International Women’s Day celebrates women around the world. It is a day that recognizes the struggles, triumphs and perseverance of women while honouring their contributions to the advancement of humanity.
As book lovers, we are celebrating women today with this list of 10 must-read books by Farafina authors who are women. The stories in these books expose us to the complex experiences of women and highlight their strength, courage and resilience.
Whether you are looking for inspiration, empowering stories or just a good read, add these books to your reading list now or buy them as gifts for the women and girls in your life.
1. Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko
Spirited and intelligent, Morayo grows up surrounded by school friends and family in Ibadan. A shameful secret forced upon her by Bros T, her cousin, thrusts Morayo into a web of oppressive silence woven by the adults around her. Morayo must learn to fiercely protect herself and her sister as young women growing up in a complex and politically charged country.
2. The Chameleon Girl by Jane Labous
Soumaya Dramé abandons her job in England to go after her mother, who, in the wake of a quarrel with her Senegalese father, has fled to Senegal. Determined to track her down before her depressed father does something foolish, Soumaya enlists the help
of an oddly friendly photographer. As they navigate a place she is from but not quite a part of, Soumaya meets her Senegalese relatives – and runs into a beautiful older woman who seems to be stalking her. The Chameleon Girl is the story of a woman of dual identities confronting her parents’ past amid secrets, stereotypes and cross-cultural family tensions.
3. Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde
VAGABONDS! tackles the insidious nature of Nigerian capitalism, corruption and oppression, and offers a defiant, joyous and inventive tribute to all those for whom life itself is a form of resistance.
4. The Stress Test by Mojisola Aboyade-Cole
Taramade Johnson seems to have it all. But she is stuck in a dead-end marriage, consumed by her desire for Adam Okoya, a male colleague, and burdened with a secret that could cause her to lose everything. Things start to come undone when it is revealed that the Johnsons’ Marine Compact Bank, led by the tyrannical Damelda Johnson, Taramade’s mother-in-law, is not as healthy as it would appear. A bureaucratic reformer, Banke
Olumide soon emerges and takes Damelda’s place as MD of the troubled bank.
Meanwhile, Damelda retires to hatch a plan that will put control of the bank in her grip again. But there are others who want the bank just as much as Damelda does. And for some, it is a battle worth dying – or killing – for.
5. On Merit by Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa
“On Merit” is a compelling memoir by a high-achieving permanent secretary who is widely regarded as one of the civil service’s finest. This insightful book offers readers a glimpse into the inner workings of the federal civil service, its reforms, and the key attributes required to climb the challenging corporate ladder successfully. At its core, “On Merit” is a story of resilience and perseverance, recounting one woman’s harrowing experiences of surviving a brutal civil war in childhood and reclaiming the years she lost through sheer determination. Through her inspiring journey, Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa (MON, NPOM) offers a vivid and unforgettable account that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
6. When A Past Came Calling by Imaobong Nsehe
When Eme disregards her dying mother’s words, the effects were more serious than she had imagined.
Pregnant and with no means of caring for the baby, she decides to abandon him.
Years later her decision will come back to haunt her. This book tells the story of the consequences of disobedience, the reward of diligence and forthrightness as well as the punishment that always awaits acts of cruelty and wickedness.
7. The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
Hortensia and Marion are next door neighbours in a charming, bougainvillea-laden Cape Town suburb. One is black, one white. Both are successful women with impressive careers behind them. Both have recently been widowed. Both are in their eighties. And both are sworn enemies, sharing hedge and hostility preened with zeal. But one day an unforeseen event forces the women to come together.
8. Chasing Facades By Elizabeth Olushola Adeolu
Young and ambitious, Tayo Dabi is a rising star at Regent Detective Agency where she is a trainee detective. Driven by her passion to solve crimes – even as her brother’s murderer walks free – Tayo immerses herself in the job, delivering results that belie her newbie status. But when Tayo is assigned a new, high-profile case, her confidence is shaken. Lawrence Gbade, a popular, wealthy contractor is murdered in his home, and as Tayo digs deeper
things become less certain.
Romance meets crime thriller in this story of betrayal, rage and the facades we put up to hide our true selves.
9. What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
A dazzlingly accomplished collection that explores the ties that bind parents and children, husbands and wives, lovers and friends to one another and to the places they call home.
10. Manuwa Street by Sophie Bouillon
French journalist Sophie Bouillon documents living in Lagos in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. In this thoughtful narrative non-fiction, Bouillon explores everyday life in Lagos through experiences from her career and personal life. In one unforgettable year, the city was rocked by explosions, evictions and protests. A city that never sleeps put to bed by the pandemic. But Manuwa Street isn’t just a disinterested documentation of a foreigner’s impression of Lagos, it is about love, uncertainty, hope and survival.
Use the promo code “IWD2023” at
checkout to get a 20% discount on these titles. Happy International Women’s Day from Farafina!
About the Writer: Precious Obiabunmo is a graduate of English and Literature at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She’s the Digital Content/Community Manager at Kachifo Limited. Connect with her on LinkedIn
