7 Nigerian Books Set Outside Lagos

From the deeply communal villages in southeastern Nigeria to the historic towns of the southwest and the northern regions of the country, Nigerian authors have captured the essence of many cities and towns beyond Lagos. In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books that will take you outside Lagos. These selections offer glimpses into other parts of Nigeria, guiding readers on a journey through the various settings that shape the nation’s socio-cultural life.

In far northwestern Nigeria, Dantala lives among a gang of street boys who sleep under a kuka tree. During the election, the boys are paid by the ‘small’ party to cause trouble. When their attempt to burn down the opposition’s local headquarters ends in disaster, Dantala must run for his life, leaving his best friend behind. He makes his way to a mosque that provides him with food, shelter, and guidance. With his quick aptitude and modest nature, Dantala becomes a favoured apprentice to the mosque’s sheikh. However, he is faced with a terrible conflict of loyalties, as one of the sheikh’s closest advisors begins to raise his own radical movement. When bloodshed erupts in the city around him, Dantala must decide what kind of Muslim—and what kind of man—he wants to be. Told in Dantala’s voice, Born on a Tuesday explores the ways in which young men are seduced by religious fundamentalism and violence. Buy this book here.

An affair between a 55-year-old widow, Binta Zubairu, and a 25-year-old weed dealer, Reza, was bound to provoke condemnation in conservative northern Nigeria. Brought together in unusual circumstances, Binta and Reza faced a need they could only satisfy in each other. Binta—previously reconciled with God—now yearns for intimacy after the sexual repression of her marriage, the pain of losing her first son and the hardship of widowhood. Meanwhile, Reza’s heart lies empty and waiting to be filled due to the absence of a mother. The situation comes to a head when Binta’s wealthy son confronts Reza, with disastrous consequences. Set in Jos, Plateau State, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s book is a story of love and longing—set against undercurrents of political violence—unfurls gently, revealing layers of emotion that defy age, class and religion. Buy this book here.