AfroReads Podcast AfroReads Podcast

The Old Drift is an epic tale of an African nation, told by a chorus that calls itself man's greatest nemesis. It starts with a British man who finds his way to The Old Drift settlement near Victoria Falls in the great nation of former Rhodesia, now called Zambia. During his stay, he entagles his fate with an Italian hotelier and an African busboy. We then follow the generations of these three individuals, where they somehow link again to make their mark in history.

The First Woman by Jennifer Makumbi follows the journey of Kirabo, a Ugandan girl from a rural village, as she searches for her identity to try and find a place in the world. We explore her experiences with family traditions, feminism (mwenkanonkano), relationships, and the changing social and cultural landscape of Uganda during the time of Idi Amin's presidency.

The complexities of identity and womanhood are understood through Kirabo's journey, as well as the folklore and mythology told to her, leads her to have a better understanding of what it means to be a woman.

This episode, we are joined by Mani Mengiste (no relation to the author) who is part of a Boston based African bookclub, to discuss The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste. In her book, Maaza melodically tells a story of a group of people bound by a call to arms by the Ethiopian Emperor Halle Selassie as a result of the 1935 invasion of the Italians into Ethiopia. We talk about the history surrounding this time period, interesting themes in the book, and seek to understand the resounding pride that exists within the hearts of so many Ethiopians.

Check out and support the Boston based African bookclub, Feedel Literacy and Arts.
Instagram: @feedel_litarts.

Book: The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

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At Night All Blood is Black, by David Diop is a novel about a Senagalese man by the name of Alfa Ndiaye, who goes off to war with his childhood friend fighting for the French during World War I. The story takes us through his emotions as he fights in the trenches to survive, both mentally and physically.  Please listen and support the community. Like, share and subscribe :)

This book talks about the real hustle of an American immigrant. The reality on ground, the battles they face in their home, work, and within the family. Please listen to us review this amazing book

The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed takes you through the emotions of a Somali immigrant named Mahmood, who finds himself in Cardiff, Wales. He has three children with a Welsh woman, but lives on his own with the belief that he has made it to the land of justice for all. A murder disrupts the city, and Mahmood finally understands how the justice system might not provide justice for all.