Adult African Non-Fiction

Adult African Non-Fiction Born Free : a Lioness of Two Worlds by Joy Adamson Relates the adventures of a lion cub reared and loved for three
years by an American game warden and his wife.
599.74 Ada
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen In describing her experiences managing a coffee plantation in
Kenya, the author provides insight into the nature of African life.
967.62 Din
Playing the Enemy : Nelson Mandela and the
Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin A best-selling story that documents the anti-apartheid advocate's
campaign to unite his country, tracing a ten-year effort during which
he advocated from his jail cell, won the presidency, and helped
South Africa's rugby team host the World Cup as part of a unifying
campaign. 796.33 Car
Tender Killers by Yann Arthus-Bertrand Four species of the wild cheetah, gnu, lion and hyenaare shown
here in striking color photos taken in Kenya by Arthus-Bertrand, who
formerly was director of a game reserve. 599.74 Art
In Search of Our Roots : How 19
Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed
Their Past by Henry Louis Gates The distinguished scholar examines the origins and history of
African-American ancestry as he profiles nineteen noted African
Americans--Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Quincy Jones, Sidney
Poitier, and others--and illuminates their individual family sagas
throughout U.S. history, the tragedy of slavery, and their African
roots. 973 Gat
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates :
the Forgotten War that Changed American
History by Brian Kilmeade The authors of George Washington's Secret Six present a pophistory narrative that illuminates a lesser-known confrontation
between the recently inaugurated third president and Pasha of
Tripoli pirates who openly challenged his leadership by attacking
American ships. 973.47 Kil
Skeletons on the Zahara : a True Story of
Survival by Dean King Retracing an epic eight-hundred-mile journey, the author of Patrick
O'Brien: A Life Revealed chronicles the hardships encountered by
twelve American sailors who, in 1815, were shipwrecked on the
coast of North Africa, captured, sold into slavery, and sent on a
difficult odyssey through the perilous heart of the Sahara. 916.48 Kin
Sahara Unveiled : a Journey Across the
Desert by William Langewiesche Blending history, anecdote, travelogue, and reportage, the author of
Cutting for Sign describes his journey across the Sahara, captures
life in the region, and describes the unique character, history, and
religious, cultural, and social aspects of North Africa.
916.60 Lan
The Amistad Rebellion : an Atlantic Odyssey
of Slavery and Freedom by Marcus Rediker A scholarly account of the 19th-century slave ship rebellion is
presented from the perspectives of the slaves and discusses their
shared culture on another continent and their harrowing fight for
freedom while placing their victory in a context of the great chain of
resistance spanning the earliest slave revolts through the Civil
Rights era. 306.3 Red
Lonely Planet East Africa by Mary Fitzpatrick Complemented by easy-to use, reliable maps, helpful
recommendations, authoritative background information, and up-todate coverage of things to see and do, these popular travel guides
cover in detail countries, regions, and cities around the world for
travelers of every budget, along with extensive itineraries, maps with
cross-referencing to the text, "Top 10" and "Top 5" lists, and other
practical features.
916.7 Fit
Biographies
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of
Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller A sequel to Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight traces the stories of
the author's parents' respective childhoods in Kenya and England,
recounts her own upbringing in Africa, and offers insight into the
impact of their beliefs and the waning of the British empire in her
parents' marriage. B Fuller
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight : an
African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller The author describes her childhood in Africa during the Rhodesian
civil war of 1971 to 1979, relating her life on farms in southern
Rhodesia, Malawi, and Zambia with an alcoholic mother and
frequently absent father.
B Fuller
A Long Way Gone : Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
by Ishmael Beah In a heart-wrenching, candid autobiography, a human rights activist
offers a firsthand account of war from the perspective of a former
child soldier, detailing the violent civil war that wracked his native
Sierra Leone and the government forces that transformed a gentle
young boy into a killer as a member of the army.
