Yes, is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future.
Let´s celebrate books! Although our celebrations may look different this year, our hope and faith remains the same. COVID-19 cannot stop the magic of words from writers corresponding readers globally, because it is through art and literature human beings can resignify their knowledge framework.
Our stay-home-and-read-a book recommendations:
Nelson Mandela´s Favorite Folktales – by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales is a cause for celebration, landmark work that gathers in one volume many of Africa’s most cherished folktales. Mandela, a Nobel Laureate for Peace, has selected these thirty-two tales with the specific hope that Africa’s oldest stories, as well as a few new ones, be perpetuated by future generations and be appreciated by children throughout the world.
New Daughters of Africa – edited by Margaret Busby
It has been a long time since a book created the kind of buzz and excitement which has surrounded New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent. 25 years since her revolutionary first anthology, Daughters of Africa, Margaret Busby’s latest volume is a collection of stories, essays, speeches, poetry and memoirs by over 200 renowned women writers. Busby has described the array of contributors as “an amazing party guest list”. With the likes of Warsan Shire, Nawal El Saadawi, Diane Abbot, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie and Maaza Mengiste, one can see why. Reserve a special place for this one on your bookshelf, it’s a must-have.
Dreams: The Board of Dreams (Isarois) – by Oscar A. NCHASO
Travel through dreams to multidimensional and parallel worlds, find happiness between the different versions of you (past-present-future), and successfully become a life-style futurist, learning how your conscious actions could affect the next generation and the Universe.
Manchester Happened – by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
The UK-based Ugandan writer has delivered a masterpiece. This collection of short stories will resonate with those that have left home to seek opportunities abroad, dealt with UK immigration, left behind sunny climes for dark and cold mornings, grappled with the realities of racism. Above all, it will resonate with those who know intimately that the space between “here and back home” is more than just distance.
The Blessed Girl – by Angela Makholwa
Meet 24-year-old Bontle Towe, of exceptional beauty, luscious lips (her own words), two businesses, a penthouse in Johannesburg, a convertible, designer items and a “PhD in Mencology”. In this fast-paced book, Angela Makholwa explores the concept of sugar daddies or “Blessers”. There are many laugh-out-loud moments as Bontle juggles her three sugar daddies alongside her “do-gooder” ex-husband while living the high life. Yet delve deeper and we see she is a troubled character. This is where Makholwa triumphs, for what seems like a fun and frothy read on the surface unveils the sinister realities that are part of the “Blesser” phenomenon.
Also check…
The yellow house by SARAH M. BROOM, Girl, Woman, Other by BERNARDINE EVARISTO, How to do nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by JENNY ODELL, Toda la felicidad del mundo by CESAR BRANDON, Exhalation by TED CHIANG, Las que se atrevieron by Lucia Asue Mbomio and Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips.