society and beliefs through a great span of time. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to increase their knowledge and understanding of Africa's history and people, there is no way to learn about its people than through its stories.
February 6, 2019
This is really good to read, but there are some problems. I found the stories of greatly varying quality. Some show maturity and grasp of the craft : Balogun's 'The Apprentice' and Gordimer's 'The Bridegroom' among the best of them, though 'Minutes of Glory' by Ngugi wa Thiong'o is also very good. Achebe's craft is also very apparent. I also don't think this collection is as impressive in scope as the one by Helon Habila The Granta Book of the African Short Story or as good as even the more localised one edited by Stephen Gray The Penguin Book Of Contemporary South African Short Stories Nevertheless, what this collection does - as do the other two collections I mention here - is exhibit the considerable talents of the continent's writers and it does so in the course of showing them grapple with their subject matter via the form of the short story. If anyone were in any doubt as to the prowess of the continent's leading writers, these are the volumes to show them what's been going on for decades.
It's a pet concern of mine that as new writers emerge on the continent the literary establishment and journalists tend to hail them as new stars without contextualising their work in the long and healthy tradition of African writing. This book - as well as the others I emotion above - goes a little way to showing what I mean.
It's a pet concern of mine that as new writers emerge on the continent the literary establishment and journalists tend to hail them as new stars without contextualising their work in the long and healthy tradition of African writing. This book - as well as the others I emotion above - goes a little way to showing what I mean.
Read
February 8, 2016I chose this collection for a World Lit course I'm teaching this semester because it had a good mix of writers I was already familiar with and a few that were new to me. The highlights included Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's devastating "Minutes of Glory," Nadine Gordimer's pitch-perfect "The Bridegroom," and Dambudzo Marechera's "Protista," a dirty little fever dream of a story that proves South America has no monopoly on magic realism.
February 9, 2016
this book contains very interesting short African stories which in most cases teach life lessons taking for example, the story of Nyagar teaches how greed and contempt can later backfire you in life as he ended up losing his own life because of greed. Also the story of Wanjiru also had a sad impulse on how she lived a life of loneliness and had to work in a bar to support her own life and maybe find her life partner sine she couldn't attract men because of her color and structure..
April 2, 2014
There were some excellent stories in this book but ultimately the inconsistency with the level of the different stories annoyed me. I was disappointed with how amateur some of the stories were.
Albeit I appreciate the categorization by region, it was hard to focus when the themes in each region were so different.
My favourite stories were from Achebe, Owoyele and Kenyatta. Brilliant stuff.
Albeit I appreciate the categorization by region, it was hard to focus when the themes in each region were so different.
My favourite stories were from Achebe, Owoyele and Kenyatta. Brilliant stuff.
January 24, 2010
A good sampling of African writing illustrating the great variety of voices, cultures, religions and beliefs found on the continent.
April 15, 2015
Some stories were easily understood...others...not so much...
October 6, 2011
A standard collection, representative of regional Africa of a certain time period. Some of the stories are very short, 4 pages, but usually have a punch to them.
November 25, 2015
Interesting and fresh perspectives from a great variety of African writers. Their individual voices are very much alive. This little book is something special.
Read
November 2, 2017special s/o to protista damn dambudzo
August 4, 2024
A very nice, educative stories which helps and teach as in this generation
Read
September 30, 2022African Short Stories edited by Chinua Achebe and C.L Innes
This book contains 20 short stories covering West, East, Northern and Southern Africa. Author, Chinua Achebe and lecturer and literary critic of African and Caribbean Literature, C.L Innes collaborated in selecting and introducing this anthology of short stories.
I first read this collection in Senior High School as part of my compulsory reader for English. I decided to reread this anthology to gain a deeper understanding and greater appreciation for African Literature and I am happy I did.
The first thing I found interesting in this book is the depth and range of storytelling. The book covers several themes across the length and breath of Africa. Most of the stories covered the colonial and the sociopolitical and economic circumstances in Africa.