B Beah
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Adult Fiction about Africa
Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala Recruited by a unit of guerrilla fighters after the brutal murder of his
father by militants, a west African student falls under the spell of his
dangerous commander and finds his new life increasingly
contrasting with his former existence of family times, school
friendships, and church services.
Iwe
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie A new novel by the author of Purple Hibiscus dramatically re­creates
the 1960s struggle of Biafra to establish an independent republic in
Nigeria, following the intertwined lives of the characters through a
military coup, the Biafran secession, and the resulting civil war.
Adi
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Separated by respective ambitions after falling in love in occupied
Nigeria, beautiful Ifemelu experiences triumph and defeat in
America while exploring new concepts of race, while Obinze
endures an undocumented status in London until the pair is reunited
in their homeland 15 years later, where they face the toughest
decisions of their lives.
Adi
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Features the English seaman Marlow who tells the story of his time
as a riverboat captain for a trading company on the Congo,
specifically his intense interest in investigating the mysterious Kurtz,
an ivory­procurement agent with almost godlike status.
Con
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe A classic novel about the confrontation of African tribal life with
colonial rule tells the tragic story of a warrior whose manly, fearless
exterior conceals bewilderment, fear, and anger at the breakdown of
his society.
Ach
The Night Ranger by Alex Berenson When four friends, working at a giant refugee camp in Kenya for
Somalis, are hijacked by bandits, John Wells, brought in to find
them, goes undercover in a country that isn't his usual playing field
where he discovers that the truth behind the kidnappings is far more
complex than he imagined. Ber
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver In 1959, Nathan Price, a evangelical Baptist who has taken his wife
and four daughters on a mission to the Belgian Congo, finds that
their traditions are no longer secure in this very different world, in a
powerful story set against the backdrop of the Congo's battle for
independence from Belgium. Kin
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain Raised by her father and the Kipsigis tribe in 1920s Kenya, Beryl
endures painful losses before entering a passionate love triangle
and discovering her unconventional true calling. By the New York
Times best­selling author of The Paris Wife. McL
The Lower River by Paul Theroux Idealizing the four years he spent in Malawi with the Peace Corps,
Ellis Hock is abruptly divorced by his wife and decides to return to
Africa only to find the region devastatingly transformed by poverty
and apathy.
The
Thirty Girls by Susan Minot Forced to witness and commit unspeakable atrocities after being
abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army, Ugandan teen Esther
struggles to survive and escape before crossing paths with Jane, an
American journalist who has traveled to Africa to advocate on behalf
of children like Esther.
Min
Assegai by Wilbur A. Smith A latest installment in the best­selling Courtney Saga finds former
soldier and big­game safari guide Leon Courtney catapulted into
fame for his bravery during a Teddy Roosevelt hunting tour, for
which he is recruited to gather intelligence about a rebellion plot
against Britain. Smi
Eclipse by Richard North Patterson Placing his career on the line to defend a charismatic African
freedom fighter who has been charged with murder by the autocratic
ruler of Luandia's brutal government, California lawyer Damon
Pierce finds his own life at stake as well as that of his client. Pat
The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner The novel follows the spiritual quests of Lyndall and Waldo, who
each struggle against social constraints in their search for
happiness and truth: Lyndall, against society’s expectations of
women, and Waldo against stifling class conventions.
Sch
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YA Fiction about Africa
Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein Adopted by his late stunt pilot mother's white partner after a
devastating accident, Teo endures discrimination for his dark skin in
1930s America, a situation that is further complicated by his bond
with his adoptive white sister. YA Wei
Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan A Tanzanian albino boy finds himself the ultimate outsider, hunted
because of the color of his skin
YA Sul
Threatened by Eliot Schrefer Escaping his jailer by fleeing into the forest with a scientist who is
not entirely what he seems, an African street youth helps the
scientist with his studies of chimpanzees and must join the chimps to
save their habitat from unwelcome intruders. YA Sch
Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper Having watched her village torched, witnessed her family killed, and
been kidnapped by slave traders, Amari arrives on Mr. Derby's
Carolina plantation afraid and confused, yet with time and hard
work, she learns the language, befriends another slave, and
struggles to attain her one true goal: to be a free person once again. YA Dra
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe A classic novel about the confrontation of African tribal life with
colonial rule tells the tragic story of a warrior whose manly, fearless
exterior conceals bewilderment, fear, and anger at the breakdown of
his society.
