These books will give my year the spark that it needs.
What did you read last year? I don’t mean just our articles or captions half-absorbed while scrolling. But did you hold an actual book? Turn pages, mark and set time aside to be swept away in a story? I asked myself that question recently and didn’t love how little I got to read. So this year, I’m making a more deliberate effort to read, not as a productivity goal or a trend, but as a way to slow down and reconnect with ideas that require time and presence.
With the current state of the world, there’s something grounding about the ideas in literature that exist to remind us to live. Holding a book allows you to be where you are, to sit with discomfort, curiosity, or wonder without the impulse to refresh or react. These are the books I’m starting 2026 with: not because they promise quick answers, but because they invite deeper thinking, longer pauses, and a different kind of engagement than the digital world usually allows.
“Sanya” by Oyin Olugbile
Winner of the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature, “Sanya” reimagines Yoruba mythology and places a powerful female protagonist at its heart. The novel blends fantasy and cultural heritage to explore identity, destiny, and the price of power. Its mythic scope and rich world-building make it a standout contribution to contemporary African literature. I’m interested in reading more books that blend African mythology with modern literature.
“This Motherless” Land by Nikki May
Shortlisted for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature, this novel traces Funke Oyenega’s journey through grief and self-discovery after her mother’s death. Spanning Lagos and the UK, Nikki May delves into family, identity, and belonging, capturing cultural tensions and emotional truths with striking nuance and depth. I am eager to know more about how grief is written about, especially from the perspective of a child losing a parent.
“The Road to the Country” by Chigozie Obioma
Also a 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature finalist, this novel weaves a compelling story of love, war, and redemption against the backdrop of Nigeria’s civil conflicts. Obioma’s storytelling is immersive and deeply human, exploring how history shapes individual lives. It’s a novel that bridges personal and national narratives with remarkable emotional depth. Books that dissect Nigeria’s civil conflict are of interest to me because it’s important to continue to tell our history through modern literature.
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
This popular, powerful and timeless memoir follows Malcolm X’s remarkable transformation into one of the most influential voices of the civil rights movement. His reflections on race, identity, and spiritual awakening are as urgent today as ever. The narrative encourages us to reflect on who we are and consider how we might change. With the current political upheaval in the United States, I wanted to read more about the man who is responsible for the saying “By any means necessary.”
“Africa Is Not a Country” by Dipo Faloyin
This sharp, witty nonfiction book dismantles lazy stereotypes and misconceptions about the African continent. Faloyin blends history, politics, and pop culture to show the diversity and complexity often ignored in global narratives. It’s both informative and entertaining, challenging readers to rethink what they think they know. I had the chance to hear the author read excerpts of his book at ART X Lagos 2025 and have been intrigued enough ever since to add it to my to-read list.
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
A haunting exploration of memory, trauma, and love, “Beloved” confronts the legacy of slavery in deeply human terms. Morrison’s language is both lyrical and devastating, demanding slow and careful reading. It’s a novel that challenges how history lives inside the present. Toni Morrison’s works have always held a place in my heart, and I can’t wait to read this one.
This reading list is about choosing depth in a time that needs more introspection. Each of these books offers a different way of seeing the world, whether through history, imagination, memory, or resistance; they demand our attention. As I move through 2026, I’m less interested in how many books I finish and more interested in how they shape the way I think, feel, and stay present in a world that is constantly changing.