Another thing I found intriguing is how each story is embedded with a nugget of wisdom the reader would have to unravel. I read this book at a young age and of course I rushed through it to pass my english exam. Rereading gave me a deeper understanding of each story. Things I overlooked began to make sense.
Also, each story takes the nature and character of its geographical location: rich in culture and heritage. Reading this anthology felt like a visit to each part of Africa.
I highly recommend this book for people who love African Literature
This book contains 20 short stories covering West, East, Northern and Southern Africa. Author, Chinua Achebe and lecturer and literary critic of African and Caribbean Literature, C.L Innes collaborated in selecting and introducing this anthology of short stories.
I first read this collection in Senior High School as part of my compulsory reader for English. I decided to reread this anthology to gain a deeper understanding and greater appreciation for African Literature and I am happy I did.
The first thing I found interesting in this book is the depth and range of storytelling. The book covers several themes across the length and breath of Africa. Most of the stories covered the colonial and the sociopolitical and economic circumstances in Africa.
Another thing I found intriguing is how each story is embedded with a nugget of wisdom the reader would have to unravel. I read this book at a young age and of course I rushed through it to pass my english exam. Rereading gave me a deeper understanding of each story. Things I overlooked began to make sense.
Also, each story takes the nature and character of its geographical location: rich in culture and heritage. Reading this anthology felt like a visit to each part of Africa.
I highly recommend this book for people who love African Literature
Want to read
December 1, 2023Read so far:
The false prophet / Sembene Ousmane --
Certain winds from the south / Ama Ata Aidoo --2
The apprentice / Odun Balogun --
*The will of Allah / David Owoyele --
Civil peace / Chinua Achebe --2
The gentlemen of the jungle / Jomo Kenyatta --
*The green leaves / Grace Ogot --
Bossy / Abdulrazak Gurnah --2
The spider's web / Leonard Kibera --
Minutes of glory / Ngugi wa Thiong'o --3
An incident in the Ghobashi household / Alifa Rifaat --2
A handful of dates / Tayeb Salih --2
A conversation from the third floor / Mohamed El-Bisatie --2
*Papa, snake & I / B.L. Honwana --
The bridegroom / Nadine Gordimer --2
The betrayal / Ahmed Essop --
Protista / Dambudzo Marechera --
*The coffee-cart girl / Ezekiel Mphahlele --
Snapshots of a wedding / Bessie Head --3
Reflections in a cell / Mafika Gwala--
The false prophet / Sembene Ousmane --
Certain winds from the south / Ama Ata Aidoo --2
The apprentice / Odun Balogun --
*The will of Allah / David Owoyele --
Civil peace / Chinua Achebe --2
The gentlemen of the jungle / Jomo Kenyatta --
*The green leaves / Grace Ogot --
Bossy / Abdulrazak Gurnah --2
The spider's web / Leonard Kibera --
Minutes of glory / Ngugi wa Thiong'o --3
An incident in the Ghobashi household / Alifa Rifaat --2
A handful of dates / Tayeb Salih --2
A conversation from the third floor / Mohamed El-Bisatie --2
*Papa, snake & I / B.L. Honwana --
The bridegroom / Nadine Gordimer --2
The betrayal / Ahmed Essop --
Protista / Dambudzo Marechera --
*The coffee-cart girl / Ezekiel Mphahlele --
Snapshots of a wedding / Bessie Head --3
Reflections in a cell / Mafika Gwala--
April 26, 2021
This book was fantastic. Although not every story grabbed me, many did, and I had again and again the feeling of looking at the world with different eyes, which good literature should do. The stories are of a great variety, and the organization by region helped both show the great diversity as well as highlight some commonalities within a particular geographic area.
A couple of the writers in this anthology were known to me, but most were new. Bessie Head stands out to me as someone I want to read more of, as well as Alifa Rifaat.
A couple of the writers in this anthology were known to me, but most were new. Bessie Head stands out to me as someone I want to read more of, as well as Alifa Rifaat.