Ach
Our Secret, Siri Aang by Cristina Kessler Having befriended a mother black rhino and her baby, Namelok has
made a personal vow to always protect them, but when her initiation
into womanhood takes her away from her important task and she
returns to find them missing, Namelok goes in search of the
poachers in the hopes that it is not too late for her beloved animals. YA Kes
A Long Way Gone : Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
by Ishmael Beah In a heart­wrenching, candid autobiography, a human rights activist
offers a firsthand account of war from the perspective of a former
child soldier, detailing the violent civil war that wracked his native
Sierra Leone and the government forces that transformed a gentle
young boy into a killer as a member of the army.
B Beah
Florida Public Library 4 Cohen Circle
Florida, New York 10921­1514
845­651­7659
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Juvenile Chapter Books about Africa
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven­
year­old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk
with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia,
and Kenya in search of safe haven.
J Par
A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer While journeying to Zimbabwe, eleven­year­old Nhamo struggles to
escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the
luminous world of the African spirits.
J Far
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan Left an orphan after the influenza epidemic in British East Africa in
1918, thirteen­year­old Rachel Sheridan is tricked into assuming a
deceased neighbor's identity to travel to England, where her only
dream is to return to Africa and rebuild her parents' mission
hospital. J Whe
Kai : The Lost Statue, Africa, 1440 by Leona Nicholas Welch In the third installment of the growing series, Kai, a young girl living
in fifteenth­century Africa, is determined to find the person
responsible for stealing the cherished sculpture of her father. J Wel
Lions at lunchtime by Mary Pope Osborne An addition to the Magic Tree House series follow the adventures of
Jack and Annie as they are transported to Africa, where they must
solve riddles, fight off wildebeests, and enter a contest with a Masai
warrior. J Osb
Good Morning, Gorillas by Mary Pope Osborne The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to an African rainforest,
where the siblings encounter gorillas and learn to communicate with
them.
J Osb
Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne Join Jack and Annie as they travel back to ancient Egypt for an
adventure filled with magic, mystery, history and fun facts.
J Osb
Danger Down the Nile by James Patterson Embarking on a renewed venture to rescue their kidnapped mother,
Bick Kidd and his globe­trotting siblings travel down the Nile, where
they navigate challenges ranging from the Pyramids and jungles to
wilderness diseases and angry hippos. J Pat
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw A young Egyptian boy struggles to reveal a hideous crime and
reshape his own destiny.
J McG
The Vacation by Polly Horvath When his parents go to Africa to work as missionaries, twelve­year­
old Henry's eccentric aunts, Pigg and Mag, take him on a cross­
country car trip, allowing him to gain insight into his family and
himself.
J Hor
Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba :
Angola, Africa 1595 by Pat McKissack As the Portuguese slave traders find their way to the city of Angola in
West Africa, young Nzinga, daughter of King Kiluanji, must face up
to the dangers around her and find a way to help lead her father's
people through this tragic period. J McK
Dolphin Song [sound recording] by Lauren St. John When Martine and five of her classmates are thrown overboard
while on a school trip to South Africa and are brought to shore by a
pod of helpful dolphins, the castaways must learn how to survive on
their deserted island home while trying to find a way to get their
animal saviors back to deep water after they become beached.
BoCD J StJ
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Picture Books about Africa
Honey... Honey... Lion! : a Story from Africa by Jan Brett After working together to obtain honey, the African honey badger
always shares it with his partner, the honeyguide bird, until one day
when the honey badger becomes greedy and his feathered friend
decides to teach him a lesson.
JP Bre
Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane Longing to wear a colorful malafa cloth like the women in her
Muslim community in Mauritania, young Lalla learns how the
garment honors her faith and cultural traditions before her mother
invites her to try on a beautiful blue cloth and join her in prayers. By
the award­winning author of For You Are a Kenyan Child.
