Books by Africans – Equal Opportunity Reader

[REVIEW] A Fledgling Abiba, by Dilman Dila

The paperback cover of A Fledgling Abiba, which depicts a person surrounded by geometric patterns, is held up by a Black woman's hand in front of a handmade upcycled mural displayed in Roslindale Substation.

(Buy this book here.) Sometimes a writer has to work really hard to take the reader into another world, crafting and creating wonder out of both imagination and the collective fantastic. Other times all a writer has to do is write what is familiar to them for an unfamiliar audience. I think this novella actuallyContinue reading “[REVIEW] A Fledgling Abiba, by Dilman Dila”

[REVIEW] Elite Capture, by Olúfémi O. Táíwò

The paperback version of Elite Capture is open facedown on a wooden kitchen table, next to a delicious dish of greens, egg and tomato. The cover depicts a silhouetted Black hand stealing the dot from the "i" in "elite". The title of the book is all in black typeface except for that "i".

(Buy this book here.) I think at this point we all realize that this idea many millennials have been fed of working really hard, socially climbing, and getting into powerful rooms and important tables to make changes is more or less a pipe dream. It’s not that it isn’t possible, it’s just that it’s notContinue reading “[REVIEW] Elite Capture, by Olúfémi O. Táíwò”

[REVIEW] When Stars Are Scattered, by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson

The cute cover of When Stars Are Scattered, depicting two cute Black boys observing the night sky, is held up against a dark sky by a Black woman's(my) hand.

(Buy this book here) Take a look at that book cover for a moment. It’s cute, right? Two little button-nosed Black boys taking in the night sky without a care in the world, right? Not quite. Omar and Hassan are Somalians living in a refugee camp in Kenya. Their parents are presumed dead and theirContinue reading “[REVIEW] When Stars Are Scattered, by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson”

[REVIEW] The Lies of the Ajungo, by Moses Ose Utomi

A Kindle displaying the cover of The Lies of the Ajungo lies on a kitchen table next to a full blue glass of water.

(Buy this book here) There is no water in the City of Lies. Let me make this easy. 5 stars, ten out of ten, gold medal, everybody go buy and read this now. Why are you still here? Fine, let me explain… This short, sweet West Africa-inspired fairy tale is my second favorite 2023 readContinue reading “[REVIEW] The Lies of the Ajungo, by Moses Ose Utomi”

[REVIEW] La Bastarda, By Trifonia Melibea Obono, translated by Lawrence Schimel

The simple, solid blue cover of La Bastarda is displayed on a tablet, held up against the twilight sky with the moon high and tiny above it.

(Buy this book here.) This is the first book by a woman from Equatorial Guinea ever translated into English. It follows Okomo, a orphaned teen living in her grandparents house in a traditional village. With her mother dead and her father absent, she only has her favorite uncle to turn to when she begins toContinue reading “[REVIEW] La Bastarda, By Trifonia Melibea Obono, translated by Lawrence Schimel”

[Review] Honey and Spice, by Bolu Babalola

The Kindle cover of Bolu Babalola's Honey and Spice, depicting two young Black lovers standing side by side, lays on a pink , red and white camouflage mat, surrounded by a fancy candle, a pink set of earbuds, and a tall pink cup with XOXO written on the side.

(Buy this cute book here.) This would make a really cute movie. Kiki Banjo hosts the hottest campus radio broadcast for Black students at a PWI. Malakai Korede is a transfer student and an up-and-coming filmmaker. Both of them are fit, fine, and have no time for relationships. But when professional opportunity comes knocking, theseContinue reading “[Review] Honey and Spice, by Bolu Babalola”

[LAST WEEK IN BOOKS] All Black Everything

This week I feel like doing an all-Black, all-excellent diverse book news update. Y’all down? There we have it, fellow readers; an all-Black-everything book news update. If you are interested in finding diverse books by Black authors to read, click on the links above or check out the following booklists from the Equal Opportunity Bookshop;Continue reading “[LAST WEEK IN BOOKS] All Black Everything”

[REVIEW] Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun, by Sarah Ladipo Manyika

From left to right; A dish containing red rice and a lightly fried egg. A dusty rose tote bag with a checkerboard lining laying on its side, full of handbag junk. A black tablet is propped up in the open mouth of the bag, displaying the vivid yellow, pink and blue cover of Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun.

(Buy it on Bookshop) It’s rare that I can summarize a book with only one word, but for this one it’s easy–“delightful”. Morayo Da Silva is an almost-75 year old Nigerian woman living in San Francisco. She’s funny, well-traveled, cosmopolitan, active, and young at heart. She was a college professor, a writer, a polyglot whoContinue reading “[REVIEW] Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun, by Sarah Ladipo Manyika”

[BOOKLIST] Earth Is Ghetto: A Booklist Where Aliens Land Everywhere

Yellow brick wall with red mosaic "Space Invaders"-style alien in top right corner.

“Earth is ghetto / I want to leave / Can you beam me up / I’m out on the street by the corner store / You know the one on 15th…“ I’m sure many of you have heard the viral song by Aliah Sheffield by now–it’s the toast of TikTok. If not, take a moment andContinue reading “[BOOKLIST] Earth Is Ghetto: A Booklist Where Aliens Land Everywhere”

[I’m A Writer] Black In Asia, A Spill Stories Anthology

(Check out this anthology HERE.) So this is a little different than the usual fare around here, if only because I’m in the book that this post is about. Yes, that’s me staring at you from the photo above, and the book I’m holding has a little story to it that I’d like to elaborateContinue reading “[I’m A Writer] Black In Asia, A Spill Stories Anthology”