May 20, 2021
Great collection of African folktales and short stories, especially since the preferred mode of record-keeping is still oral histories. Keep in mind that some stories vary by country, or even region. But none-the-less, this is a good resource to have if you need to do any research on African folktales, or if you're just interested in learning about stories from the continent.
January 1, 2017
I enjoyed the variety of stories from this book. Need to read more books to get a better idea of styles as there seemed such a diversity in styles by region.
August 13, 2019
im thinking how is this good!
September 13, 2019
Really dense, fairly representative collection #wouldrecommend
October 23, 2020
A well-selected, concise collection of short stories. Should be read in schools.
March 1, 2024
I don't understand at all why these specific stories were chosen for this anthology and not others, I don't get why North has far fewer stories (3 vs 5 for west and east and 7! for south) than the others when I'm sure northern Africa has a rich literary body to choose from. And they're shorter too so North gets 15 pages out of 160ish. Make it make sense.
The only story in the first quarter somewhat worth reading is Achebe's. It makes sense, there's a moral, and best of all it feels complete.
The others felt altogether incomplete. They were confusing, often boring, and didn't really go anywhere.
East is a little better. Kenyatta's story is good, Ogot's story was not my taste but makes sense to be included, but why is Bossy included? It's so boring and the writing gives me a headache. A quote: "Deadwood remnants of pillar post contumelia in thatchwood alcoves in Indonesian plan." What the fuck does that mean???? There's nothing before or after it to provide any contextual meaning either. I am DNF'ing this story and moving on.
The story after that wasn't great either but not as bad as bossy. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's story was excellent, the best one in this collection so far.
Rifaat's story is good. Now the whole reason I picked this book up this month is because there was a reading prompt for a Sudanese author and the story by Tayeb Salih in this collection was the only thing I could find on short notice. It's not bad. Not a favourite but among the better ones in this anthology. The last story from north was fine.
Honwana's story was not that good, though not completely awful. Gordimer's story is mindnumbingly boring, I skimmed most of it and skipped the end. Essop's story is also boring and seems quite pointless. I DNF'd Marechera's story from boredom as well. Mphahlele's story was fine.
How many times can you use the word ululating in a short story??? Bessie Head, what were you thinking? 9 times in a story that's barely 6 pages long. And it's an awful story too.
And the last story was boring too.
7 out of these 20 stories are at least somewhat worth reading, though I remember none of them now. The rest was not it. Disappointed.
The only story in the first quarter somewhat worth reading is Achebe's. It makes sense, there's a moral, and best of all it feels complete.
The others felt altogether incomplete. They were confusing, often boring, and didn't really go anywhere.
East is a little better. Kenyatta's story is good, Ogot's story was not my taste but makes sense to be included, but why is Bossy included? It's so boring and the writing gives me a headache. A quote: "Deadwood remnants of pillar post contumelia in thatchwood alcoves in Indonesian plan." What the fuck does that mean???? There's nothing before or after it to provide any contextual meaning either. I am DNF'ing this story and moving on.
The story after that wasn't great either but not as bad as bossy. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's story was excellent, the best one in this collection so far.
Rifaat's story is good. Now the whole reason I picked this book up this month is because there was a reading prompt for a Sudanese author and the story by Tayeb Salih in this collection was the only thing I could find on short notice. It's not bad. Not a favourite but among the better ones in this anthology. The last story from north was fine.
Honwana's story was not that good, though not completely awful. Gordimer's story is mindnumbingly boring, I skimmed most of it and skipped the end. Essop's story is also boring and seems quite pointless. I DNF'd Marechera's story from boredom as well. Mphahlele's story was fine.
How many times can you use the word ululating in a short story??? Bessie Head, what were you thinking? 9 times in a story that's barely 6 pages long. And it's an awful story too.
And the last story was boring too.
