Nigeria At 60: Sixty Great Novels Nigerians Should Read

As Nigeria marks 60th Independence Anniversary, below are popular novels written by renowned Nigerian writers on and about Nigeria before and after the country got her independence in 1960.

Wole Adedoyin, President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) compiled and arranged in alphabetical order.

Intending readers can visit Wikipedia for reviews and abstracts about any selected book(s).

1. A Squatter’s Tale by Ike Oguine (2000)
2. Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala (2006)
3. Becoming Abigail by Chris Abani (2006)
4. Behind the Clouds by Ifeoma Okoye (1982)
5. Burma Boy by Biyi Bandele (2008)
6. Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko (2012)
7. Diaries of a Dead African by Chuma Nwokolo (2003)
8. Efuru by Flora Nwapa (1966)
9. Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta (2005)
10. Graceland by Chris Abani (2004)
11. I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (2009)
12. In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo (2008)
13. Innocent Victims by Abubakar Gimba (1988)
14. Jagua Nana by Cyprian Ekwensi (1961)
15. Just Before Dawn by Kole Omotoso (1988)
16. Kolera Kolej by Femi Osofisan (2001)
17. Last of the Strong Ones by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (1996)
18. Lemona’s Tale by Ken Saro-Wiwa (1996)
19. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola (1954)
20. My Mercedes is Bigger Than Yours by Nkem Nwankwo (1976)
21. No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe (1960)
22. Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Irunmale by DO Fagunwa (translated as The Forest of A Thousand Daemons by Wole Soyinka) (1938)
23. On Black Sisters’  Street by Chika Unigwe (2011)
24. One Man, One Matchet by TM Aluko (1964)
25. Open City by Teju Cole (2011)
26. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie (2003)
27. Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2015)
28. Sozaboy by Ken Saro-Wiwa (1985)
29. Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo (2017)
30. Sterile Sky by EE Sule (2012)
31. Tenants of the House by Wale Okediran (2009)
32. The Abyssinian Boy by Onyeka Nwelue (2009)
33. The Activist by Tanure Ojaide (2006)
34. The Bottled Leopard by Chukwuemeka Ike (1985)
35. The Bride Price by Buchi Emecheta (1976)
36. The Concubine by Elechi Amadi (1966)
37. The Epidemic by Tony Marinho (1992)
38. The Famished Road by Ben Okri (1991)
39. The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi (2005)
40. The Interpreters by Wole Soyinka (1965)
41. The Last Duty by Isidore Okpewho (1976)
42. The New Man by Femi Ademiluyi (1994)
43. The Only Son by John Munonye (1966)
44. The Palmwine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola (1952)
45. The Passport of Mallam Ilia by Cyprian Ekwensi (1960)
46. The Potter’s Wheel by Chukwuemeka Ike (1993)
47. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin (2010)
48. The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali (1986)
49. The Successors by Jerry Agada (2007)
50. The Voice by Gabriel Okara (1964)
51. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)
52. Tides by Isidore Okpewho (1993)
53. Trail of Sacrifice by Abubakar Gimba (1985)
54. Unbridled by Jude Dibia (2007)
55. Violence by Festus Iyayi (1979)
56. Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila (2005)
57. Wheels by Olu Obafemi (1997)
58. When the Wind Blows by Camillus Ukah (2007)
59. Yellow-Yellow by Kaine Agary (2005)
60. Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor (2007)