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We have compiled a list of seven books you need to read before travelling across West Africa.
May 25, 2025
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West Africa is one of the most populous regions in Africa, with 16 countries and an estimated population of 465 million as of 2025. This means there are millions of stories and experiences, which can be an exciting prospect for anyone looking to explore the region. As the region’s political and economic union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marks its 50th anniversary, there is no better way to prepare for a trip across West Africa than to read some of its most evocative books.
In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of seven books you need to read before travelling across West Africa. From the evocative memoir of a former child soldier to a thrilling poetry collection that explore queer identities in Nigeria, the region’s most populous country, the books on this list are your essential introduction to the political and social landscape of West Africa.
Read our recommendations below.
Sierra Leonean author and human rights activist Ishmael Beah’s 2007 memoir is an evocative firsthand account of life as a child soldier in a West African country. It highlights the damaging effect of political unrest on the most vulnerable of citizens—children—underscoring the importance of political stability in West Africa and the larger African continent.
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