7 out of these 20 stories are at least somewhat worth reading, though I remember none of them now. The rest was not it. Disappointed.
November 15, 2021
» QUICK OVERVIEW «
Stars: ★★☆☆☆
Plot: ★★☆☆☆
Readability: ★★☆☆☆
Characters: ★★☆☆☆
Writing: ★★☆☆☆
Recommend: ✗
» THE FALSE PROPHET by SEMBENE OUSMANE «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» CERTAIN WINDS FOMR THE SOUTH by AMA ATA AIDOO «
★★☆☆☆
interesting start, but that's about it
» THE APPRENTICE by ODUN BALOGUN «
★★☆☆☆
?
» THE WILL OF ALLAH by DAVID OWOYELE «
★★☆☆☆
:/
» CIVIL PEACE by CHINUA ACHEBE «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JUNGLE by JOMO KENYATTA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» THE GREEN LEAVES by GRACE OGOT «
★★☆☆☆
so... what actually happened?
» BOSSY by ABDULRAZAK GURNAH «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE SPIDER'S WEB by LEONARD KILBERA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» MINUTES OF GLORY by NGUGI WA THIONG'O «
★★☆☆☆
huh
» AN INCIDENT IN THE GHOBASHI HOUSEHOLD by ALIFA RIFAAT «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» A HANDFUL OF DATES by TAYEB SALIH «
★★☆☆☆
the end... why?
» A CONVERSATION FROM THE THIRD FLOOR by MOHAMED EL-BISATIE «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» PAPA, SNAKE & I by B.L. HONWANA «
★★☆☆☆
skimmed this one
» THE BRIDEGROOM by NADINE GORIMER «
★★☆☆☆
interesting start, but nothing else
» THE BETRAYAL by AHMED ESSOP «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» PROTISTA by DAMBUDZO MARECHERA «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE COFFEE-CART GIRL by EZEKIEL MPHAHLELE «
★★☆☆☆
that was different
» SNAPSHOTS OF A WEDDING by BESSIE HEAD «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» REFLECTIONS IN A CELL by MAFIKA GWALA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
Stars: ★★☆☆☆
Plot: ★★☆☆☆
Readability: ★★☆☆☆
Characters: ★★☆☆☆
Writing: ★★☆☆☆
Recommend: ✗
» THE FALSE PROPHET by SEMBENE OUSMANE «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» CERTAIN WINDS FOMR THE SOUTH by AMA ATA AIDOO «
★★☆☆☆
interesting start, but that's about it
» THE APPRENTICE by ODUN BALOGUN «
★★☆☆☆
?
» THE WILL OF ALLAH by DAVID OWOYELE «
★★☆☆☆
:/
» CIVIL PEACE by CHINUA ACHEBE «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JUNGLE by JOMO KENYATTA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» THE GREEN LEAVES by GRACE OGOT «
★★☆☆☆
so... what actually happened?
» BOSSY by ABDULRAZAK GURNAH «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE SPIDER'S WEB by LEONARD KILBERA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» MINUTES OF GLORY by NGUGI WA THIONG'O «
★★☆☆☆
huh
» AN INCIDENT IN THE GHOBASHI HOUSEHOLD by ALIFA RIFAAT «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» A HANDFUL OF DATES by TAYEB SALIH «
★★☆☆☆
the end... why?
» A CONVERSATION FROM THE THIRD FLOOR by MOHAMED EL-BISATIE «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» PAPA, SNAKE & I by B.L. HONWANA «
★★☆☆☆
skimmed this one
» THE BRIDEGROOM by NADINE GORIMER «
★★☆☆☆
interesting start, but nothing else
» THE BETRAYAL by AHMED ESSOP «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» PROTISTA by DAMBUDZO MARECHERA «
★★☆☆☆
ok
» THE COFFEE-CART GIRL by EZEKIEL MPHAHLELE «
★★☆☆☆
that was different
» SNAPSHOTS OF A WEDDING by BESSIE HEAD «
★★☆☆☆
meh
» REFLECTIONS IN A CELL by MAFIKA GWALA «
★★☆☆☆
meh
November 18, 2023
books #26 and #27 of 2023: African Short Stories (1985) and Contemporary African Short Stories (1992) both anthologies edited by Nigerian author and professor Chinua Achebe and British professor and literary critic C L Innes. I’ve recently rekindled my college love affair with the short story anthology and what better way to learn about a part of the world I’ve been wanting to cozy up with for some time? (actually, I have anthropology and folktale books lined up as well, along with more short story collections, now that I got a little history in (a few books ago: John G Jackson’s Introduction to African Civilizations - and I’ll prob read more history down the line).)