JP Cun
I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakité Amina wants to lose her tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West
Africa, so she can put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who
will exchange it for two chickens.
JP Dia
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora A striking adaptation of "Old MacDonald" features an aging African
game farmer who watches over a wide variety of animals, from
roaring lions and chirping ostriches to bellowing rhinos and honking
wildebeests, in a tribute to African wildlife that is complemented by
vivid collage­style artwork. By the Caldecott Honor­winning creator
of Ben's Trumpet.
JP Isa
Somewhere in Africa by Ingrid Mennen Ashraf, a South African boy who lives in a big city, dreams of the
African wild.
JP Men
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad­tempered, one kind and
sweet, go before the king who is choosing a wife. A Caldecott Honor
Book.
JP Ste
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African Non­Fiction YA
Kaffir boy : the true story of a Black youth's
coming of age in Apartheid South Africa by Mark Mathabane A republication of the author's account of the brutality and
degradation suffered by black people under apartheid in South
Africa traces his personal struggles with poverty, hopelessness, and
desperation behind the official televised stories. YA B Mathabane
Juvenile African Myths & Legends by Philip Ardagh A collection of traditional tales from Africa, reflecting the cultures and
religions from which the stories come.
J 291 Ard
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy Maasai tribal members, after hearing the story of the September 11
attacks from a young Maasai, who was in New York on that day,
decide to present the American people with 14 sacred cows as a
healing gift.
J327.67 Dee
Ananse and the Lizard : a West African Tale by Pat Cummings When the chief of the village offers his daughter's hand in marriage,
a fortune, and the chance to become the next chief to anyone who
can guess her name, Ananse the spider, who knows the Chief's
daughter's name, engages in a battle of wits with clever Lizard. J 398.2 Cum
Nabulela : a South African Folk Tale by Fiona Moodie After playing a terrible trick on Nandi, the chief's daughter, the girls
of the village are given the task of defeating Nabulela, a white­
skinned, people­eating beast that has been terrorizing their African
home, in a retelling of a North Nguni folktale.
J 398.2 Moo
Tales from Africa by Kathleen Arnott A collection of thirty­four tales from all areas of Africa south of the
Sahara
J 398.2 Oxf
Tales from West Africa by Martin Bennett Presents a collection of West African tales describing a variety of
cunning tricksters, including Monkey, Shark, and Crocodile.
J398.2 Oxf
Safari by Robert Bateman A prominent wildlife artist invites young readers to join him on a trip
to Africa to observe different animals and to learn about their
behavior, capturing the fine details of the animals' appearance and
the essence of their nature.
J 599.09 Bat
Cooking the Southern African Way :
Culturally Authentic Foods Including Low­Fat
And Vegetarian Recipes by Kari A. Cornell A delightful adventure in eating.
J 641.59 Cor
African Princess : the Amazing Lives of
Africa's Royal Women by Joyce Hansen Offers a collection of six tales about six royal women of Africa from
different periods in history, including a princess struggling to survive
during the rise of the slave trade and a royal woman dealing with
issues in the ancient world in 1473 B.C.
J 920 Han
African Beginnings by James Haskins The first title of a series presents the history of Africa's rich cultural
empires from the early part of the millennium through the time of
Christopher Columbus. J 960 Has
J Biographies
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba A picture book adaptation of a best­selling memoir follows the
experiences of 14­year­old William Kamkwamba, who built a
windmill out of junkyard scraps to bring electricity to his famine­
stricken Malawi village.
JB Kamkwamba
Wangari Maathai : the Woman who Planted
Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot Sumptuously illustrated with culturally inspired artwork, a picture
book introduction to the achievements of Nobel Peace Prize winner
Angari Maathai describes her non­violent advocacy of democracy in
Africa and her organization's diligent environmental efforts.
