Contemporary fiction (Ghana /Â Diaspora)
Before We Hit the Ground by Selali Fiamanya
R320 from The Book Lounge
How much can we truly know about the people we love? Contrarily, how much of us do we let them see? Selali Fiamanya’s Before We Hit the Ground is a heartfelt and gripping tale of family, identity and truth. In it, we meet Elom, who struggles to make sense of the life he was dealt, as well as his sister Dzifa and their parents. Fiamanya’s skill here is in allowing each of these characters to feel their doubts. Through his luminous prose, we get the story of four people simply trying to survive while causing as little damage to each other as is humanly possible. I thought I knew what a sweeping family tale was until I read this book. It is utterly original, moving and incredibly authentic. There is so much beauty in the world. This book dares you to look for it. Riley Herbert-Henry
Contemporary fiction (Diaspora)
Bitter Honey by Lola Akinmade
R300 from The Book Lounge
A page-turner of a story that spans four decades and two continents, in six parts. Mother and daughter Nancy Ndow and Tina Wikstrom are the novel’s two protagonists, who often have the reader cursing under her breath – or holding it in – as they navigate their womanhood among men and in lands that don’t have their best interests at heart (Lars, when I catch you!). Bitter Honey is written in an extremely contemporary style and language, rather like the screenplay for a TV series, which isn’t inherently a bad thing. And each chapter feels more dramatic than the last; that said, one can often see how disaster is going to strike, which makes for some frustrating predictability in parts. It’s a novel that has everything in it – history, geopolitics, love, manipulation, racism, alienation, addiction, the spoils and dangers of fame – and all the subject matter teased out carefully across both women’s timelines. Pheladi Sethusa
Contemporary fiction (Nigeria)
The Crimson Vigilante by Olayinka Yaqub
KES2,290 from Soma Nami Books
The Crimson Vigilante is a deftly written crime thriller set in Nigeria, in which a mysterious criminal – dubbed the Crimson Vigilante – captures the popular imagination as they seek retribution against high-profile corrupt political figures. The lines between vengeance and justice, and between the personal and the political, blur as a police task team is drawn together to solve the case under pressurised and divisive circumstances. Olayinka Yaqub creates a gripping and pacy narrative plus psychological depth as the story moves between different perspectives, illustrating the range of ways people respond to traumatic events and their unconscious motivations to regain agency, to protect those close to them and to recreate themselves. Shivani Ranchod
Contemporary fiction (Nigeria /Â Diaspora)
The Parlour Wife by Foluso Agbaje
R350 from The Book Lounge
A moving reflection on what it means to seek freedom in a world designed to contain you, The Parlour Wife is set in colonial Lagos during World War Two. The novel follows Kehinde, a young woman forced to give up her dreams and live as a decorative object for her powerful older husband. Yet beneath the surface, she burns with a quiet defiance that she refuses to extinguish. Through chance encounters, political awakening and new relationships, she evolves from a silenced bride into a woman who gradually finds her voice – and ultimately, herself. Through vivid and emotionally resonant storytelling, the novel offers a unique perspective on African lives during the war, capturing the realities of patriarchy, colonial oppression, female solidarity and the radical act of women choosing themselves. A bold and necessary addition to African historical fiction. Nokwanda Mngxitama
Contemporary fiction (Nigeria)
This Kind of Trouble by Tochi Eze
R395 from The Book Lounge
Is time our master, or servant? As the misfortunes committed and suffered by Margaret and Benjamin’s ancestors take root at the centre of their lives, Tochi Eze’s novel asks us how much of our troubles are inherited and will consequently be passed down to our descendants. Dancing between timelines and characters, This Kind of Trouble plays in and out of the rhythmic contours of time, often wrestling with its very nature. Can memory, and in turn, time, be trusted? As Margaret battles with the ghosts of her ancestors, the reader is confronted by the question of how accurate memory is, and the torment of related open-ended questions. What happened? Did it happen? And is the present really affected by it? Somila Dondashe
Food / Culture (South Africa)
Wolfgat: Sketches of the Strandveld by Kobus van der Merwe
R900 from Wolfgat
This exquisitely presented book about the first decade in the life of one of the continent’s most groundbreaking restaurants is a timely reminder that no matter what is happening in the wider world, creative minds are able to conjure up something magical – and important. At Wolfgat, chef Kobus van der Merwe combines sustainable foraging for the unique shoreline and coastline ingredients of the Western Cape coast of South Africa with careful attention to the cooking techniques of the people, past and present, of this unique, often harsh but also exceptionally fertile part of the world. And Wolfgat the book is as exceptional as the award-winning eatery itself: it contains an alluring array of unique dishes, photographed by legendary snapper Jac de Villiers, with their origins presented via Van der Merwe’s gorgeous sketches. There are portraits of the staff members who make Wolfgat so special, and a showcase of the unique plants used in the creation of its simple, beautiful food. Plus, there are notes on the carefully considered details: the restaurant’s choice of artworks; its selection of music playlists; its house-made drinks such as vermouth; and even its charming take on pet-friendliness. It is rather early in the year to be calling a publication the best of its category, but if we see a more inspiring book about food than this one in 2026, I’ll be very surprised. Robyn Alexander