both of these collections feature authors from various parts of Africa. it was marvelous to get a bit of a tour of some African countries through the hands of some very gifted authors, though I was stunned to find that the second collection, contemporary authors, considerably outshone the first, more traditionally renowned authors.
- themes covered in both collections: hypocrisy, political abuses, survival, etc.
- the first collection included themes of racism, ingenuity, sacrifice, and many more.
- the second collection captured topics of traditional vs western values, violation of the disenfranchised, the effects of war, misfortune breaking those living an incredibly tenuous existence, unlikely friendships, among others.
I’ve always seen literature as a cheaper way to travel and short stories are the stick shift method.
both of these collections feature authors from various parts of Africa. it was marvelous to get a bit of a tour of some African countries through the hands of some very gifted authors, though I was stunned to find that the second collection, contemporary authors, considerably outshone the first, more traditionally renowned authors.
- themes covered in both collections: hypocrisy, political abuses, survival, etc.
- the first collection included themes of racism, ingenuity, sacrifice, and many more.
- the second collection captured topics of traditional vs western values, violation of the disenfranchised, the effects of war, misfortune breaking those living an incredibly tenuous existence, unlikely friendships, among others.
I’ve always seen literature as a cheaper way to travel and short stories are the stick shift method.
January 11, 2025
The false prophet: 1.5⭐️
Certain winds from the south: 2.5⭐️
The apprentice: 2.5⭐️
The will of Allah: 3.5⭐️
Civil peace: 2.5⭐️
The gentlemen of the jungle: 4⭐️
The green leaves: 1⭐️
Bossy: 2⭐️
The spider’s web: 1⭐️
Minutes of glory: 3⭐️
An incident in the Ghobashi household: 1⭐️
A handful of dates: 2.5⭐️
A conversation from the third floor: 1.5⭐️
Papa, snake & I: 2.5⭐️
The bridegroom: 1.5⭐️
The betrayal: 2⭐️
Protista: 4.75⭐️
The coffee-cart girl: 1⭐️
Snapshots of a wedding: 2⭐️
Reflections in a cell: 2⭐️
Average: 2.2125⭐️ (2⭐️)
Certain winds from the south: 2.5⭐️
The apprentice: 2.5⭐️
The will of Allah: 3.5⭐️
Civil peace: 2.5⭐️
The gentlemen of the jungle: 4⭐️
The green leaves: 1⭐️
Bossy: 2⭐️
The spider’s web: 1⭐️
Minutes of glory: 3⭐️
An incident in the Ghobashi household: 1⭐️
A handful of dates: 2.5⭐️
A conversation from the third floor: 1.5⭐️
Papa, snake & I: 2.5⭐️
The bridegroom: 1.5⭐️
The betrayal: 2⭐️
Protista: 4.75⭐️
The coffee-cart girl: 1⭐️
Snapshots of a wedding: 2⭐️
Reflections in a cell: 2⭐️
Average: 2.2125⭐️ (2⭐️)
November 11, 2022
I really enjoyed five of the stories in this collection, and liked seven more pretty well. They mainly describe the feeling of life in Africa, including the climate and the social pressures from family and others.
August 20, 2020
Great book
February 13, 2025
I would admit some stories l got lost, in. But overall a great feel for writings across the continent.
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