10 Ghanian Books Every Ghanaian Should Read Before Turning 30
Ghanaian literature is riddled with exciting stories, historical facts, and life-saving lessons. This article takes readers through books that explore Ghana in its raw form, and as a young reader of these books, be reassured of encountering transformative power in your own way. Good books themselves have such powers, no matter their backgrounds; however, this blog is trying to curate the best of all the books out there for you, and they’re ten in number.
1. The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah
The title of the book has become a famous cliche among Africans, even to those who can’t read, and that’s because the title of the novel has come to connote something that’s not even related to Armah’s intended message in the book.
Whenever anyone says beautiful ones are not yet born, it is usually a bed for those who lose in flirtation to fall back on. The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, written in 1968, however, tells the stories of Ghana immediately after independence. It depicts how Ghana has become more corrupt after independence.
The protagonist of the book struggles to remain incorruptible in the midst of the rampant corruption in his young country. Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born is one of the best books to ever come out of Ghana, and it’s a must-read for anyone interested in knowing the history of Ghana.
2. Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo
The book is centered on Anowa, the protagonist of the book, who decides to follow her path, ignoring the one imposed on her by her tradition, society. Even when she knows it’s taboo to do all she does, she still breaks the taboo by doing it. The book explores gender roles, independence, and superstition in the Ghanaian society.
3. Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
This novel tells the story of Sissie, a Ghanaian who’s studying in Germany. She encounters racism, cultural differences, and colonial influence. The book shows what diasporic Ghanaians sacrifice in their pursuit of greener pastures.
5. The Healers by Ayi Kwei Armah
Ayi Kwei Armah tries to draw attention to the power of teamwork, unity, and doing charity work. The author bases her work on Ghanaian tradition to highlight how working with one voice can hasten work and unite everyone.
6. The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo
The book encourages women to be strong-willed and focused, as that will help them achieve their dreams without disregarding them.
7. The Three Lives of Tom Amartey by Meshack Asare
Asare’s works are tilted towards attracting young readers; he uses Ghanaian culture and folktales to draw life lessons.
8. The Last Duty by Kojo Laing
This book is comical but makes readers see good and bad in every situation in Africa. It talks about life in Ghanaian cities and politics.
8. The Housemaid by Amma Darko
This story tells the story of a young woman who works in a city. It shows poverty, gender challenges, and survival in Accra, Ghana’s capital. It teaches readers about social issues and women’s lives in urban Africa.
9. Faceless by Amma Darko
Faceless follows the story of girls who abandon their villages to look for greener pastures elsewhere but face danger and exploitation. It’s a powerful book about courage, survival, and the difficulties young people face in Ghana.
10. Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi
The book chronicles the lives of Ghanians living outside their continent; it takes readers through the difficulties these people face, showing that the grass is sometimes not greener outside.
You can learn about culture, family, and the African diaspora from this book.
Which of the 10 Ghanaian books to read have you read?
Is there an outstanding Ghanaian book you have read and believe should have made this list of Ghanaian books to read? Tell us in the comment section.