Of This Our Country: Essays from some of Nigeria’s greatest writers, including Ayobami Adebayo, Inua Ellams, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Helon Habila, Chigozie Obioma, Bolu Babalola and more Paperback – Import, 29 September 2022

Rating 4 1/2 Stars.To define Nigeria is to tell a half-truth. Many have tried, but most have concluded that it is impossible to capture the true scope and significance of Africa’s most populous nation through words or images.Nigeria is more than scams and con artists claiming to be Nigerian royalty asking you to help by wiring funds. Nigerians are making their mark in the fields of performing arts, creative arts, fashion, human rights activism, sports, medicine, and media, to name a few. As I’ve noticed in the last two years, many Nigerian writers are being recognised globally in the world of publishing. This is my third book by a Nigerian author and I have a few more lined up on my TBR.This anthology, bringing together 24 established and emerging writers from Nigeria, explores the country through their pen. The authors reflect on the Nigeria they know and remember. They relive the memories significant to their Nigerian heritage and share the experiences that bind them to their culture and traditions.The essays tell a powerful story of a country pulled in opposite directions. They weave deeply personal experiences of living in Nigeria, visiting Nigeria, or meeting other Nigerians away from home.I recommend this beautiful, yet complex portrait of a country relatively unknown to outsiders. Profound, hard-hitting, these essays will tear at your heart for the joy and pain behind them.This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.For complete review, visit aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com.

I went through the gamut of emotions with this book. Laugh out loud moments, sadness, anger, hope. It is tempting to be resigned to the challenge that is Nigeria but hope has to remain the stronger choice.

As a Nigerian, I will very much recommend this book. I found the book resonated so much with all my experiences aboard and at home. It's interesting I could completely relate to 24 essays from different people (North and South) of the country. It's a beautiful and challenging read. I'm pleased these authors have articulated "our" experiences in one place. Plenty for posterity to learn from. I'm gifting this book to anyone who wants to understand the country. I'm reminded of how talented the country is, yet contradicts itself in many ways .A huge thank you to all the authors, unfortunately I don't have a favourite essay in the book. I shall be reading more of your books as you're all wonderfully gifted.

I really love this book of essays. It is so wonderful to resonate with these writers through their stories. I feel like I'm being taken down memory lane with each essay I read. Funny how I share similar childhood experiences with people I've never met. It's hard to love Nigeria, but it is hard not to love her...

Read in almost one sitting. Very interesting and fascinating perspectives. Captures the range and variety of 'Nigerians' and our lived experiences of a place we also call home. The potential of Nigeria is often best revealed in Literature.

As I read each essay there is common theme of home. Despite events that shaped the development of Nigeria, it remains home. I understand the magnitude of the word home and that it means. There is no place like home. The essays also proved me with insight into some of the books that I have read by some of the authors. I plan to read more.