JB Maathai
Planting the Trees of Kenya : the Story of
Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola Watercolor illustrations and lyrical prose combine to tell the
remarkable true story of Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004
Nobel Peace Prize, who changed the fate of her village in the
highlands of Kenya by teaching her people how to care for it. 15,000
first printing.
JB Maathai
Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson Presents a biography of the former South African president best
known for his political activism and relentless fight to end apartheid.
By the award­winning illustrator of Henry's Freedom Box and
Coretta Scott.
JB Mandela
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African Music CDs Bibliography
Rough Guide to African Blues This collection examines the connection between the blues and
West Africa.
CD World/African Blues
Story of Arabic Song A collection of popular songs from Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and
Lebanon.
CD World/Arabic Song
Throw Down Your Heart Bela Fleck travels to Uganda, Tanzania, the Gambia, and Mali
searching for the roots of the banjo and reaching across cultural
boundaries with music.
CD World/Fleck
Shaka Zulu The Grammy­winning 1987 album of the popular South African male
choral group.
CD World/Ladysmith
Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest A reissue of the album originally recorded in the 1950's as a part of
the Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings of the music of the Mbuti
pygmies from the Ituri rainforest in northeastern Zaire.
CD World/Mbuti
Beautiful Africa / The fifth album by Maliian musician Rokia Traore released in 2013.
CD World/Traore
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Movies from Africa ­ DVDs
Faith Like Potatoes Amidst the difficulties of resettling in South Africa, a Zambian farmer
finds strength in religion.
DVD F
Forgotten Kingdom / When Atang leaves the city to bury his father in the mountainous
village where he was born, he reconnects and falls in love with a
childhood friend.
DVD F
Madagascar, Escape 2 Africa Follows the Central Park Zoo animals as they leave Madagascar to
become stranded in the middle of Africa.
DVD M
African Cats A lion family and a cheetah family make their homes on the African
savanna.
DVD A
Mandela: Chronicles Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood
through his inaguration as the first democratically elected president
of South Africa.
DVD M
Tsotsi A young, black gangster in South Africa slowly discovers the
meaning of compassion after finding an infant in the car he has
stolen and realizes he has killed the child's mother.
DVD T
White Lion After a white lion is born in their valley, a member of the Shangaan
tribe dedicates his life to protecting the life of the lion after it is cast
out of its pride.
DVD W
Prince Among Slaves In 1788, a slave ship sailed from the Gambia River with hundreds of
men, women and children bound in chains. Eight months later, a
handful of survivors were sold in Natchez, Mississippi. One of them
made an astonishing claim: he was a prince of an African kingdom
larger and more developed than the newly formed United States.
The true story of an African prince who endured the humiliation of
slavery without losing his dignity or hope of freedom.
DVD P
Invictus After Nelson Mandela becomes the president of South Africa, he
tries to unite his country by asking the national rugby team to
compete in and win the 1995 World Cup championship.
DVD I
Casablanca Night club proprietor Rick encounters his long lost love and her
Resistance­leader husband in Nazi­occupied North Africa.
DVD C
Flame Trees of Thika An account of growing up in Kenya during the waning days of British
colonialism, ending with the start of World War I, based on the
autobiographical novel by Elspeth Huxley.
DVD F
Desert Flower A woman escapes from an arranged marriage at the age of thirteen
and embarks upon a two­hundred­mile journey across the desert of
Somalia in an adventure that eventually leads her into a modeling
career.
DVD D
Gandhi Biography of Mahatma Gandi, India's man of peace, which follows
his life from his simple beginnings as a lawyer in South Africa to his
struggle to free India from colonial rule.
DVD G
Pray the Devil Back to Hell Tells the story of a diverse group of Liberian women who joined
forces to end a civil war and bring peace to their country.
DVD P
Babel Tragedy strikes a couple vacationing in Morocco which sets off a
chain of events linking four groups of people vastly separated by
culture and distance.
DVD B
Good Lie When four young Sudanese refugees arrive in Kansas, they meet an
employment agency counselor who has the ability to change their
lives.
DVD G
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